French speakers and siblings in Canada: check the news in the Express Entry program
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In an effort to privilege and increase the number of French speakers immigrants, the Canadian government has just issued some minor changes to the Express Entry program. Beginning June 2017, applicants with proven intermediate/advanced knowledge in the French language will earn more points in the pool of Express Entry program.
Other new criteria is that the government will give additional points in the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to candidates who have siblings in Canada. Moreover, the registration in Canada Job Bank won’t be obligatory anymore. Check now the details of the changes that are going start in the 6th June, 2017.
Additional points for French speakers:
To score extra points for knowledge of the French language, the candidate must prove his level of proficiency with the TEF (Test d’évaluation Française) test. A total of 15 additional points will be giving to candidates who prove intermediate ability (CLB 7 *) or more in French and who also demonstrate knowledge in English at CLB level 4 ** or lower. And 30 extra points might be won by candidates who prove intermediary skill (or above) in French with a CLB level of English of 5 *** or more.
* Canadian Language Benchmark. In the TEF test it is between 207 and 232 to read, 310 and 348 to write, 249 and 279 to understand and between 310 and 348 to speak.
** Canadian Language Benchmark. In the IELTS test it is 3.5 out of 9 to read, 4 out of 9 to write, 4.5 out of 9 to understand and 4 out of 9 to speak.
*** Canadian Language Benchmark. In the IELTS test it is 4 out of 9 to read, 5 out of 9 to write, 5 out of 9 to understand and 5 out of 9 to speak.Â
You can check here for some tips to improve your knowledge in English and French.
Extra points for siblings in Canada:
Canada has one of the most generous family reunification programs in the world. And according to the Canadian Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), “having a brother in Canada has presented better health and social outcomes by accelerating the integration of a newcomer into his new life in Canadaâ€. That’s why applicants with a brother or sister in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with at least 18 years of age might be now awarded 15 extra points.
Through blood, adoption, marriage or common-law partnership, the relationship between the candidate and his/her siblings is also extended to spouses. So, you might win the CRS extra points if your husband or wife shares a mother and/or father with a brother or a sister in Canada.
Canada’s Job Bank voluntary appliance:
Before June 6th 2017, candidates without qualifying job offer or a provincial nomination should register in the Canadian Job Bank before they become eligible for selection. Now, registration in Canada Job Bank will be voluntary for all applicants. This change shows that IRCC is giving less importance to the job factor in the Express Entry program. Now, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is showing more appreciation to human capital and skills factors.
Candidates who are employed in Canada and would like to begin their search for a job will be able to sign up for Canada’s Job Bank. This option should continue to have free availability and employers can keep using the program to find opportunities, as well as recruiters may hire skilled workers.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s changes:
Those news show that the federal government of Canada wants to value French speakers candidates or who are bilingual in the two official languages ​​for immigration across Canada. It may not cause a radical change in the pool, but the additional points can make a positive difference to candidates who obtain it. These changes might be seen as governmental effort to improve the Express Entry program and Canada’s economic and social developments.
The latest improvements in the CRS happened in November 2016, when the number of points given for a qualifying job offer was reduced from 600 to 50 or 200, depending on the position offered. At the same time, IRCC stared giving extra points to candidates who had completed their education in Canada.
Since the launch of Express Entry, in 2015, Canada has welcomed more than 43,000 landed immigrants through the program and received almost 90,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. Besides the 6th June changes, it is expected that the IRCC continues to conduct applications and the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) continues to be used in order to rank and select candidates in the pool.
