All applicants who have applied or are planning to apply for immigration to Canada under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) are required to pass a language proficiency test. This is also true for individuals who wish to obtain permanent resident status in Canada under the Federal Skilled Workers Program or various Provincial Nominee Programs.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has amended the language requirements for Canada immigration which will now allow CEC applicants to take the CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) instead of the previously required IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Applicants now have a choice between taking either the IELTS or the CELPIP General Tests. All applications for the Canadian Experience Class which are submitted with the CELPIP General Test results which were written on or after the starting date of November 23, 2012 will be considered for eligibility into the CEC program.
By allowing Canada immigration applicants a choice between the two tests, the CIC is making it easier to fulfill the language requirements of each immigration program. Often the waiting time for the IELTS can be a problem for applicants or they may have difficulty finding a location near their home where they may take this test. By opening up the option of taking the CELPIP exam instead, individuals who are applying for Permanent Residence may be able to complete and submit their application faster with more choices for when and where to complete the language requirement exam. With 17 locations across Canada, the CELPIP tests are readily available for those who may be unable to find a testing centre for the IELTS in their area. Finding a testing center close to you is easy, whether you choose to take the IELTS or the CELPIP. Our office can guide you in finding the right place to go and ensuring that you complete the proper test for the program under which you are applying.
If you are interested in applying for immigration to Canada under the Canadian Experience Class and would like more assistance in your application and/or need help locating a testing center to complete your IELTS or CELPIP exams, you may contact our office to speak with a licensed and knowledgeable immigration consultant. With the guidance of an immigration consultant, you will be able to make the choice of which test is best for you and we will provide you with the information you need to get started on your immigration application.
Can-Am Immigration is interested in hearing your opinions on every change made by the Canadian government. Tell us what you think about the addition of the CELPIP General Test to the CEC language proficiency test requirements. If you are currently in the process of immigration to Canada under one of the programs that require the test, we would love to hear from you. If you have already taken either the IELTS or the CELPIP, please share your thoughts on the test (was it difficult for you? do you believe one or the other of these two tests may be better? how do you feel about the language proficiency requirement for permanent residence?) You may also wish to share this new information with your friends and family who may be interested in applying for immigration to Canada. You may comment or share this story directly from this website to Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and/or any of your other social networks.
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