Canadian immigration introduces fairer language rules

Canada, 13th March: New language rules have been introduced by the Canadian immigration to increase fairness in the Canadian visa process.

For this, the Federal Government will be streamlining the process for assessment of language skills of those seeking Canadian visa under skilled worker and Canadian experience classes. 

This was announced by Jason Kenney, Canadian immigration minister, who clarified that there has been no change in the language requirements themselves. 

The minister said that from 10th April, 2010 onwards, all prospective immigrants to Canada will need to provide proof of their English and French language skills when applying for immigration. This has been done to ensure quick, fair and efficient processing of Canadian immigration applications. 

Prior to this new announcement, all applicants for a Canadian visa were eligible to submit either a written submission to the concerned visa official or an independent, third-party test as a proof of their English or French language abilities. 

Although, the provision of giving a written submission was only for those having English or French as their first language; but several applicants for Canadian visa, whose first language was neither French nor English were making use of written submission. This lead to delays in processing of their Canadian visa applications. 

The Canadian immigration minister Kenney clarified that applicants falling under these categories will get just one opportunity to provide proof of their language skills adding that the applicants for Canadian visa can make a written submission, but that will be just for one time. 

Hence, the applicants for Canadian visa are being encouraged to make submissions of results of an independent, third-party language test because this will enable them in lesser delays in the processing of their Canadian visa. 

The advice of the Canadian immigration minister to all prospective Canadian visa applicants is clear. If your first language is neither English nor French, then you must take a language test, Kenney said. This is to avoid any hassles in the process of seeking Canadian immigration. 

For Federal Skilled Worker applicants, an official language ability can fetch up to 24 points on a selection system of 100 points.