Thursday, July 30, 2009

English Language Test

CELPIP–G test scores are approved and recognized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for use by individuals applying for immigration to Canada in the Federal Skilled Worker Class.
Vancouver, BC, July 22, 2009. Should there be any confusion about the acceptability of English language test results for immigration applicants in the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Class, please be advised that CELPIP–G scores are approved and recognized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for this Class. The acceptability of CELPIP for the FSW Class is confirmed in section 10.7 of CIC’s own Operational Manual – OP6 – Federal Skilled Workers.
At the recent CSIC-CMI National Conference in Toronto on May 2, 2009 during the presentation on the Federal Skilled Worker Class, presenter Nigel Thomson, CCIC, FCMI, confirmed that “individuals applying for permanent residence in Canada under the Federal Skilled Workers Class may fulfill a requirement to undergo English-language testing by taking the CELPIP–G English language test. Individuals can qualify for up to 16 points on the Language Factor based on their CELPIP-G test scores.”
CELPIP–G (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program–General) is one of only two English language proficiency tests approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for applicants in the Federal Skilled Workers Class to prove their English language skills. Developed by the Department of Applied Research and Evaluation Services (ARES) at the University of British Columbia (UBC), CELPIP–G is a complete computer-based English language test used to assess individuals’ functional English in the four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. ARES has been developing English language proficiency tests for over 20 years.
CELPIP-G is the only CIC-approved English language test that is fully Canadian.
The Toronto CELPIP-G test sitting now open for registration is August 29, 2009 at the Seneca@York campus. To register for this sitting, click here. The next CELPIP–G test sitting scheduled for Toronto will be in December of 2009.
For more information about the CELPIP–G exam and for instructions on how to register and purchase study guides, please refer to the CELPIP website: http://www.celpip.com/. See also the CIC website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/language-testing.asp.
-30­Contact: Roseann Kinsey, Marketing and Communications Assistant, Applied Research and Evaluations Services (ARES), UBC—mailto:andrea@ares.ubc.ca, 1-604-822-9168.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Safe Tird Country

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced a change to the Canada–U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement. Effective July 23, 2009, individuals from countries under a temporary suspension of removals (TSR) coming through the Canada-U.S. land border to make a refugee claim in Canada will no longer be eligible to make a refugee claim in Canada and will be turned back to the United States unless they qualify for one of the remaining exceptions under the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement. To read CIC's July 23rd press release, click on the following link: Minister Kenney announces removal of exception relating to Safe Third Country Agreement

Thursday, July 23, 2009

MICC announces faster processing for certain students and workers

The Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles will give priority to the selection of those qualified workers who stand the best chance to integrate professionally in Québec
In order to accelerate the selection and arrival in Québec of workers whose professional profile corresponds to a job that is in demand, the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles will give priority to certain applications for a Selection Certificate, as of October 14, 2009.
Applications that will be given priority are those submitted by qualified workers who have obtained a diploma in one of the fields in the 2009 List of Preferred Areas of Training during the five years preceding their application.
This measure will apply to all applications received and not yet processed on October 14, 2009 as well as those submitted on or after this date.
Applications submitted by candidates whose area of training is not included in the List will continue to be processed according to their order of submission.