Posted by
Loulu
19 yrs ago
We are thinking of moving back to Canada and want to take our helper with us and sponsor her. is this possible? Has anyone you know done this and how does one go about it?
Any help/info appreciated!
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Maybe, provided that she will live in and has the equivalent of a Canadian high school education. For details, see:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/caregiver/caregiver-2.html#1
But beware that she can change employers at any time. And after two years she can apply for citizenship (and therefore probably leave you and find better paid, non-caregiver work.)
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Not probably, it's a guarantee she will leave after 2 years, if not sooner.
I have families in Canada who hire Domestic helpers to Canada, in 10 years, 2 helpers ran away within 1 year of the contract, 1 got married, the rest finished the 2 year contract, got themselves a Canadian passport, and settled down in Canada with NON domestic help jobs.
There are TONS of helpers in Canada that are ready to work if you just go through an agency there, I really feel it's not necessary to bring the helper to Canada, no matter HOW good she is. It's a lot of work, and you are responsible for her behavious, well being, medical insurance...etc. by being her sponsor.
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Burgundy is right. 2 years, guaranteed... gone.. Heard too many stories like this. And here, the legal working hour is 44 hours per week. You'll have to pay overtime after that. If you have kids, you are suppose to draw up a time table so she can work to your schedule and still work within that time limit.
I contacted some local agencies here and they said I'll have to pay CND1,500 per month for that 44 hours of work. And yes, you can hire a caretaker here in Canada, probably those run aways, so, to keep your helper, you probably will have to pay more than the minimum.
I also called a lady with heavy Philippines accent for a live out arrangement and she asked for CND2,000 per month. More than a lot of locals.
The truth is, we have 2 kids and my husband and I both work. The Canadian way of living provide us flexibility to live without a stranger in the house and I find it so much more comfortable. Unless you have tons of money, then, it doesn't matter.
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Loulu
19 yrs ago
mmmm.....everyone seems very down on this idea. I asked her and she said she would be happy to work under the same conditions and for around the same amount of pay. She said we can work something out so we can achieve this and that she was just happy to move to Canada. She also asked - since we aksed the consulate and they said it would take 6mths-1 yr - that we not cut her visa so she didn't have to leave. Are we being naive here? I want to believe her when she says she loves the family and that she adores our daughter so would never do a runner on us, but your comments are making me think otherwise! Has no-one heard one good story about doing this?
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Would it be such a bad thing if she applied for citizenship after two years? She must be a great employee if you are willing to consider taking her with you - why shouldn't she have the chance of a better life after a couple of years? she is not bound to your family for ever - she's a contracted employee, not an indentured slave.
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Loulu
19 yrs ago
I don't mind actually if she left after 2 yrs - I am currently pregnant so just wanted some help with 2 of them during the first couple of years anyway. But I guess there is no guarantee that she would even stay for 2 years right?
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Hi Loulu, there was another thread some times ago with the title "Taking DH to Canada". The last message was posted 41 days ago. Some useful information in there. The truth is, there are local firms that can hire help for you that you don't need to go through the process yourself. I think, to an extend, I won't feel as hurt if the local hired helper quit on me as versus to somebody I brought along with run away.
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Bumpy,
I don't think anyone is saying it's a bad thing. People are just setting out both sides of the equation and drawing attention to the fact that 2 years is much shorter than most other countries for citizenship.
Canadians certainly couldn't get Filipino citizenship after just two years working in the Philippines, for example - although many (including a friend of mine who is married to a Filipina) wish they could. As things are, he has to go through endless bureaucratic hoops to get companies set up etc, although he has lived there for five years and has two Filipino passport-holding children.
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tmk
19 yrs ago
Same conditions and same rate of pay? Great plan, as long as you're presently paying her over 9000 a month and she's not working more than 44 hours a week. If not, your plan is illegal.
Regardless of what you agree on before leaving, you're the employer and have a signed contract with Canadian legal wages and working hours etc. You're putting yourself in a precarious situation should anyone, including your helper, ever question wages etc. Not a situation I'd put myself in.
I'm planning on bringing my DH to Canada when I return. Not everyone experiences some of the situations mentioned above. As for the two years and the helper moving onto something else, of course most helpers are doing that. That is the main attraction of the LCP program in Canada. They need two years of college, so most that are eligible are only working as DH's out of necessity. Some may be satisfied as DH's, but most will want to move onto something else. If the two years of having a helper is sufficient, it can be benefical to both your family and the helper. My kids will be school age two years after I return to Canada; works for both my family and my helper:)
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