Quebec LCP Process
* NB Please also read the section “LCP Process” which explains the federal issues & criteria. These are additional steps required only for persons coming to work in the province of Quebec.
Agence Mother’s Little HelperAgency
147A DUFFERIN RD, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA H3X 2Y2 TEL.: (514) 482-0570 FAX: (514) 288-8655
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Hiring a live in caregiver in Quebec
Quebec welcomes foreign workers every year as live in caregivers. These caregivers fill vacancies in the Quebec workforce , and offers the foreign worker the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after having worked as a caregiver for two years.
In Quebec there are certain conditions to be eligible to work as a foreign live in caregiver:
• Completion of 11 years of post secondary schooling
• 6 months of training in this field prior to applying for a certificate of acceptance of Quebec (CAQ), OR having completed a six month professional training in a specialized training school for this type of program
• Must speak English or French
In Quebec, the application process is slightly different from the rest of Canada, and this is because the selection of workers to Quebec is made jointly with Service Canada and the MRCCI ( ministere des relation avec les citoyens et de l’immigration)
Application Forms are available at Quebec Immigration offices :
285 Notre Dame West
Ground Floor, Room G-15
Montreal Quebec
Requests for application forms can be made by calling 514-864-9191 or via the web site at www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca
STEP BY STEP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS OUTSIDE CANADA:
1. Your future employer must obtain and complete the application form for Service Canada and send it to them at: Human resources and Skills Development Canada, 715 Peel , 3rd Floor, Montreal Quebec H3C 4H6 .
2. Employers must also complete the application form for Quebec ( called Live In Caregiver Contract of Employment) and send it, with the required payment of $175.00 to the office in their area. Payment can be made by credit card ( payment forms available at the website and can be downloaded if payment is to be made by credit card)
or by certified cheque or money order payable to Ministere des Finances du Quebec.
3. Forms and payments should be sent to: Direction de la selection des Travailleurs- Validation d’emploi in your area. For Montreal, the address is the same as listed above ( 285 Notre Dame West, Montreal)
When sending the forms to Quebec, please attach a xerox copy of the Service Canada application.
Once the documents are received, a joint evaluation will be made of the file, and a visit may be made to the employer’s home for evaluation purposes. The employer must provide to the future worker a separate bedroom, with a locked door and a window.
After 30 days or more, a written decision will be sent to the employer about the application. This is commonly referred to as the Validation Letter. The information will be sent to the appropriate Immigration service offices in Montreal or overseas. If the worker is overseas, their employer or agency is responsible about informing them that the job offer has been validated, and sending them a copy of this letter.
Once the file has been validated in Quebec, the worker must apply for her CAQ.( Certificate of Quebec Acceptance). Forms are sent to the applicant upon request, and are NOT sent automatically. These forms are available from Montreal at the same address as above. At this stage, the applicant will be required to pay $175.00 for the CAQ. An interview may be requested from the applicant, and the CAQ ( Quebec Certificate of acceptance) will be issued .
4. Once the worker has received her CAQ, she must request an application form from the Canadian Embassy or Consulate in their area. These downloadable forms are available by consulting the website of the Embassy in their country of residence. For example, in the Philippines the form is available at www. manila.gc.ca.
This form must be completed and returned to the Embassy for processing. The CAQ, which was issued by Quebec, is one of the supporting documents that need to be sent with the Canadian Application forms. The waiting times for this step can be very long, and are different for each country.
The Embassy will contact the worker for medical exams and security clearances once their completed application has been received. Each applicant must undergo a medical evaluation as well as provide to the Embassy Police Security Clearances.
4. When the medical exam has been successfully completed, a visa will be issued and the worker may enter Canada. Your work permit will be issued to you upon arrival in Canada at the airport customs and immigration offices.
5. Upon arrival in Canada, there are many resources to assist you in getting set up. In Quebec these include Services Immigration- Quebec ( 514-864-9191), the Workers Compensation Board, called Commission de la Sante et de la Securite au Travail ( 514- 906- 3000) as well as the Regie de L’Assurance Maladie du Quebec which handles Health Insurance and Medicare cards and can be reached at 514- 864-3411 in Montreal and 800-561-9749 elsewhere in Quebec. You must register for your medicare card upon arrival in Quebec.
For problems with your contract or any Labour issues, please contact the Commission des Normes du Travail at 514- 873-7061.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT HELP IS AVAILABLE TO YOU FROM THIS ASSOCIATION.
Changing Employers once you are in Canada ( Quebec):
¬ When you change employers while already in Quebec, there are certain steps to follow. The employer needs to complete steps 1, 2, and 3 from above. The only difference is that the CAQ application form called APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE FOR TEMPORARY WORK and the $175.00 payment need to be sent at the same time and together with the Quebec Application Forms.
¬ The validation letter and the CAQ are issued at the same time. There may be a visit made to the employer’s home by government personnel before the validation and CAQ are issued. They will verify that there is a private room for the worker to use and review the employer’s obligations and conditions of work with the employer.
¬ Once the CAQ and validation letters are issued, the applicant MUST apply for a new working permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This form is available online at www.cic.gc.ca or by calling 1-888-242-2100. The form is IMM5553-E and is known as Applying to Change Terms and Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada- Worker. There is a charge of $150.00 for this application, and supporting documents are needed with this application. It is necessary to attach the ORIGINAL Quebec Acceptance as well as a copy of the Validation Latter with your supporting documents.
RENEWING YOUR WORK PERMIT FOR THE SAME EMPLOYER IN QUEBEC:
There are two steps to follow when you are renewing your contract with the same employer.
First you must renew your Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec ( CAQ). This should be done at least 60 days before the old CAQ expires. Forms are available at your local Immigration Quebec Offices. This renewal should be mailed to your area Direction des Services aux Entreprises et aux Regions. (www.Immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca)
When the CAQ is issued, a new work permit must be obtained. The forms are available from www.cic.gc.ca ( Citizenship and Immigration Canada). There is a fee of $150.00 for this application form, and you MUST send your renewed CAQ and an updated contract of employment as supporting documents.
The renewal process could take up to 12 weeks, so please give yourselves enough time to remain in good status in Canada.
