Be a Nanny - FAQ
How
long does it take?
The process takes between 3-6 months depending where the caregiver is coming from and how long Service Canada is taking to process applications.
Reviewing, screening and interviewing the candidates takes 2 - 3 weeks. After that, all caregivers must be approved through Service Canada before they apply for their work visa. The time it takes to process this approval letter varies between 3 -12 weeks. Once this letter is issued, the employee uses it and her employment contract to apply for a work visa. The time it takes Immigration Canada to issue this work visa also varies depending on the location and circumstances of the caregiver. Caregivers coming from mainland China typically take longer to process while Filipino caregivers already working in Hong Kong usually get their work visa processed more quickly.
What experience and training do the candidates possess?
In order to be eligible to become a live-in caregiver in Canada the caregivers must have either attended a six-month, full-time caregiver program or they must have at least one year of nanny or related experience. All caregivers represented by Nannies from Heaven exceed these qualifications. Nannies with our company either possess both training and experience or many years' experience as caregivers. Caregivers are also required by Immigration Canada to possess 72 units of education; in some countries this means a high school certificate, in others they must also attend a post-secondary institution in order to acquire their 72 units.
What kind of hours can my caregiver work? Can she work only part-time? Can we ask the caregiver to baby-sit in the evenings?
The live-in caregiver program is only possible for full-time care by law. The caregiver's salary is based on a work week of 44 hours per week. These hours may be flexible (not necessarily 9 - 5 each day) but some predictability is only fair to the caregiver. Your caregiver may work fewer hours but you must still pay her the same monthly salary.
Your caregiver may baby-sit for you if she agrees to do so. If her work exceeds 44 hours per week you must compensate her at a mutually agreed-upon rate or provide her with time off in lieu. Please keep in mind that any time the caregiver is required to be on your premises, to be on-call (even while sleeping) or to accompany you somewhere, she is considered to be working and must receive compensation.
Can I talk to the candidate before I hire her?
Many of the candidates presented to you will have been interviewed face-to-face. I travel regularly to Hong Kong and China in order to conduct these interviews. When a face-to-face interview is not possible, I conduct an extensive telephone interview.
After you have been presented with a selection of candidates, telephone interviews will be arranged for you. You will want to have two to three interviews with each candidate. In addition, we provide you with a videoclip to give you a better sense of the candidates' personalities.
What kind of commitment is involved in hiring a nanny from overseas?
Both parties have to sign a one-year contract specifying wages, hours of work and job duties. At the end of the year the contract may be terminated or renewed for another year.
What are the consequences if the caregiver is found to be unsuitable after a short period of time in Canada?
If the family chooses to terminate the contract early, they must provide the caregiver with either two weeks' notice or the equivalent in compensation.
In this situation the caregiver has two options. She can return to her country of origin, or she can look for a new employer in Canada. The process of finding and changing to a new employer is quite lengthy so it is recommended that families give the caregiver as much advance notice as possible.
What kind of accommodation does the caregiver require?
Your caregiver must have at least one private room in your home with a lock on it. They must have access to a bathroom, but it may be shared. Of course you will want to make your caregiver's living quarters as comfortable as possible.
Can the candidates typically drive a car?
A few candidates do know how to drive, but would need to become accustomed to roads in Canada. Many are willing to take driver education courses and apply for their drivers' license once they are settled in.
What about health care and workers' compensation?
In Alberta, foreign workers are covered from the day they arrive in Alberta. When your caregiver arrives, you must take them to apply for their SIN number, then take that documentation to the Alberta Health Care office. Alberta Health Care will immediately issue your caregiver an Alberta Health card.
You are not obligated to pay your caregiver's health care premiums but most employers opt to offer this benefit to their caregiver.
Additional coverage for your caregiver can be obtained from Blue Cross for fairly reasonable rates. It's up to the employer what types of benefits he/she will be willing to offer.
The process takes between 3-6 months depending where the caregiver is coming from and how long Service Canada is taking to process applications.
Reviewing, screening and interviewing the candidates takes 2 - 3 weeks. After that, all caregivers must be approved through Service Canada before they apply for their work visa. The time it takes to process this approval letter varies between 3 -12 weeks. Once this letter is issued, the employee uses it and her employment contract to apply for a work visa. The time it takes Immigration Canada to issue this work visa also varies depending on the location and circumstances of the caregiver. Caregivers coming from mainland China typically take longer to process while Filipino caregivers already working in Hong Kong usually get their work visa processed more quickly.
What experience and training do the candidates possess?
In order to be eligible to become a live-in caregiver in Canada the caregivers must have either attended a six-month, full-time caregiver program or they must have at least one year of nanny or related experience. All caregivers represented by Nannies from Heaven exceed these qualifications. Nannies with our company either possess both training and experience or many years' experience as caregivers. Caregivers are also required by Immigration Canada to possess 72 units of education; in some countries this means a high school certificate, in others they must also attend a post-secondary institution in order to acquire their 72 units.
What kind of hours can my caregiver work? Can she work only part-time? Can we ask the caregiver to baby-sit in the evenings?
The live-in caregiver program is only possible for full-time care by law. The caregiver's salary is based on a work week of 44 hours per week. These hours may be flexible (not necessarily 9 - 5 each day) but some predictability is only fair to the caregiver. Your caregiver may work fewer hours but you must still pay her the same monthly salary.
Your caregiver may baby-sit for you if she agrees to do so. If her work exceeds 44 hours per week you must compensate her at a mutually agreed-upon rate or provide her with time off in lieu. Please keep in mind that any time the caregiver is required to be on your premises, to be on-call (even while sleeping) or to accompany you somewhere, she is considered to be working and must receive compensation.
Can I talk to the candidate before I hire her?
Many of the candidates presented to you will have been interviewed face-to-face. I travel regularly to Hong Kong and China in order to conduct these interviews. When a face-to-face interview is not possible, I conduct an extensive telephone interview.
After you have been presented with a selection of candidates, telephone interviews will be arranged for you. You will want to have two to three interviews with each candidate. In addition, we provide you with a videoclip to give you a better sense of the candidates' personalities.
What kind of commitment is involved in hiring a nanny from overseas?
Both parties have to sign a one-year contract specifying wages, hours of work and job duties. At the end of the year the contract may be terminated or renewed for another year.
What are the consequences if the caregiver is found to be unsuitable after a short period of time in Canada?
If the family chooses to terminate the contract early, they must provide the caregiver with either two weeks' notice or the equivalent in compensation.
In this situation the caregiver has two options. She can return to her country of origin, or she can look for a new employer in Canada. The process of finding and changing to a new employer is quite lengthy so it is recommended that families give the caregiver as much advance notice as possible.
What kind of accommodation does the caregiver require?
Your caregiver must have at least one private room in your home with a lock on it. They must have access to a bathroom, but it may be shared. Of course you will want to make your caregiver's living quarters as comfortable as possible.
Can the candidates typically drive a car?
A few candidates do know how to drive, but would need to become accustomed to roads in Canada. Many are willing to take driver education courses and apply for their drivers' license once they are settled in.
What about health care and workers' compensation?
In Alberta, foreign workers are covered from the day they arrive in Alberta. When your caregiver arrives, you must take them to apply for their SIN number, then take that documentation to the Alberta Health Care office. Alberta Health Care will immediately issue your caregiver an Alberta Health card.
You are not obligated to pay your caregiver's health care premiums but most employers opt to offer this benefit to their caregiver.
Additional coverage for your caregiver can be obtained from Blue Cross for fairly reasonable rates. It's up to the employer what types of benefits he/she will be willing to offer.
