Canadian Immigration Introduces New English Language Test For Immigrants

20 Aug 2010

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced that visa applicants have to complete a new English test to ensure their language skills and those who have not taken the test will be denied entry to Canada.

The Department of Citizenship and Immigration says though that the test is needed as part of the plan to create an independently administered test that helps prevent fraud and ensure fair and transparent methods of evaluation.

A Canadian immigration department spokeswoman said, “We felt that going to a language test option was the most fair, transparent, objective, consistent and accurate way to evaluate different applicants’ language skills.”

Last month, the $280 test was being criticised as being contrary to Canadian immigration law and creating unnecessary red tape, especially for native English speakers.

Critics of the test have argued that those visa applicants with English as their mother tongue, or who have professional qualifications in the language, should be exempt from the test as it is creating unnecessary hassle and costs for them.

A Canadian lawyer has already launched a legal challenge to the new rules in the Federal Courts.