Bringing helper to Canada on holidays with us?

C

csj

Registered User
Hello,
We just hired a helper (first time ever) but we're planning to go back to Canada for a couple of month this summer.
We're not sure what to do with our helper for during that time.
Has anyone had experience in bringing their helper to Canada for holidays with you ? If yes, what are the requirements/procedures to do so ? How long does it take ? Do we have to follow the local regulation as well while we're there (salary, etc.) ?
I've been on the Canadian Consulate website but did not find any related information.
Thanks for your help!
 
I've brought our helper with us to Canada on 3 of our trips to Canada. The procedure is not difficult. Once the paperwork is correct, it takes a day to process the visa. It might take a while to collect together all the information that you need though. If the above link above does not work, you need to get the document "Application procedures for temporary resident visa (20091112)" which is on the Canadian Consulate Hong Kong website under "Visiting Canada" as it lists out all the documents that you need to submit and the requirements you must meet. You submit the visa application and passport in the morning and go collect the visa in the afternoon. You do not need to follow local laws re minimum Canadian pay if granted a visa.
 
we just told the cdn immig that our helper was on holiday, too... not working. of course, if she offered to babysit while i was there i wasn't going to say "no" ;)
 
Carang: haha, I was thinking of doing the same with my helper initially but Philippines passport holders still in a visa to get to Canada, and we'll be going for at least 2 months so we still cannot really fool the Canadian administration !
 
There's no need to tell Cdn Consulate that your helper is "holidaying" with you. The HK office get hundreds of these applications every year and are used to them. In fact, if you see the link that I sent you it says that helpers can accompany their employers for visits of less than 6 months and so long as they are only performing their usual duties. I provided a supporting letter confirming our dates of travel and that our helper would only be carrying out her usual baby care duties.
 
Portia: Thanks again, I did read the information on the links you sent. It's all understood and we'll proceed as soon as we know our exact travel dates.
Our helper has not started with us yet by the way, so we still have to talk to her about that too! I don't think she's been anywhere outside of HK and considering she was freezing to death during the HK winter when we interviewed her, I don't know if she'll be thrilled to go to some place where it could sometimes get colder even in the summer...
 
We took our helper to Canada in the winter! I think she was actually pretty excited to see snow, although she hates the cold even in a HK winter. I did take her to a shop in HK to be outfitted with boots (a pair of waterproof hiking boots with a lug sole) as I didn't want her to slip and fall and I gave her a pair of my gloves. She was able to get everything else she needed in HK, like jacket and fleecies by borrowing or purchasing quite cheaply. If you're going in the summer, she won't need too much. She can just take some of her HK winter clothes in case it gets cold!
 
Bringing helper to Canada

Hi There,
No need to lie to Canada Immigration. As she has a contract with you in HK and as you are HK residents (not planning to return to Canada on this trip), she can come with you and work for you under her current contract and salary. I did it twice last year for 2months at a time. No problem.Visa was processed same day of application.
Beware however, your helper probably has heard that Canada is somesort of Mecca for nannies and her friends will be telling her silly things like to run away, and once in Canada some filipinas there will tell her she's underpaid and she might end up at an agency like mine. Even though I had decided to payher 300 dollars more per month in Canada, she was under the impression I was underpaying her. I finally simply decided to just pay her a Canadian salary while we are there (not that you are supposed to at all) but I couldn't seem to make her understand that she was working on an HK contract, and the emotions ran high. I could afford it so paid her the Canadian wage, but I still think she thinks I underpaid her. The canadian wage is about 1,500 minus 20 % taxes, and up to 300 for board. So I paid her 1,100 and still get the feeling she thinks I have ripped her off. True Canadian Worker would work shorter hours for 1,500, but I bought her winter coats, and paid for all her calls to Phillipines and got her a mobile phone to use while there. Just beware of the gossiping misinformation your helper will surely hear from here and those there.

the visa office is the easiest part of the job.

Kathym
 
If your helper does not have two years of college education in the Philippines, I think she is not qualified to apply for the live in caregiver program anyway. My helper was not qualified for it so we didn't have any problems. In fact, it had the opposite effect - she felt that she had a better life in HK which was closer to home and less isolated. She also didn't think the pay was that good in Canada after deductions compared to her pay in HK (she gets significantly over the minimum here). She was very glad to get back to friends and family in HK! We also supplied a couple of phone cards so she could keep in touch whilst in Canada. I guess we were lucky that she enjoyed the experience and didn't hear any misinformation from other helpers!
 
Oh, I've never thought about these running away possibilities although i've heard similar stories for other countries such as the UK. I'm not too worried though and cannot be too paranoid as well or else I'd go mad all the time.
 
hi, may i know how long it takes to process the visa? my helper won't be arriving until early-may, and we plan to go back to vancouver mid-jun, is that enough time to get everything sorted? tks
 
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