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Live-in Caregivers in Canada Now Enjoys Faster Issuance of Open Work Permits Among Other Advantages

Canada's Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) is one of easier for for foreign workers to obtain a permanent residence in Canada. I've used the word "easier", in the sense, that foreign workers hired as caregiver in Canada can become eligible for permanent residency after completing two years of work or 3,900 hours.

Plus, recent policy changes provides for faster issuance of open work permits for Live-in Caregivers.

LCP allows Canadian families to employ foreign workers to provide care to their child/children, elderly or member of their families with disabilities, provided that there is a proof of shortage of Canadians or permanent residents to fill that need.

In 2008, about 10,400 individuals (spouses & dependents included) became permanent residents from the 7,200 caregivers in 2005.

Canada deeply recognizes the role of live-in caregivers in their society that it has taken significant actions in protecting them from abuse and exploitation. Improvements made on the Live-in Caregiver Program in 2010 and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2011 greatly increases the protection of caregivers. They are:

• allowing live-in caregivers to apply for permanent residence after 3,900 work hours, rather than two years of work, to ensure overtime is appropriately recognized;
• the elimination of the need for a second medical examination when the caregiver applies for permanent residence;
• increasing the amount of time a caregiver has to complete their work bligations, from three years to four;
• the adoption of a standardized employment contract that ensures both parties agree to the salary, hours of work, vacation time, overtime, holidays, sick leave, and the terms of termination and resignation;
• defining the costs the employer is obliged to pay, including the caregiver’s travel expenses in coming to Canada, medical insurance, workplace safety insurance and third-party representative fees;
• emergency processing of work permits and employer authorizations to hire live-in caregivers who have been abused and need to leave their employment immediately;
• a dedicated phone service for live-in caregivers through the department’s Call Centre;
• an assessment of the genuineness of the job offer, including confirmation that the caregiver would be residing in a private residence and providing child care, senior home support care or care of a disabled person in that household without supervision, as well as whether the employer has sufficient financial resources to pay the wages of the caregiver and whether the accommodations being provided are adequate;
• and a two-year period of ineligibility from hiring foreign workers, including live-in caregivers, for employers who have failed to live up to the terms of past job contracts.

More good news for Live-in Caregivers in Canada as they can now be issued open work permits once they completed their obligation and submitted an application for permanent residence.

Previously, they have to wait first for the approval of their permanent resident application before being eligible to an open work permit. An open work permit allows the caregiver to move out of their employer's home and seek jobs in other fields if they so desire.

There may be a decline on the demand for live-in caregivers in Canada nowadays but that is a path worth exploring for those who dreamed of working, and eventually settling, in Canada.

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UK Visa Online Application & Payment in Full Swing - UKBA

The United Kingdom Border Agency's (UKBA) move to make visa application & payment via online by 2013 or 2014 is in full swing. Beginning December 19, 2011 all UK Visa applications must be completed using the UKBA online application system and be paid online in Euros.

The move is specifically for the following countries:

Austria (Vienna)
Bulgaria (Bucharest)
Poland (Warsaw)
Czech Republic (Prague)
Hungary (Budapest)
Sweden (Stockholm)
Finland (Helsinki)
Denmark (Copenhagen)
Serbia (Belgrade)
Macedonia (Skopje)
Iceland (Reykjavik)
Croatia (Zagreb)
Slovenia (Ljubljana)
Norway (Oslo)

UPDATE:

Kosovo (Pristina)
Moldova (Chisinau)

Location of the British Embassy on the country is indicated inside parentheses on the list.

Afterwhich, applicants will be given appointments as to when to submit printed copy of their application form and biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) to the visa application center at the British Embassy on that country. The appointments will be booked online.

So, for those interested in acquiring a UK Visa, it certainly helps to be online savvy and to know the website of the British Embassy in your area. Saving money now, preferably in Euros, will also be a big help to your application.

Source: UKBA Website

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December 2011 Visa Bulletin - White Christmas

The main difference between working abroad as a contract worker and as an immigrant is that as an immigrant, you have the option to bring your family with you. There is no need to leave your spouse and kids just to earn in dollars. It is more difficult for an overseas contract worker considering the sacrifice of leaving one's family just to make ends meet. That is why this Coca-Cola Where Will Happiness Strike Next: The OFW Project made a hit in online forums and social media websites. It touches the sacrifices and difficulties faced in working as an overseas contract worker - away from one's family.

But those who opted for a long-term solution, by immigrating to Canada, do not necessarily have the same problem. They are now enjoying a White Christmas!

Let's Get Your Application Filed

You signified your intention to have a long-term plan for your family by signing up a consultancy agreement with Canadian Immigration Consultancy. Let us then get your application filed!

If your occupation is in the current list of priority occupations, get your application filed now. The cap may reached sooner than you expect. Get in touch with your assigned consultant to address all your application concerns.

If your application is not yet filed because your occupation is not in the priority list, get your application forms and documents ready now. On or before July 1, 2012, a new list of priority occupations may be released through another Ministerial Instruction. Make sure that you will be able to file your application immediately if your occupation is included in the priority list.

What's New?

Free Online IELTS Simulation Test
For clients of Canadian Immigration Consultancy who can't visit our office for the FREE IELTS Simulation Test, you can now do the IELTS simulation test online!

First Time Immigrant Fare for 2012
Moving to Canada? Book your flight now via Cathay Pacific and avail of discounted fare as First Time Immigrant.

New Application Process for Provincial Nominee Program Applicants
Effective December 1, 2011, all provincial nominees must submit their permanent resident applications to CIC's new centralized intake unit in Sydney, N.S. This is after receiving the nomination certificate from the province.

Canadian Visa Office Manila Visa - Processing Status

If you have your file number from Canadian Visa Office - Manila, you can actually check your application status online. But to give you an idea on what application date is currently being processed by Manila Visa Office, here's a breakdown based on the period applications were filed:


Pre-Feb 27, 2008 FSW Applications
Applications filed before February 27, 2008 are those filed mostly using the Simplified Application Process. Current proceesing period for this batch is 77 months. Canadian Visa Office in Manila is currently processing applications filed November 2004. Last month, an application filed Nov 25, 2004 received a notice from the visa office to update his application forms and other documents.

Ministerial Instruction 1 (MI-1)
MI-1 applications are those filed at Centralized Intake Office from Feb 28, 2008 to June 25, 2010. Applicants under this batch are those with at least one year experience in of the 38 high demand occupations. They were originally promised 6-12 months processing period. The promised processing period materialized only during the first few months but since there's no limit on the number of applications to be received, it resulted to unanticpated backlogs. The latest notice we received under this batch was for application filed (documents submitted to Visa Office after CIO assessment) November 18, 2010.

Ministerial Instruction 2 (MI-2)
MI-2 applications are those filed at Centralized Intake Office from June 26, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Applicants under this batch are those with at least one year experience in any of the 29 in-demand occupations and were promised 6-12 months processing period. There's a cap of 1,000 applications per occupation, and the Canadian Visa Office in Manila is current so far.

Ministerial Instruction 3 (MI-3)
MI-3 applications are those filed at Centralized Intake Office from July 1, 2011 to present. The latest assessment notice we have received so far are for those filed August 19, 2011. Please note that there applications classified as Registered Nurses, Pharmacists and Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management that were filed earlier than August 19 that are yet to receive notice from CIO.

If you already have a File Number from the Visa Office, here's where to check your application status online: https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/?app=ecas&lang=en

December 2011 Visa Bulletin - White Christmas

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1000 Slots for Young Japanese Nationals to Live, Work, Study in UK for up to 2 years

[UPDATE Dec. 21, 2011] UK 2012 Youth Mobility Scheme

"All applicants have an equal chance of selection", says the UKBA. Do not believe immigration agents who claim that they increase someone's chance of being selected.

*****

The United Kingdom will open up its 2012 Youth Mobility Scheme in January 2012 offering 1,000 slots to young Japanese Nationals, allowing them to live, work or study in UK for up to 2 years.

Source: 2012 Youth Mobility Scheme

Japanese youth interested should request an application appointment via e-mail. They must send an e-mail to YMS2012-APPOINTMENT@vfshelpline.com stating that they are applying for the 2012 Youth Mobility Scheme and from what country they intend to apply from.

IMPORTANT:

The header or subject line of the email must contain your name, date of birth and passport number. For example: YAMADA Taro - 31/01/1990 - TH123456789.

The email account will only be open from 12:00 pm January 4, 2012 to 12:00 pm January 6, 2012 (Japan Time).

Only 1000 applicants will be chosen at random and will be sent an email confirmation by January 12, 2012. The e-mail confirmation also includes further instruction on how to proceed with the application.

Source: 2012 Youth Mobility Scheme

As Christmas is approaching, informing your young Japanese friends about this opportunity may be the best gift you can give them.

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