Domestice assisitant: Adopt a relative or apply for a live in caregiver?

[tinuadeadebola]

HI Folks
I learnt is very expensive for one to employ a child minder over there unlike the developing countries where you get them for relatively cheap amount. My question is for a woman like me who has three kids with the most senior being 8years old and haven learnt its illegal to leave such kids home alone in canada, what do i do?

Which is easier and faster adopt a relative who is about 15 years old and file for her or to apply to go with a live in caregiver ? what are the pros and cons of both options? please can anyone with useful information or experience help?

 

[Leon]

Adopting a relative to be your babysitter would probably cost you less and be less paperwork but it is not a perfect solution. This 15 year old child also needs to go to school meaning that if your youngest children are not in school yet, somebody else would have to babysit them in the day time. If the relative later gets her own ideas about something she wants to do instead of full time babysitting, for example go to college or do an apprenticeship or get another job, then you can not force her to stay at home and take care of your kids.

If you get a live-in caregiver, you are acting as an employer. You would have to apply for her labour market opinion, pay her minimum wage, withhold her taxes and other deductions and pay them forward, give her pay slips and T4 for her taxes, give her vacations etc. You may have problems with caregivers you can't get along with and you have to fire or who don't like you and quit, or who get pregnant etc. Best case scenario maybe they will stay for 2.5 years each because at that point they will have their open work permit and a PR application going and have no reason to stay any more.

 

[tinuadeadebola]

hello guys , i need some response on this topic. landed folks, seniors, parents and anyone with info please share . It will sure be a benefit to a lot of us.

 

[tinuadeadebola]

Adopting a relative to be your babysitter would probably cost you less and be less paperwork but it is not a perfect solution. This 15 year old child also needs to go to school meaning that if your youngest children are not in school yet, somebody else would have to babysit them in the day time. If the relative later gets her own ideas about something she wants to do instead of full time babysitting, for example go to college or do an apprenticeship or get another job, then you can not force her to stay at home and take care of your kids.

If you get a live-in caregiver, you are acting as an employer. You would have to apply for her labour market opinion, pay her minimum wage, withhold her taxes and other deductions and pay them forward, give her pay slips and T4 for her taxes, give her vacations etc. You may have problems with caregivers you can't get along with and you have to fire or who don't like you and quit, or who get pregnant etc. Best case scenario maybe they will stay for 2.5 years each because at that point they will have their open work permit and a PR application going and have no reason to stay any more.

Thanks leon for your response. I can see is not as easy as i thought. I was actually thinking of apply for an older aunty as a live in care giver. yes my youngest child would be about 6years when we plan to get to canada and should be in school. This relative has been with us for for some years now and we thought we could adopt her but cic says you have to prove the adoption is not simply for immigration purpose hence my concern about that option. please can you link me to anywebsite where i can get information on live in caregiver? many thanks for your response

 

[Leon]

If the 15 yo. is already living with you for a while, maybe you should consider adopting her so she can come with you. The adoption would not be for the sake of immigration only but in order for her to stay with the family where she lives. The alternative is that she can no longer live with you and you move to Canada and leave her behind.

As for hiring a live-in caregiver, you can read about it at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/caregiver/index.asp The person you pick either needs to have at least 1 year experience as a caregiver or at least a 6 month course.

 

[tinuadeadebola]

many thanks leaon.

 

[bob02]

Adopting a relative to be your babysitter would probably cost you less and be less paperwork but it is not a perfect solution. This 15 year old child also needs to go to school meaning that if your youngest children are not in school yet, somebody else would have to babysit them in the day time. If the relative later gets her own ideas about something she wants to do instead of full time babysitting, for example go to college or do an apprenticeship or get another job, then you can not force her to stay at home and take care of your kids.

If you get a live-in caregiver, you are acting as an employer. You would have to apply for her labour market opinion, pay her minimum wage, withhold her taxes and other deductions and pay them forward, give her pay slips and T4 for her taxes, give her vacations etc. You may have problems with caregivers you can't get along with and you have to fire or who don't like you and quit, or who get pregnant etc. Best case scenario maybe they will stay for 2.5 years each because at that point they will have their open work permit and a PR application going and have no reason to stay any more.

Hi Leon

Want to know something..see if you can guide.
I've also posted this question else where.

Can a Canadian employer sponsor his sibling (brother/sister) as a live in caregiver? Are such cases refused??

I've heard that such cases are refused because sibling over 22 can not be sponsored.I was wondering if this rules apply for Live in caregiver too??

 

[Leon]

There is no such rule for live-in caregiver that I am aware of. I have heard of people getting relatives as a live-in caregiver. The person still needs to have the required experience or training as a live-in caregiver though.

 

[bob02]

There is no such rule for live-in caregiver that I am aware of. I have heard of people getting relatives as a live-in caregiver. The person still needs to have the required experience or training as a live-in caregiver though.

WOW!! that was quick!! Thank you x10

O.K..now I'll tell you the exact scene.
My brother is planning to sponsor me,as a live in caregiver for his 2 yrs old son.
According to my research,My brother's annual Gross salary should be at least $60,000,he should offer me a seperate room,I should have a 6 month course in early child hood care OR 1 year experience in the same field..just to mention the core items.
Now..I also came to know that in one case,a fully qualified cousin was refused..in another case,a sister in law (who was a sister of husband) was successful where employer was the mother.The father,who was a brother of an employee, did not sponsor her sister(employee)

At other 2 places...People were worried,just like me,whether to sponsor their brother or sister for a caregiver post for their child.They also mentioned the same doubt..close relatives are refused.

We have contacted few lawyer but AMAZINGLY, non of them had a definite answer nor had they seen any one getting a work permit that way.

Now..you are saying that you know few people who were successfully sponsored as a care giver by their close relative.Is it possible for you to kindly describe in detail,their relation ship to employer,their qualification and country of origin??

 

[Leon]

I do not have any specific situation examples for you nor do I know which countries those people were from but I definitely have heard of people getting relatives as a live-in caregiver.

I do not think that immigration would care if the husband or wife is the employer. Hiring a live-in caregiver or other employee is not in the same category as sponsoring a relative. It's a completely different ballgame.

Qualifications are one thing but another is also that they need to prove they have strong ties to their homeland and will return there after their work permit expires and that can be harder if you have close relatives in Canada.

 

[bob02]

I do not have any specific situation examples for you nor do I know which countries those people were from but I definitely have heard of people getting relatives as a live-in caregiver.

I do not think that immigration would care if the husband or wife is the employer. Hiring a live-in caregiver or other employee is not in the same category as sponsoring a relative. It's a completely different ballgame.

Qualifications are one thing but another is also that they need to prove they have strong ties to their homeland and will return there after their work permit expires and that can be harder if you have close relatives in Canada.

What do you suggest..should I try??provided that every thing,on both employer and employee, is in order?

 

[Leon]

Yes, I think you should try. By the way, does your brother live in Alberta, MB or SK? If he does, he may be able to sponsor you under provincial nominee program, family stream.

 

[bob02]

Yes, I think you should try. By the way, does your brother live in Alberta, MB or SK? If he does, he may be able to sponsor you under provincial nominee program, family stream.

He lives in Toronto..Is there any such option in Ontario...the family re-unification thingy??

 

[Leon]

No, unfortunately Ontario doesn't have anything like that.