This is applicable for applications received on or after January 01, 2015 for Permanent Residence Programs subject to Express Entry
When completing their online Express Entry profile or Application for Permanent Residence (APR), foreign nationals would need to record a score for each language skill area (refer to Appendix A). The four language skill areas typically include:
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening and,
- Speaking
Doing so would enable them to demonstrate that they meet the prescribed requirements of at least one of the three federal programs included in Express Entry.
Situations could arise where some foreign nationals are unable to complete assessments in all the four language skill areas because of a disability. In this scenario, the authorities could grant exemptions to these individuals. However, the exemption would only apply to the provision of evaluation results from a designated organisation in up to three or the four language skill areas.
Officers at processing offices might well feel the need to obtain additional information in this regard. For this, they would need to consult the section on Public Policy concerning economic class permanent resident applications and Express Entry candidates whose language proficiency cannot be tested in all four language skill areas due to a physical or mental disability (refer to Appendix B).
The Accommodations from Testing Agencies
Citizenship and Immigration Canada designates certain testing agencies (refer to Appendix C). These agencies typically provide the following language testing services:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and,
- Test d’évaluation de Français (TEF)
In addition, these testing agencies also provide accommodations for people suffering from physical or mental disabilities.
It is worth noting that these accommodations provided by the testing agencies are:
- Not standardised between various testing agencies or,
- Not consistent between various testing agencies
However, these accommodations do tend to include:
- Modified test materials
- Additional time for completing the test and,
- The use of assistive technology
Therefore, people having disabilities might need to request for accommodation. They would need to provide the relevant medical document to the testing agency. On receiving the documents, the testing agency would provide accommodation to the affected individuals. It is worth noting that in most cases, such individuals are usually able to complete all sections of the language test.
The Exemptions Provided by the Language Testing Agencies
As mentioned earlier, testing agencies will provide accommodation to people with physical or mental disabilities. However, these individuals would need to provide the relevant medical documentation to the language testing agency first.
Only then would the testing agency provide these individuals with an exemption from taking tests on a specific language skill area because of a:
- Physical disability or,
- Mental disability
However, the authorities are cognisant of the fact that occasionally, the language testing agencies might not be able to evaluate certain individuals on portions of the test, even after providing the necessary accommodations. In this scenario, the testing agency would need to note the exemption as follows:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) would need to mark the incomplete sections of the test as “Null”
- Test d’évaluation de Français (TEF) would need to mark the incomplete sections of the test as “N/A” and,
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) would need to notionalise the exempted sections of the test based on the average scores of the completed sections
- In addition, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) will indicate that it has notionalised the score under the field titled Administrator Comments
The Process for Applicants who Notionalise their Language Scores
Situations could arise where foreign nationals are not able to complete one or more sections of their language tests in their online Express Entry profile or Application for Permanent Residence (APR). To remedy this, these individuals would need to notionalise their own language scores. Notionalising denotes the calculation of an average based on completed scores. For notionalising their language scores, individuals would need to use the online calculator provided on the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
Foreign nationals would need to take tests on at least one language skill area. Only then would they be able to notionalise their scores. For notionalising their language scores, individuals would need to use the online calculator provided on the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). In addition, they would need to refer to the help text provided in their online Express Entry profile or Application for Permanent Residence (APR).
Foreign nationals would need to remember that they must always notionalise their own scores by using the online calculator provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). This is applicable even when they take an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. Doing so ensures the consistent notionalisation of language scores, regardless of testing agencies.
Candidates could receive invitations to apply and submit Applications for Permanent Residence (APRs) thereafter (refer to Appendix D). Typically, these Applications for Permanent Residence (APRs) could contain notionalised language test scores. In this scenario, the officers would accept the applications as complete. Thereafter, the officers would flag the applications for further review. It is worth noting that the language test form would indicate the use of notionalised test scores.
Officers would need to check that applicants have entered their notionalised test scores accurately. For this, they would need to use the online calculator provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
The Use of the Public Policy
The authorities are cognisant of the fact that officers might come across individuals whose language skills they might not be able to test completely because of a disability. In this scenario, the testing agencies would need to determine whether the applicant requires accommodation. In case, the applicant requires accommodation, the testing agency would need to provide an exemption from the requirement of providing assessment results in up to three of the four prescribed language skill areas. However, the applicant would need to provide notionalised scores. This is in accordance with the provisions specified under A25.2 in the public policy.
Applicants would need to refer to the:
- Instruction guide for Express Entry candidates or,
- Instruction guide for Express Entry applicants
These instruction guides inform applicants who notionalise their language scores to submit the relevant documentation. This documentation must support the applicant’s need for requesting an exemption from the requirement of providing assessment results in up to three of the four prescribed language skill areas.
Processing offices would be able to locate the documentation submitted by the applicant in the Global Case Management System (GCMS). To access this documentation, officers would need to follow this path: IMM -> PR -> Correspondence -> Incoming.
Appendix A – The Language Requirements for Skilled Immigrants (Express Entry)
Appendix B – The List of Policies, Operational Instructions and Agreements
Appendix C – The Designated Language Testing Agencies
Appendix D – Express Entry: Invitation to Apply
Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
