OTTAWA – The federal government is making it easier for foreign nannies and caregivers to get open work permits.
A special immigration program allows people to hire live-in caregivers from abroad when there are no Canadians available for the jobs.
These people have to work for 3,900 hours or two years and then are eligible to apply for permanent-resident status.
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However, they couldn’t seek other work while awaiting permanent status.
The change will give them open work permits as soon as they complete their two-year obligation and file their application for permanent residence.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says this will speed up the work-permit process by about 18 months.
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“Too many live-in caregivers have completed their work obligations but must continue living in the home of their employer, waiting for their application for permanent residence to be reviewed,” Kenney said.
“This is understandably frustrating. That’s why we have started issuing open work permits to live-in caregivers as soon as they have completed their obligations and submitted an application for permanent residence.”
In 2010, nearly 14,000 foreign caregivers were granted permanent status.
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