Date: 19990920
Docket: IMM-6462-98
Ottawa, Ontario, the 20th day of September, 1999
PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PELLETIER
BETWEEN :
FAN LULIANG
Applicant
- and -
THE MINISTER
Respondent
REASONS FOR ORDER and ORDER
PELLETIER J.
[1] Mr. Luliang is an editor for a daily newspaper in the People"s Republic of China. He wishes to immigrate to Canada. For purposes of the assessment grid set out in Schedule 1 in the Regulations pursuant to the Immigration Act , 1985 R.S. C. c. I-2, he wishes to be assessed on the basis of his employment as an editor. The Visa Officer in Hong Kong who assessed Mr. Luliang would not process his application on the basis of his occupation as editor because he did not believe that Mr. Luliang had the necessary training, namely a degree in English, French or journalism. He assessed Mr Luliang on the basis of employment in Canada as an Editorial Assistant. When assessed on that basis, Mr. Luliang scored 57 units of assessment, well short of the 70 units required for issuance of a visa. Mr. Luliang asks that the visa officer"s assessment be set aside and that he be reassessed by another officer on the basis of his employment in Canada as an editor.
[2] Mr. Luliang was educated at the Tianjin Foreign Languages Institute in the People"s Republic of China which granted him a Bachelor"s of Arts Degree in 1984. The transcript of his academic records discloses that he completed the following classes in completing his degree:
TIANJIN FOREIGN LANGUAGES INSTITUTE
STUDENT ACADEMIC RECORD (ENGLISH TRANSLATION)
| Name: Fan Luliang Department: English Major: English |
|||||||
| 1st Academic Year (1980-1981) |
2nd Academic Year (1981-1982) |
||||||
| Course Title |
Class Hours |
Record 1st 2nd |
Course Title |
Class Hours |
Record 1st2nd |
||
| Basic English |
300 |
95 |
84.5 |
Basic English |
300 |
82 |
87 |
| Listening & Speaking |
200 |
A |
B+ |
Listening & Speaking |
300 |
A |
A |
| Chinese |
120 |
71 |
76 |
Extensive Reading |
200 |
98 |
82 |
| Economic Geography |
100 |
Pass |
Pass |
Grammar |
200 |
B |
77 |
| Physical Training |
80 |
Pass |
B |
Political Economics |
120 |
Pass |
A |
| Phonetics |
100 |
A |
Physical Training |
80 |
Pass |
B |
|
| Extensive Reading |
100 |
85 |
Chinese |
60 |
81 |
||
| World History |
40 |
69 |
|||||
| Grading Systems: System 1 (examination) System 2 A: 90-100 Excellent B: 80-89 Very Good C: 70-79 Good Pass Fail D: 60-69 Pass E: 0-59 Fail |
TIANJIN FOREIGN LANGUAGES INSTITUTE
STUDENT ACADEMIC RECORD (ENGLISH TRANSLATION)
| Name: Fan Luliang Department: English Major: English |
|||||||
| 3rdt Academic Year (1982-1983) |
4th Academic Year (1983-1984) |
||||||
| Course Title |
Class Hours |
Record 1st 2nd |
Course Title |
Class Hours |
Record 1st 2nd |
||
| Composition |
200 |
B+ |
Pass |
Reading & Writing |
300 |
70 |
86 |
| Reading & Writing |
300 |
83 |
77 |
Translation (English to Chinese) |
200 |
87 |
85 |
| Translation (English to Chinese) |
200 |
90 |
83 |
History of English Literature |
60 |
93 |
|
| Technical & Scientific English |
80 |
Pass |
Translation (Chinese to English) |
120 |
90 |
91 |
|
| Physical Training |
80 |
Pass |
72.8 |
French |
100 |
70 |
|
| Linguistics |
60 |
Pass |
Introduction to Literature |
40 |
Pass |
||
| Philosophy |
40 |
79.5 |
Selected English Stories |
20 |
Pass |
||
| Chinese History |
20 |
65 |
|||||
| Thesis |
8 weeks |
Pass |
|||||
| Academic Degree Date of Admission: Sept. 1980 Official Seal Bachelor of Arts Date of Graduation: July 1984 |
[3] Following graduation, Mr. Luliang worked at the Tianjin Tool Research Institute as a translator as well as editing the Tianjin Tolling Journal [sic]. In June of 1987, he began editing, on a part time basis, the Guide to Popular Investing Magazine. He was required to do so on a part time basis because the Institute would not release him from his employment due to a shortage of English speaking personnel. In November 1993, he went to work for the North China Information newspaper where he worked in the editorial department. At his interview, he indicated to the Visa Officer that there were 16 employees in the editorial department, all of whom were editors and also reporters. Mr. Luliang wrote articles as assigned by the editor in chief as well as editing the Health and Hygiene page which appeared weekly. Mr. Luliang also performed other duties such as commissioning and accepting stories from health professionals, editing submissions, and doing page layout.
[4] The Visa Officer was not satisfied that Mr. Luliang had the necessary qualifications to be assessed on the basis of employment as editor. In his notes of the interview, he recorded the following:
| - Began interview with review of studies. Certs and transcript seen. PI holds BA in English, but in English as a foreign language. Transcript indicates studies in basic eng, grammar, reading and writing, translation, some course in lit, journalistic Eng (not journalism), linguistics. PI informs no other training, in journalism or languages. Says he has read many books on journalism, self-studies. |
...
| - After graduation, assigned to work at Tianjin tool Research Inst. As translator; also acted as editor for Tianjin Tolling Journal [sic]. No samples of this work seen. 87-93 PI says he worked as editor for guide to popular investment. I asked why ref ltr referred to P/T employment. PI replied that his dossier remained at Tianjin Tool Research Inst. Still worked there: they wouldn"t let him leave as few eng spkrs there. PI says main job was at magazine however, where he commissioned articles, assigned work to writers, edited submitted articles. No sample of this work seen. |
...
| 2. Training and Educ do not meet NOC reqts. PI has no training in journalism and modes exp as reporter: NOC specifies several yrs exp in journalism, writing, publishing usually required. No pproof of PI"s exp prev to current or a related discipline is usually required. PI holds a degree in Eng, but as noted above, studied Eng as a foreign language. There is a significant difference in studying Eng or Fr as a native spkr, to become an expert in the usage of the language, and studying it as a foreign language: PI is not expert in the use of Eng or Fr, or of Chinese for that matter, not having tertiary study in that language. Qualifications in language are not those set by NOC. |
[5] The Visa Officer formally advised Mr. Luliang of his decision by letter dated Nov. 13, 1998 which read as follows:
File No.: B035193045(DAV)
November 13, 1998
| Dear Fan Lu Liang, |
| This refers to your application for permanent residence in Canada, and your interview held on November 3, 1998. I have now completed my assessment of your application and regret to inform you that I have determined that you do not meet the requirements for immigration to Canada in the Independent category. |
| Pursuant to subsections 8(1) and 9(1) of the Immigration Regulations, 1978 as amended, immigrants in the Independent category shall be assessed on the basis of each of the factors listed in column 1 of Schedule 1 of the Regulations. These factors are: education, education/training factor, experience, occupational demand, arranged employment or designated occupation, demographic factor, age, knowledge of English and French languages and, on the basis of an interview, personal suitability. |
| I have assessed you in the occupation Editorial Assistant, NOC 1452.3, for which you earned the following units of assessment: |
| Age 10 |
| Occupational Demand 03 |
| Education/Training Factor 05 |
| Experience 04 |
| Arranged Employment 00 |
| Demographic Factor 08 |
| Education 15 |
| English 07 |
| French 00 |
| Personal Suitability 05 |
| Total 57 |
| You have failed to earn the minimum required units of assessment required to pass in the Independent category (70). I consider the units of assessment which you have been awarded are an accurate reflection of your ability to successfully establish in Canada. |
| I have also considered your application in the occupation of Editors NOC 5122 & Journalists NOC 5123, but I am not satisfied that you meet the entry requirements of these occupations as defined in the National Occupational Classification. |
| There is no other occupations apparent on your application in which you or your spouse are qualified and experienced, and under which application would be successful. |
| Because you cannot meet the selection criteria established for Independents, you are a member of the class of persons who are inadmissible to Canada described in paragraph 19(2)(d) of the Immigration Act and I have refused your application. I have attached copies of the legislation referred to in this letter for your reference. |
| Since your application has been refused, you are entitled to a refund to the Right of Landing Fee that you paid when you submitted your application. Please be informed that we are currently processing a refund which should be received within 3-4 months. |
| I realize that this decision may be a disappointment to you and regret that it could not be favourable. |
| Yours truly, |
| "Daniel A. Vaughan" |
Vice-Consul
[6] Mr Luliang applies for judicial review of the Visa Officer"s decision on the basis that the Visa Officer has added occupational qualifications which are not required by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) or has misconstrued the requirements of the NOC.
[7] The following provisions of the Immigration Act and Immigration Regulations, 1978 provide context for Mr. Luliang"s complaint:
Immigration Act
Visas and
Special Authorizations
Visas et autorisations spéciales
9.(1) Applications for Visas - Except in such cases as are prescribed, and subject to subsection (1.1.), every immigrant and visitor shall make an application for and obtain a visa before that person appears at a port of entry.
9.(1) Demande de visa - Sous réserve du paragraphe (1.1) sauf cas prévus par règlement, les immigrants et visiteurs doivent demander et obtenir un visa avant de se présenter à un point d"entrée.
...
...
(2) Assessment by Visa Officer - An application for an immigrant"s visa shall be assessed by a visa officer for the purpose of determining whether the person making the application and every dependent of that person appear to be persons who may be granted landing.
(2) Examen par l"agent des visas - Le cas du demandeur de visa d"immigrant est apprécié par l"agent des visas qui détermine si le demandeur et chacune des personnes à sa charge semblent répondre aux critères de l"établissement.
...
...
(4) Issuance of Visa - Subject to subsection (5), where a visa officer is satisfied that it would not be contrary to this Act or the regulations to grant landing or entry, as the case may be, to a person who has made an application pursuant to subsection (1) and to the person"s dependents, the visa officer may issue a visa to that person and to each of that person"s accompanying dependents for the purpose of identifying the holder thereof as an immigrant or a visitor, as the case may be, who, in the opinion of the visa officer, meets the requirements of this Act and the regulations.
(4) Délivrance de visas - Sous réserve du paragraphe (5), l"agent des visas qui est convaincu que l"établissement ou le séjour au Canada du demandeur et des personnes à sa charge ne contreviendrait pas à la présente loi ni à ses règlements peut délivrer à ce dernier et aux personnes à charge qui l"accompagnent un visa précisant leur qualité d"immigrant ou de visiteur et attestant qu"à son avis, ils satisfont aux exigences de la présente loi et de ses règlements.
Immigration Regulations, 1978
Selection Criteria
8.(1) Subject to section 11.1 for the purpose of determining whether an immigrant and the immigrant"s dependants, other than a member of the family class, a Convention refugee seeking resettlement or an immigrant who intends to reside in the Province of Quebec, will be able to become successfully established in Canada, a visa officer shall assess that immigrant or, at the option of the immigrant, the spouse of that immigrant
Critères de sélection
8.(1) Sous réserve de l"article 11.1, afin de déterminer si un immigrant et les personnes à sa charge, à l"exception d"un parent, d"un réfugié au sens de la Convention cherchant à se réinstaller et d"un immigrant qui entend résider au Québec, pourront réussir leur installation au Canada, l"agent des visas apprécie l"immigrant ou, au choix de ce dernier, son conjoint:
| (a) in the case of an immigrant, other than an immigrant described in paragraph (b) or (c), on the basis of each of the factors listed in Column 1 of Schedule I; |
| a) dans le cas d"un immigrant qui n"est pas visé aux alinéas b ) ou c), suivant chacun des facteur énumérés à la colonne I de l"annexe I; |
| (b) in the case of an immigrant who intends to be a self-employed person in Canada, on the basis of each of the factors listed in Column I of Schedule I other than the factor set out in item 5 thereof; |
| b) dans le cas d"un immigrant qui compte devenir un travailleur autonome au Canada, suivant chacun des facteurs énumérés dans la colonne I de l"annexe I, autre que le facteur visé à l"article 5 de cette annexe; |
| (c) in the case of an entrepreneur, an investor or a provincial nominee, on the basis of each of the factors listed in column I of Schedule I, other than the factors set out in items 4 and 5 thereof; |
| c) dans le cas d"un entrepreneur ou d"un investisseur, suivant chacun des facteurs énumérés dans la colonne I de l"annexe I, sauf ceux visés aux articles 4 et 5 de cette annexe. |
(2) A visa officer shall award to an immigrant who is assessed on the basis of actors listed in Column I of Schedule I the appropriate number of units of assessment for each factor in accordance with the criteria set out in Column II thereof opposite that factor, but he shall not award for any factor more units of assessment than the maximum number set out in Column III thereof opposite that factor.
(2) Un agent des visas doit donner à l"immigrant qui est apprécié suivant les facteurs énumérés dans la colonne I de l"annexe I le nombre voulu de points d"appréciation pour chaque facteur, en s"en tenant au maximum fixé à la colonne III, conformément aux critères visés dans la colonne II de cette annexe vis-à-vis de ce facteur.
...
...
9.(1) Subject to subsection (1.01) and section 11, where an immigrant other than a member of the family class, an assisted relative or a Convention refugee seeking resettlement makes an application for a visa, a visa officer may issue an immigrant visa to him and his accompanying dependants if
9.(1) Sous réserve du paragraphe (1.01) et de l"article 11, lorsqu"un immigrant, autre qu"une personne appartenant à la catégorie de la famille, qu"un parent aidé ou qu"un réfugié au sens de la Convention cherchant à se réétablir, présente une demande de visa d"immigrant, l"agent des visas peut lui en délivrer un ainsi qu"à toute personne à charge qui l"accompagne si:
| (a) he and his dependents, whether accompanying dependents or not, are not members of any inadmissible class and otherwise meet the requirements of the Act and these Regulations; |
| a) l"immigrant et les personnes à sa charge, qu"elles l"accompagnent ou non, ne font pas partie d"une catégorie de personnes et satisfont aux exigences de la Loi et du présent règlement; et |
| (b) where the immigrant and the immigrant"s accompanying dependents intend to reside in a place in Canada other than the Province of Quebec, on the basis of the assessment of the immigrant or the spouse of that immigrant in accordance with section 8, and |
| b) lorsqu"ils entendent résider au Canada ailleurs qu"au Québec, suivant son appréciation de l"immigrant ou du conjoint de celui-ci selon l"article 8; |
| (i) in the case of an immigrant other than an entrepreneur, an investor or a provincial nominee, he is awarded at least 70 units of assessment, |
| (i) dans le cas d"un immigrant, autre qu"un entrepreneur, un investisseur, ou un candidat d"une province, il obtient au moints 70 points d"appréciation, |
[8] Schedule 1 is attached to these reasons for ease of reference. The portion of particular relevance is the section dealing with Education and Training:
2. Education and Training
| (1) To be measured by the amount of formal education and professional, vocational, apprenticeship, in-plant or on-the-job training specified in the National Occupational Classification as being necessary to acquire the information techniques and skills required for the occupation in which the applicant is assessed under Item 4 ... |
4. Occupational Factor
(1) Units of assessment shall be awarded on the basis of employment opportunities in Canada in the occupation
| (a) for which the applicant meets the employment requirements for Canada as set out in the National Occupational Classification; |
| (b) in which the applicant has performed a substantial number of the main duties as set out in the National Occupational Classification, including the essential ones; and |
| (c) that the applicant is prepared to follow in Canada |
[9] The entry in the NOC upon which Mr. Luliang relies reads as follows:
Editor
| Employment requirements: |
| A bachelor"s degree in journalism, English, French or a related discipline is usually required. |
| Several years of experience in journalism, writing, publishing, or a related field are usually required. |
[10] The crux of this case is the Visa Officer"s refusal to treat Mr. Luliang"s Bachelor of Arts from the Tiajin Foreign Languages Institute as satisfying the education requirement specified by the NOC for the position of editor. Mr Luliang says that by insisting that the English degree should provide one with a measure of expertise in the English language, the Visa Officer is adding requirements which do not appear in the NOC. Mr. Luliang relies upon Haughton v. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (1996), 34 Imm. L.R. (2nd) 284 (F.C.T.D.) for the proposition that a Visa Officer is not free to add to the requirements of the NOC. In that case, the candidate wished to be assessed on the basis of employment as an executive secretary. The candidate met the requirements set out in the C.C.D.O (Canadian Classification and Dictionary of Occupations), the predecessor to the NOC. However, the Visa Officer felt that the candidate was not qualified for the position because she had no training or experience in the use of personal computers and associated office software. Rothstein J. (as he then was) held that the C.C.D.C. was a binding system of classification and assessment and that the Visa Officer was not free to add to it, based upon his view of employment requirements:
| The wording of the Visa Officer"s decision indicates that the criteria outside of the CCDO which were considered were dominant in his decision. The skills he considered were not unreasonable in that they probably are skills required in the contemporary Canadian office environment. However, the Visa Officer is bound by the CCDO definitions. While it may be that there is a problem wiht the outdated definitions provided in the CCDO, a Visa Officer is nonetheless not permitted to substitute his/her own criteria for a given occupation. Under the terms of the Immigration Act and Regulations, that is for Parliament or the Governor General in Council to address." |
On that basis, Mr. Luliang says that it is not for the Visa Officer to impose an additional requirement of expertise which is not found in the NOC.
[11] The Minister responds by distinguishing the present case from Haughton on the basis that in Haughton requirements were added, whereas all that has happened here is that the Visa Officer has interpreted the requirements of the NOC so "degree in English" means a degree in the study of English such as one would undertake in a liberal arts program of studies as opposed to a course of studies in English as a second language. This is not adding requirements; it is simply interpreting the requirements which NOC has already stipulated.
[12] In Prajapati v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [1995] F.C.J. No. 1463, Gibson held that a Visa Officer must interpret the CCDO correctly and if he misinterprets it, his decision is liable to be set aside. "In so concluding, I am satisfied that the visa officer misinterpreted the occupation description on the facts of the applicant"s situation and in so doing erred in law."
[13] The substance of Mr. Luliang"s argument is that he is entitled to the benefit of a literal reading of the NOC and, since he has a degree in English, he should be treated as meeting the requirements of the section. Mr. Luliang goes then points to the Handbook issued to departmental staff which instructs them in how to process applications and relies upon the following extract:
| Assessment |
| a) ... There is no equivalency system. Programs of study are to be assessed on the basis of the standards which exist in the country of study. |
[14] The effect, says Mr. Luliang, is that not only does he satisfy the requirement which appears in the NOC, in that he has a degree in English, but the Visa Officer is, by the Department"s own policy, precluded from making judgments about the equivalence of his degree with an English degree from a Canadian university. There is no room for interpretation. The difficulty with the argument is that it cannot be supported on the language of the NOC itself.
[15] What does a degree in English mean? Presumably, it means a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English, as most Canadian readers of the NOC would understand it. Would it include a Bachelor of Education degree with a major of adult education, English as a second language? Would it extend to a Bachelor"s degree in applied linguistics, or etymology. Clearly, there is room for interpretation in considering what is meant by "a degree in English".
[16] Does the need to construe the NOC requirements somewhat mean that the Visa Officer is free to make judgments about the equivalence of various credentials, notwithstanding the departmental policy? The answer to this question depends upon the view which one takes of the role of the assessment function.
[17] Section 3 of the Immigration Act, which sets out the objectives of Canada"s immigration policy, does not set out the criteria by which potential immigrants will be screened except by implication. For example, subsection (j) which speaks of denying the use of Canadian territory "to persons who are likely to engage in criminal activity", can be seen as validating a policy of refusing admission to criminals or those whose association with criminals makes them likely "to engage in criminal activity". There is no particular objective of Canadian immigration policy which speaks directly to the question of employability of new Canadians except perhaps for subsection (a) which refers to the demographic goals of the Canadian government:
Part I - Canadian Immigration Policy
Partie I - Politique Canadienne d"Immigration
Objectives
3. Immigration Objectives -
...
(a) to support the attainment of such demographic goals as may be established by the Government of Canada in respect of the size, rate of growth, structure and geographic distribution of the Canadian population;
Objectifs
3. Objectifs en matière d"immigration -
...
a) de concourir à la réalisation des objectifs démographiques établis par le gouvernement du Canada en ce qui concerne le chiffre, le taux de croissance, la structure et la répartition géographique de la population canadienne;
[18] On the other hand, when one examines the criteria by which candidates are assessed, as set out in Schedule 1 to the Immigration Regulations 1978, one notes that the criteria and the maximum points allowed for each are as follows:
| Education 16 |
| Education and Training 18 |
| Experience 8 |
| Occupational Factor 10 |
| Arranged Employment 10 |
| Demographic Factor 10 |
| Age 10 |
| Knowledge of English or French 15 |
| Personal suitability 10 |
| Total 107 |
[19] To qualify for the issuance of a visa, a candidate must score at least 70 points. Of the criteria, education and training (18 points), experience (8 points), occupational factor (10 points), arranged employment or designated occupation (10 points) refer exclusively to employment and total 46 points. A person who had no score or a very low score on those items has no chance of being admitted to Canada. In addition, demographic factor (10 points) refers to labour market considerations and personal suitability (10 points) refers to the likelihood of becoming successfully established in Canada, a component of which is the likelihood of securing employment. Clearly, the ability of a potential immigrant to be gainfully employed is a very significant factor in the assessment of candidates.
[20] If the function of the Visa Officer is to implement the policy imbedded in Schedule 1, then screening should be done with a view to accurately reflecting the employment potential of candidates. In particular this suggests that the assessment of qualifications should reflect the expectations of a Canadian employer, acting reasonably and in good faith. In this case, a Canadian publisher seeking to hire an editor would require a person whose command of English made him/her capable of maintaining high standards of English usage. To the extent that the employer relied upon academic credentials, those credentials should reflect a study of English at a level which offers some reason to believe that a significant proficiency in the language has been achieved. Such an employer, acting reasonably and in good faith, would not accept Mr. Luliang"s degree as the equivalent of a liberal arts degree in English, for the reason set out by the visa officer, that is, Mr. Luliang"s degree in English is a degree in English as a second language.
[21] This is not to deny that someone in the position of Mr. Luliang could have a superior command of English, notwithstanding the curriculum of studies at the Tianjin Foreign Languages Institute. The only point being made about Mr. Luliang"s qualifications is that his degree does not, in and of itself, connote, in the eyes of a reasonable Canadian employer acting in good faith, the same competence in English as would a liberal arts degree in English.
[22] There are obviously limits to a Visa Officer"s ability to make judgments of this nature. The more specialized and technical an individual"s qualifications, the more difficult it would be for a Visa Officer to make a reasoned assessment with assistance from competent authorities. But this does not mean that where, as here, a reasonable judgment can be made by the Visas Officer, it should not be made. For that reason, I find no fault with the Visa Officer`s determination and I am not prepared to disturb it. The application for judicial review is dismissed.
O R D E R
The application for judicial review is dismissed.
"J.D. Denis Pelletier"
Judge
SCHEDULE I
(ss. 7, 8 and 11)
======================================================================================
| Column I Column II Column III |
| Factors Criteria Maximum Units |
| 1. Education (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), units of assessment shall be awarded as 16 |
follows:
(a) where a diploma from a secondary school has not been completed,
zero units;
| (b) where a diploma from a secondary school has been completed, the |
greater number of the following applicable units:
| (i) in the case of a diploma that does not lead to entrance to university |
| the country of study and does not include trade or occupational |
certification in the country of study, five units,
| (ii) in the case of a diploma that may lead to entrance to university |
in the country of study, ten units, and
| (iii) in the case of a diploma that includes trade or occupational |
certification in the country of study, ten units;
(c) where a diploma or apprenticeship certificate that requires at least one
year of full-time classroom study has been completed at a college, trade
school or other post-secondary institution, the greater number of the
following applicable units:
| (i) in the case of a diploma or apprenticeship certificate program |
that requires completion of a secondary school diploma referred to
in subparagraph (b)(i) or (iii) as a condition of admission, ten units,
and
| (ii) in the case of a diploma or apprenticeship certificate program that |
requires completion of a secondary school diploma referred to in
subparagraph (b)(ii) as a condition of admission, thirteen units;
| (d) where a first-level university degree that requires at least three years of full- |
time study has been completed, fifteen units; and
| (e) where a second- or third-level university degree has been completed, sixteen |
units.
(2) Units of assessment shall only be awarded for a diploma, degree or apprenticeship
certificate referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(b) to (e) that has been completed at an
institution other than a designated institution and in a field of study other than a
designated field of study.
(3) Only a single diploma, degree or apprenticeship certificate shall be taken into
consideration when determining the units of assessment to be awarded in accordance
with the applicable paragraph of subsection (1).
(4) The units of assessment set out in paragraphs (1)(b) to (e) shall not be awarded
cumulatively, and the number of units of assessment set out in the applicable
paragraph that awards the greatest number of units shall be awarded.
| 2. Education (1 ) To be measured by the amount of formal education and professional, 18 |
| & Training vocational, apprenticeship, in-plant or on-the-job training specified in the |
National Occupational Classification as being necessary to acquire the
| information, techniques and skills required for the occupation in which |
the applicant is assessed under item 4. Units of assessment shall be
awarded as follows:
| (a) when no formal education or training is required, one unit; |
(b) when some secondary school education, on-the-job training or
experience is required, two units;
| (c) when a secondary school diploma is required, five units; |
(d) when the completion of course work, training, workshops or
experience related to the occupation, ordinarily on the completion
of secondary school, is required, seven units;
(e) when a certificate or diploma of a college or technical school
is required or when the completion of an apprenticeship program,
a specialized training program or a vocational school training program
is required, fifteen units;
(f) when a university degree at the bachelor's level is required,
seventeen units; and
(g) when a university degree at the master's or doctoral level or
a professional degree that requires additional education
beyond the bachelor's level is required, eighteen units.
(2) When more than one Education/Training Indicator is identified in the National
Occupational Classification for a given occupation, the lowest of the
ratings shall be used to assess the Education and Training Factor.
| 3. Experience Units of assessment shall be awarded for experience in the occupation 8 |
in which the applicant is assessed under item 4 or, in the case of an
entrepreneur, for experience in the occupation for which the entrepreneur
is qualified and that the entrepreneur is prepared to follow in Canada, as follows:
(a) when the number of units awarded under item 2 is one or two, two
units for the first year of experience;
| (b) when the number of units awarded under item 2 is five to |
seven, two units for each year of experience not exceeding two years;
(c) when the number of units awarded under item 2 is 15, two
units for each year of experience not exceeding three years; and
(d) when the number of units awarded under item 2 is 17 or 18,
two units for each year of experience not exceeding four years.
| 4. Occupational (1) Units of assessment shall be awarded on the basis of employment 10 |
| Factor opportunities in Canada in the occupation |
(a) for which the applicant meets the employment requirements for
Canada as set out in the National Occupational Classification;
(b) in which the applicant has performed a substantial number of
the main duties as set out in the National Occupational
Classification, including the essential ones; and
(c) that the applicant is prepared to follow in Canada.
(2) The employment opportunities shall be determined by taking into
account labour market activity on both an area and a national basis,
following consultation with the Department of Human Resources
Development, provincial governments and any other relevant organizations
and institutions.
| 5. Arranged Ten units shall be awarded if, in the opinion of the visa officer, 10 |
Employment the opinion of the visa officer,
| or Designated (a) the person has arranged employment in Canada that, based |
| Occupation on the information provided by the National Employment Service |
offers reasonable prospects of continuity and wages and working
conditions sufficient to attract and retain in employment Canadian
citizens or permanent residents,
(b) based on information provided by the National Employment
Service, employment of the person in Canada will not adversely
affect employment opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent
residents in Canada, and
| (c) the person will likely be able to meet all federal, provincial and |
other applicable licensing and regulatory requirements related to the
employment, or if, in the opinion of the visa officer,
(d) the person is qualified for and is prepared to engage in employment
in a designated occupation,
(e) based on information provided by the National Employment
Service, employment in the designated occupation offers
reasonable prospects of continuity and wages and working conditions
sufficient to attract and retain in employment Canadian citizens or
permanent residents, and
(f) the person will likely be able to meet all federal, provincial and
other applicable licensing or regulatory requirements related to
employment in the designated occupation.
| 6. Demographic Units of assessment shall be awarded as determined by the 10 |
| Factor Minister after consultation with the provinces and such other persons, |
organizations and institutions as he deems appropriate concerning
regional demographic needs, labour market considerations and the
ability of the national infrastructure to accommodate population growth.
| 7. Age Ten units of assessment shall be awarded with respect to a person who |
is at least 21 years of age and not more than 44 years of age. Where a
person is more than 44 years or less than 21 years of age, two units
shall be subtracted from the maximum of ten units for each year by which
the person exceeds 44 or is less than 21 years of age.
| 8. Knowledge of (1) For the first official language, whether English or French, 15 |
| English and language, whether English or French, as stated by the person, credits |
| French shall be awarded according to the level of proficiency in each of the |
| Languages following abilities, namely, speaking, reading and writing, as |
follows:
(a) for an ability to speak, read or write fluently, three credits
shall be awarded for each ability;
(b) for an ability to speak, read or write well but not fluently,
two credits shall be awarded for each ability;
(c) for an ability to speak, read or write with difficulty, no
credits shall be awarded for that ability.
(2) For the second official language, whether English or French, as stated
by the person, credits shall be awarded according to the level of proficiency
in each of the following abilities, namely, speaking, reading and writing, as
follows:
(a) for an ability to speak, read or write fluently, two credits
shall be awarded for each ability;
(b) for an ability to speak, read or write well but not fluently,
one credit shall be awarded for each ability; and
(c) for an ability to speak, read or write with difficulty, no
credits shall be awarded for that ability.
(3) Units of assessment shall be awarded on the basis of the total number
of credits awarded under subsections (1) and (2) as follows:
(a) for zero credits or one credit, zero units;
(b) for two to five credits, two units; and
(c) for six or more credits, one unit for each credit.
| 9. Personal Units of assessment shall be awarded on the basis of an interview with 10 |
| Suitability the person to reflect the personal suitability of the person and his dependants to become successfully established in Canada based on the |
person's adaptability, motivation, initiative, resourcefulness and other
similar qualities.
| 10. [Repealed, SOR/85-1038, s. 8] |
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
SOR/79-167, s. 5; SOR/85-1038, s. 8; SOR/93-44, ss. 24, 25; SOR/93-412, ss. 17, 18; SOR/97-184, s. 9(F); SOR/97-242, ss. 3 to 5.
ANNEXE I
(art. 7, 8 et 11)
======================================================================================
| Colonne I Colonne II Colonne III |
| Nombre maximal |
| Facteurs Critères de points |
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
| 1. Études (1) Sous réserve des paragraphes (2)à (4), des points d"appréciation 16 |
à (4), des points d'appréciation sont attribués selon le barème suivant :
a) lorsqu'un diplôme d'études secondaires n'a pas été obtenu,
aucun point;
b) lorsqu'un diplôme d'études secondaires a été obtenu, le plus
élevé des nombres de points applicables suivants :
(i) si le diplôme ne rend pas le titulaire admissible à des
études universitaires et ne lui confère pas de qualification
de membre d'un corps de métier ou d'un groupe professionnel
dans le pays où il a été obtenu, 5 points,
(ii) si le diplôme rend le titulaire admissible à des études
universitaires dans le pays où il a été obtenu, 10 points,
(iii) si le diplôme confère une qualification de membre d'un
corps de métier ou d'un groupe professionnel dans le pays où
il a été obtenu, 10 points;
c) lorsqu'un diplôme ou un certificat d'apprentissage d'un collège,
| d'une école de métiers ou de tout autre établissement postsecondaire, |
qui comporte au moins un an d'études à temps plein en salle de cours, a été
obtenu, le plus élevé des nombres de points applicables suivants :
(i) si le programme d'études menant à un tel diplôme ou certificat
| exige un diplôme d'études secondaires visé aux sous-alinéas b)(i) |
ou (iii), 10 points,
(ii) si le programme d'études menant à un tel diplôme ou
certificat exige un diplôme d'études secondaires visé au
sous-alinéa b)(ii), 13 points;
d) lorsqu'un diplôme universitaire de premier cycle, comportant
au moins trois ans d'études à temps plein, a été obtenu, 15 points;
e) lorsqu'un diplôme universitaire de second ou de troisième cycle a été
obtenu, 16 points.
(2) Des points d'appréciation ne sont attribués que pour les diplômes ou certificats visés
aux alinéas (1)b) à e) qui ont été obtenus d'un établissement autre qu'un établissement
désigné et dans le cadre d'un programme d'études autre qu'un programme d'études désigné.
(3) Lors de la détermination du nombre de points d'appréciation à attribuer, selon l'alinéa
applicable du paragraphe (1), un seul diplôme ou certificat est pris en considération.
(4) Les points d'appréciation visés aux alinéas (1)b) à e) ne peuvent être attribués
cumulativement et seul le nombre de points le plus élevé, parmi les alinéas applicables,
est retenu.
| 2. Études et (1) À évaluer suivant le programme d"études et la période de formation professionnelle,18 |
formation d'apprentissage, de formation en usine ou de formation en cours d'emploi précisés dans
la Classification nationale des professions comme étant nécessaires pour acquérir les
connaissances théoriques et pratiques et les compétences qu'exige la profession
pour laquelle le requérant est apprécié selon l'article 4. Les points d'appréciation
sont attribués selon le barème suivant :
a) lorsqu'aucun programme d'études et aucune période de formation ne
sont nécessaires, 1 point;
b) lorsque quelques années d'études secondaires, une formation en cours
d'emploi ou de l'expérience sont nécessaires, 2 points;
| c) lorsqu'un diplôme d'études secondaires est nécessaire, 5 points; |
| d) lorsqu'un cours pratique, une formation, des ateliers ou de l'expérience |
reliés à la profession sont nécessaires, habituellement à la suite des études
secondaires, 7 points;
e) lorsqu'un certificat ou un diplôme d'études collégiales ou techniques est
nécessaire ou lorsqu'un programme de formation professionnelle,
d'apprentissage ou de formation spécialisée est nécessaire, 15 points;
f) lorsqu'un diplôme d'études universitaires au niveau du baccalauréat
est nécessaire, 17 points;
g) lorsqu'un diplôme d'études universitaires au niveau de la maîtrise ou
du doctorat ou un diplôme d'études professionnelles qui requiert des études
additionnelles au-delà du baccalauréat est nécessaire, 18 points.
(2) Lorsque plus d'un indicateur d'études et de formation est établi dans la Classification
nationale des professions pour une profession donnée, l'indicateur minimal est retenu
pour l'évaluation du facteur études et formation.
| 3. Expérience Des points d'appréciation sont attribués pour l"expérience acquise dans la profession8 |
pour laquelle le requérant est apprécié selon l'article 4 ou, dans le cas d'un entrepreneur,
pour l'expérience acquise dans la profession pour laquelle il possède les compétences
| voulues et qu'il est prêt à exercer au Canada. Ces points sont attribués selon le barème |
suivant :
a) lorsque 1 ou 2 points sont attribués aux termes de l'article 2, 2 points pour
la première année d'expérience;
b) lorsque de 5 à 7 points sont attribués aux termes de l'article 2, 2 points pour
chaque année d'expérience jusqu'à 2 années;
c) lorsque 15 points sont attribués aux termes de l'article 2, 2 points pour
chaque année d'expérience jusqu'à 3 années;
d) lorsque 17 ou 18 points sont attribués aux termes de l'article 2, 2 points pour
chaque année expérience jusqu'à 4 années.
| 4. Facteur (1) Des points d'appréciation sont attribués en fonction des possibilités d"emploi 10 |
| professionnel au Canada dans la profession : |
a) à l'égard de laquelle le requérant satisfait aux conditions d'accès, pour
le Canada, établies dans la Classification nationale des professions;
b) pour laquelle le requérant a exercé un nombre substantiel des fonctions
principales établies dans la Classification nationale des professions, dont
les fonctions essentielles;
c) que le requérant est prêt à exercer au Canada.
(2) Ces possibilités sont déterminées en fonction de l'activité sur le marché du travail
aux niveaux national et régional, après consultation du ministère du Développement
des ressources humaines, des gouvernements provinciaux et de toute autre organisation
ou institution compétente.
| 5. Emploi Dix points d'appréciation sont attribués si, de l"avis de l"agent des visas, 10 |
| réservé ou a) le requérant a, au Canada un emploi réservé qui, d'après les |
| profession renseignements fournis par le service national de placement, offre des |
| désignée perspectives de durée raisonnablement bonnes et des conditions de |
travail et un salaire de nature à attirer des citoyens canadiens ou des
résidents permanents pour qu'ils exercent et continuent d'exercer
l'emploi en question,
b) d'après les renseignements fournis par le service national
de placement, le fait d'employer le requérant au Canada ne nuira
pas aux possibilités d'emploi des citoyens canadiens ni des
résidents permanents résidant au Canada, et
c) le requérant pourra probablement obtenir, des autorités fédérales,
provinciales et autres, l'autorisation nécessaire pour l'emploi en
question, ou si, de l'avis de l'agent des visas,
d) le requérant possède les compétences voulues pour exercer
un emploi dans une profession désignée et est disposé à le faire,
e) d'après les renseignements fournis par le service national de
placement, l'emploi dans cette profession désignée offre des
perspectives de durée raisonnablement bonnes et des conditions
| de travail et un salaire de nature à attirer des citoyens canadiens ou |
des résidents permanents pour qu'ils exercent et continuent d'exercer
l'emploi en question, et
f) le requérant pourra probablement obtenir des autorités fédérales,
provinciales et autres, l'autorisation nécessaire pour exercer un emploi
dans cette profession désignée.
| 6. Facteur Des points d'appréciation sont attribués selon ce qu"établit le ministre après avoir 10 |
| démographique consulté les provinces, ainsi que les personnes, organisations et institutions qu'il |
estime nécessaire de consulter sur les besoins démographiques régionaux, la situation
| du marché du travail et la capacité d'adaptation de l'infrastructure du pays à la croissance démographique. |
| 7. Âge Dix points d'appréciation sont attribués aux requérants âgés d"au moins vingt et un ans |
et d'au plus quarante-quatre ans. Les requérants de plus de quarante-quatre ans ou de
moins de vingt et un ans perdent deux points pour chaque année de plus de quarante-
quatre ans ou de moins de vingt et un ans, jusqu'à concurrence de dix points.
| 8. Connaissance (1) Pour la langue que la personne indique comme sa première langue officielle, 15 |
français et de comme sa première langue officielle, le français ou l"anglais, selon son niveau
| l'anglais compétence à l'égard de chacune des capacités suivantes : l'expression orale, la |
lecture et l'écriture, des crédits sont attribués de la façon suivante :
a) la capacité de parler, de lire ou d'écrire couramment, trois crédits
sont attribués pour chaque capacité;
b) la capacité de parler, de lire ou d'écrire correctement mais pas
couramment, deux crédits sont attribués pour chaque capacité;
c) la capacité de parler, de lire ou d'écrire difficilement, aucun
crédit n'est attribué pour cette capacité.
(2) Pour la langue que la personne indique comme sa seconde langue officielle,
le français ou l'anglais, selon le niveau de compétence pour chacune des
capacités suivantes : l'expression orale, la lecture et l'écriture, des crédits
sont attribués de la façon suivante :
a) la capacité de parler, de lire ou d'écrire couramment, deux
crédits sont attribués pour chaque capacité;
b) la capacité de parler, de lire ou d'écrire correctement mais pas
couramment, un crédit est attribué pour chaque capacité;
c) la capacité de parler, de lire ou d'écrire difficilement, aucun
crédit n'est attribué pour cette capacité.
(3) Des points d'appréciation sont attribués sur la base du nombre total de
crédits obtenus selon les paragraphes (1) et (2), d'après le barème suivant :
a) zéro ou un crédit, aucun point;
b) de deux à cinq crédits, deux points;
c) six crédits ou plus, un point par crédit.
| 9. Personnalité Des points d'appréciation sont attribués au requérant au cours d"une entrevue qui 10 |
permettra de déterminer si lui et les personnes à sa charge sont en mesure de
réussir leur installation au Canada, d'après la faculté d'adaptation du requérant,
sa motivation, son esprit d'initiative, son ingéniosité et autres qualités semblables.
10. [Abrogé, DORS/85-1038, art. 8]
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
DORS/79-167, art. 5; DORS/85-1038, art. 8; DORS/93-44, art. 24 et 25; DORS/93-412, art. 17 et 18; DORS/97-184, art. 9(F); DORS/97-242, art. 3 à 5.