Feb 23, 2019 brought in good news for caregivers as the IRCC announced that it is launching 2 new 5-year caregiver immigration pilot programs which are expected to be far more effective than the current ones.

The new pilot programs will:

• Provide access to a direct pathway to permanent residence to caregivers; and
• Allow caregivers to come to Canada together with their family.

The caregivers, under these new programs, will be assessed for permanent residence criteria even before they start working in Canada. These programs will also provide for Open work permits for spouses/common-law partners and study permits for dependent children, so that the families of caregivers can accompany them to Canada.

Additionally, an Interim Pathway for caregivers is launched and will be open from March 04, 2019 till June 04, 2019. This program targets the caregivers who already work for families in Canada, and claim that the 2014 changes were not well understood as despite working, they still do not qualify for PR under the existing program. This program will give those caregivers a chance to stay in Canada permanently.

These changes are highly appreciable and demonstrate Canada’s commitment towards reunification of families and gratitude towards its caregivers.

Thus the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship has very rightly quoted,