Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes, there is a commitment from employers that they can actually support the caregivers they're bringing in.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If I understand the question correctly, if they already have a visa for our caregiver program under occupation-specific, they could work in the same occupation with two employers.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Again, I would say that to get into the caregiver program you will need to demonstrate a certain level of financial stability.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Madam Chair, I would say that the information the member is seeking is on the new pathways, the one we have for the home support workers as well as for the home child care.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  We can provide that information, but it's very much depicted in the pilot that, when somebody applies for that, they will be assessed for their ability to sustain themselves and their dependants in Canada to begin with. That's at an officer's discretion. There is no numerical value that is actually put on to that.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In terms of looking at a situation where an employer is not holding to a social contract with a caregiver, a caregiver has the opportunity to come out and seek another open visa work permit from us.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Certainly. The aspect of sponsorship, which is somebody who is putting in a sponsorship that there is enough money once they land here, is one aspect that is taken into consideration by the visa officers. The other aspects we take into consideration are what their standing is over there, their ability to come back after they visit, their travel history, their ability to provide that documentary proof so that the visa officer is convinced that the purpose for which the person is travelling is fulfilled.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for your question. There is not a specific directive that we have sent in regard to specifically calling everyone if there is a missing document. We are using this approach: What is the piece that is missing? If it is simply our document or something that is very trivial, we actually do try to call if possible, based on availability of the agent and availability of the person.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  This is actually what we are right now making sure of, which is that this is an officer's judgment in terms of what the missing document is and what the value is of just making a phone call and getting that information piece, or if we actually need to have the application piece sent back.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  For the officers who are taking in the applications, their training is to make sure that they are providing the best client service to the applicant. We strive to minimize client pain points or client challenges on that. I'm very cognizant of the fact that there would be instances where there are complex files that may need substantial revision and might have been sent back, but that is also an officer's judgment.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  As we morph operationally, depending on the volumes and the capacity and the resources available in this line of business, we strive to operate in such a way that, as I mentioned earlier, we provide the best client service. If this is the way we reduce the client pain points, we would continue to refine our processes and bring the guidance to our front-line staff to assist the clients.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Madam Chair, there is a provision where, when you're submitting your biometrics, we categorically mention there that your biometrics, once taken, are valid for 10 years. If you are applying multiple times, or even if you're converting your visa from a temporary resident to that of a student or a permanent resident, those validity periods exists for 10 years.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  As the deputy pointed out, we have two types of training. One is based on the actual local knowledge or the cultural aspect. I'll take an example from our major source country, India. We have what we call in our own lingo an “India academy”. When the decision-makers or the temporary duty officers go there for their first posting, they are given a complete two-week training package on the sensitivities of the different regions in India where our visa application centres are and what is the cultural norm and how you would assess those applications.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'll get you that number very quickly.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I will get you that number.