The Self
Assessment Test
Can I qualify on my
own?
WHAT IS THE
SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST?
The Application for
Permanent Residents in Canada for Independent Applicants
is a skilled worker application. Therefore, Canada
assesses immigration applicants primarily against a set
of criteria related to the applicant's occupation--the
skills, qualifications, education, and experience in that
occupation. In addition, the occupation MUST be listed on
the General Occupations List (which is included in the
Application Kit) unless the applicant has a permanent job
offer validated by a Human Resources Canada
Centre.
The Self-Assessment Test
in the application kit and the free Self-Assessment Tests
on the Web are NOT how the Visa office determines you
points. What I mean is, we don't submit our test results
to them. Those are merely guides to help
applicants estimate the points they may receive by
the Visa office in the initial assessment of their
application. The Visa office will assess points based on
the information provided in the application as well as
from additional information they require such as proof of
relatives, copies of degrees/training/schooling,
employment letters, and so on. The self-assessment guide
and the LEGIT Guidelines booklet: Canadian Immigration
for Same-Sex Partners--How to Prepare an Application on
Humanitarian & Compassionate Grounds should be
used to help decide whether an H&C application
process is the best method of immigration for an
individual.
TAKING THE
SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST
When I took the
self-assessment test I scored in the mid-50s point range.
Although other factors are considered, an applicant must
score a minimum of 70 points to qualify for final (post
interview) immigration consideration. Since the interview
is worth 10 points, I would have needed at least 60
points for my application to pass the initial assessment.
(My application kit states that "if you score fewer than
60 [pre-interview] points...your application may
not merit further consideration.") In addition, the visa
office will tally up the points based on the responses
provided in the application. I was a little generous in
my own point-giving, but I've been told it is advisable
to score oneself more on the low side to get an truer
estimate of what the Visa office might come up with. It
is their assessment that counts, not yours, so don't be
overly generous in your immigration self-assessment
test.
The points and initial
assessment by the visa office isn't cut and dry, so some
people might consider going ahead and submitting
the application even though their own self-assessment
indicated slightly less than 60 points. However, as I
mentioned, the Application Kit does say, "If you score
less than 60 [pre-interview] points, your
application may not merit further consideration." So
it is a time consuming $500 gamble to try to apply with a
regular independent application with less than 60 points.
Immigration denials for regular Independent Applicants
can be appealed, but no right exists for denied H&C
applicants.
DECIDING ON THE BEST
APPLICATION PROCESS
If I had at least
60 points and had been confident I could have applied
successfully with a regular independent application I
would have submitted my application normally. However,
I scored less than 60 points, so I applied for
immigration requesting consideration under Humanitarian
and Compassionate grounds as discussed in
Canadian
Government Telex ORD0150, Processing of Same-Sex Cases (3
JUNE 1994).
When I realized I would
probably not qualify for immigration on my own, I
continued to learn more about Canadian immigration using
the web and the Canadian immigration newsgroup. Through
this I learned about LEGIT and the LEGIT Guidelines
booklet: Canadian Immigration for Same-Sex
Partners--How to Prepare an Application on Humanitarian
& Compassionate Grounds. Soon after that I began
preparations to submit my own such
application.
Disclaimer: Not intended as legal advice. Please see
About this Website for more information.
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