Individuals looking to complete an English language test to help their pursuit of a Canadian permanent resident visa can now access more IELTS and CELPIP test dates.
The Canadian government accepts either the IELTS General Training or CELPIP for individuals who wish to submit an Express Entry profile or obtain permanent residence through other federal or provincial streams, such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Since March, it has been difficult for immigration candidates to complete this important step since the operators of IELTS and CELPIP have complied with government regulations around the world. As part of global COVID-19 containment efforts, governments in Canada and abroad have required that non-essential services stop their operations.
In recent weeks, governments across Canada and around the world have eased these restrictions which is to the benefit of IELTS and CELPIP test takers.
Benefits of submitting your immigration application now
Completing an IELTS or CELPIP has been the last major obstacle for many individuals who have wanted to submit an Express Entry profile or immigration application in recent months.
Once you complete your test, it is in your best interests to complete the submission process as quickly as possible.
If you are outside of Canada, you can obtain a provincial nomination which will effectively guarantee that you will eventually gain permanent residence. Since the middle of March, various provinces have held regular PNP draws and have issued provincial nominations to candidates outside of Canada.
In addition, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will eventually hold draws for Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program candidates and it is to a candidate’s benefit to be in the Express Entry pool for when this resumes.
If you are inside of Canada, you have the opportunity to gain an invitation to apply for permanent residence under Express Entry within days of submitting your profile. Express Entry draws have focused on Canadian Experience Class and PNP candidates in recent months and cut-off scores have since fallen to the lowest level since 2017.