live-in caregiver

[totallymomy]

Thank you for your clarifications job_seeker and Leon regarding the proposed law. I wonder when will it be approved?

I am interested in becoming a Caregiver in Canada but one problem is I dont have an employer yet. Some people said
that I should try to go under an Agency's help but I've checked the rates, it's so expensive at $5k. Is that an expected
rate just to get an employer to sponsor me?

I would like to ask some help if someone can recommend or sponsor me to apply under LCP, I only have $2.5k to pay
for someone who can help. Just message me.

Thanks guys!

 

[job_seeker]

Thank you for your clarifications job_seeker and Leon regarding the proposed law. I wonder when will it be approved?

I am interested in becoming a Caregiver in Canada but one problem is I dont have an employer yet. Some people said
that I should try to go under an Agency's help but I've checked the rates, it's so expensive at $5k. Is that an expected
rate just to get an employer to sponsor me?

I would like to ask some help if someone can recommend or sponsor me to apply under LCP, I only have $2.5k to pay
for someone who can help. Just message me.

Thanks guys!

Hi,

Where are you right now? Have you tried searching the Canadian job bank or kijiji.ca for possible employers. Or post your resume at kijiji.ca or craigslist.ca. If you found one let him/her know that you need sponsorship under the live in caregiver program. Do not pay anything when dealing with anybody from these jobsites okay.

 

[Leon]

Look for job ads at http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/ You will find some people who are advertising there to meet the requirements to hire someone they already have in mind and you will find some ads from agencies in Canada.

See if you can find an agency in Canada rather than in your home country. They are in many provinces not allowed to charge you for finding you a job although they may charge you for some other services, helping you write your CV or whatever but the fee should be more moderate than what an agency in your home country would charge you.

 

[totallymomy]

Hi Leon and job_seeker thank you for the information, greatly appreciate it.

But those agencies who charges $5k are Agencies based in Canada. There's no agency based here in the Philippines
who helps find employer for Caregivers. I have contacted Platinum Care, to name one. I asked about their services
and they sent me their term of service document where it said that the payment is $5k for them to find me an employer
plus $100 registration fee. That $5k will be a one-time payment and here's their rules regarding refunds.

* When the LMO is forwarded to the Applicant, he/she should submit all documentary requirements to the Embassy within 30 calendar days, however:
o When the applicant causes the delay and the employer cancels the Job Order, no refund will be granted.
o When the LMO expires, no refund will be granted.
o When the Applicant is refused by the Embassy because of fraud, misrepresentation, or falsification, no refund will be granted.
o When the Applicant is refused for the reason that the Applicant did not pass the interview or other screening process set by the Embassy, no refund will be granted.

The $5k price is really big just for getting an employer. So thank you for your advice guys, will try to look into those websites you recommended. I really hope and pray that I can find an employer to hire me as their CG.

 

[Leon]

Try to find an agency in Alberta. I know they are not by law allowed to charge you there for finding you a job. They might charge you for paperwork but it shouldn't be so much. They already charge the employer for finding a person and doing paperwork, that's how they make money.

Here are a few to get started:

http://www.google.ca/search?q=caregiver+agency+alberta

 

[totallymomy]

Thanks Leon

I visited this site: nannycanada website and they dont charge fees to employers
but charges placement fees to Caregivers. That's fine with me for as long as the fee is reasonable, I already
emailed them to ask more details on how much is the fee and detailed requirements.

I also saw a lot of caregiver jobs posted on jobbank but my concern is, the waiting period for the Visa processing.
Coming from here in the Philippines, it's between 12 to 18 months. One hurdle for caregivers from here is the long
processing time.

 

[Leon]

Something I heard from BCguy once about the Philippines and their requirements, something called POLO etc. that delays everything quite a bit, he said that some workers will travel to Hong Kong and apply for their work permit there to bypass the problems posed by the Philippines government. I can't say if that works or not but you can ask the nanny agency as well as other people you know at home if they have heard of something like that.

Also make sure if you go that your visa is issued under the live in caregiver program. Some agencies have gotten nannys in faster on a regular low skilled work permit but if you do that, you do not gain the right to apply for your PR after 2 years. You must be under the live in caregiver program.

 

[totallymomy]

Thanks again Leon

Yes, Ive heard about those stories, Caregivers who were issued plain working Visas and not the LCP visa... it
started the rumor that Caregivers are not allowed to apply for PR after 2 years of employment. Some agencies are just ugh! heartless.

I also heard about Caregivers going to other Asian countries because it takes lesser time there, but that will add to the cost if
the caregiver doesnt have a place to stay there or wont be able to find work while on the process of application for LCP.

I really wish that Philippines will change the processing time and that POLO requirement. After receiving the AOR, the caregiver
waits around 10 to 12 months before she receives the Speak Test Letter, and after taking the Speak Test.. it takes around
1 to 3 months for the Medical Referral to arrive, after that Canadian Embassy in Manila asks for additional documents to be submitted
either from the applicant or from the employer.. and then hopes for the Visa to be approved.

 

[job_seeker]

Thanks again Leon

Yes, Ive heard about those stories, Caregivers who were issued plain working Visas and not the LCP visa... it
started the rumor that Caregivers are not allowed to apply for PR after 2 years of employment. Some agencies are just ugh! heartless.

I also heard about Caregivers going to other Asian countries because it takes lesser time there, but that will add to the cost if
the caregiver doesnt have a place to stay there or wont be able to find work while on the process of application for LCP.

I really wish that Philippines will change the processing time and that POLO requirement. After receiving the AOR, the caregiver
waits around 10 to 12 months before she receives the Speak Test Letter, and after taking the Speak Test.. it takes around
1 to 3 months for the Medical Referral to arrive, after that Canadian Embassy in Manila asks for additional documents to be submitted
either from the applicant or from the employer.. and then hopes for the Visa to be approved.

This is because processing time for live in caregivers in the Philippines is as you have said- really loooong. That is why agencies have tie ups with other countries. They bring their caregiver applicant to the Asian country as a worker and then process the papers for WP application from that other country. I have met live in caregivers here who went to HK as nannies because they want to come to Canada. Employers are wary of accepting LIC from the Philippines sometimes, unless the employer is a relative or a friend helping out the caregiver to come to Canada.(I have a friend who started processing her paper work in 2005 and was able to land here in 2009. Of course the employer waited for her- her mom.) Also POLO requirement is added burden too. The Philippine gov't has added too many requirements that instead of helping an overseas worker is doing precisely the opposite.

 

[totallymomy]

@job_sekker : do you know any agency that does this? I really duno the exact timeline of waiting for the Visa to be approved when the caregiver is in other asian country like Hong Kong.

That's why the usual employers of caregivers here are their relatives or friends, unfortunately I dont have a family in Canada it
would have been easier for me even with the long timeline.

Maybe, that's another reason why a caregiver really needs to pay someone to recommend her/him to an employer because it's
that difficult to find an employer when you dont have family or friends to really help out in sponsoring.

I really hope I can figure out a way to get an employer without having to travel to HK or pay a huge scary amount.

 

[job_seeker]

@ job_sekker : do you know any agency that does this? I really duno the exact timeline of waiting for the Visa to be approved when the caregiver is in other asian country like Hong Kong.

That's why the usual employers of caregivers here are their relatives or friends, unfortunately I dont have a family in Canada it
would have been easier for me even with the long timeline.

Maybe, that's another reason why a caregiver really needs to pay someone to recommend her/him to an employer because it's
that difficult to find an employer when you dont have family or friends to really help out in sponsoring.

I really hope I can figure out a way to get an employer without having to travel to HK or pay a huge scary amount.

HK I was told was about 6 months but they normally are employed there. Only the Philippines process for 18 months or more for caregivers!!! How can they process other workers fast, like 4 to 6 months but for caregivers, 18 months!!! (Sorry I am ranting)
Do you have a 6-month certificate in Caregiving? It is either a certificate or one year experience that is a requirement to be in the live in caregiver program. I know an immigration consultant here in Canada who has an agency (co-owner) in the Philippines but that's just it their fees are exorbitant! I think the applicant works in an Asian country while WP is being processed. Just start looking for the employer and if they are willing to wait it would be really great . The trick is starting. Once you have made an application or resume (make it one page, highlighting what you can do), start sending to the prospective employers. They will do a telephone interview if they are interested. The employer will then apply for an LMO in your favor and if positive, s/he will send you a copy of the LMO and a contract and that's what you submit to CIC Manila. And as I have mentioned before if they said you have to pay this amount thru this solicitor or something, stop!

 

[totallymomy]

Thanks again job_seeker.

I will be enrolling in a Caregiving course this coming Febuary but might be looking for another school that starts their classes sooner this month, additionally will be having Red Cross training and OJT to add on my resume.

It might sound crazy that I am sounding desperate for an employer when I dont have the caregiver certificate yet. I just want to have the assurance of having an employer because the study, time and money will simply go to waste if in the end... I dont have an employer. Even if it seems really difficult to get an employer because of this crazy processing time that my country puts for caregivers, I am still going to
pursue this decision.

I have the websites noted and will check them once I am ready to apply. Some of the caregivers here already had their employers LMO filed even before they graduated from the course, for the reason of the crazy processing time it takes.

 

[starzibal]

Thank you for your clarifications job_seeker and Leon regarding the proposed law. I wonder when will it be approved?

I am interested in becoming a Caregiver in Canada but one problem is I dont have an employer yet. Some people said
that I should try to go under an Agency's help but I've checked the rates, it's so expensive at $5k. Is that an expected
rate just to get an employer to sponsor me?

I would like to ask some help if someone can recommend or sponsor me to apply under LCP, I only have $2.5k to pay
for someone who can help. Just message me.

Thanks guys!

Do not pay anyone to recruit you per new law nobody can charge you anything for hiring etc
thestar.com/news/canada/article/737520--nannies-anti-exploitation-law-passes

 

[totallymomy]

thanks starzibal, but it's inevitable coz it's really difficult to find an employer to sponsor a Caregiver from my country

 

[starzibal]

thanks starzibal, but it's inevitable coz it's really difficult to find an employer to sponsor a Caregiver from my country

You can just pay them and once you get a job here you can report to Ministry that they charge you fee for it. : )