Honourable Marco E.L. Mendicino:

Office of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada

Dear Honourable Minister Marco E. L. Mendicino,

Congratulations on your appointment as the Immigration Minister of Canada.  It is with high hopes that we, aspiring immigrants and International student graduates from Canadian Institution, believe that you as the new Minister will bring positive change in the bottlenecks and bureaucracies in the immigration rules over the years.

We are confident that you are in a better position to understand our common situation as International students in knowing the fact that your family immigrated from Italy and you also schooled in Canada.  Hence, you are the best person to suggest the changes to the six-member standing committee on Citizenship and Immigration since you can attest to all the above facts of suffering and disappointments this has caused International graduates from Canada.

This petition is addressed to the Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Immigration Minister and the six- standing committee on Citizenship and Immigration to examine and resolve the issues we have presented.

As International Students would like to open up our situation being ill-treated by the Immigration rules with regards to the mandatory requirement to take exams for proficiency in English or French language despite having graduated from Canadian Institution that uses English as the main language in the education.  I am certain that you, Honorable Minister can attest to the quality of the delivery of English courses in Canadian Colleges and Universities.  Almost every semester has an English subject that aims to develop the writing, reading, speaking and listening skills of the students and, even the presentation skills.

Prior to enrollment to a Canadian Institution, the school requires passing the minimum score requirements for these language proficiency assessments most especially English language in order to be admitted.  We have to take these exams prior to coming in Canada for education.  For the purpose of education, we believe that these tests are necessary.  However, we take a stand that this is not to be imposed as a requirement for immigration for the International Students who graduated in Canada and it should not be a major contributor in the point system for Express Entry scoring.  The result of these language proficiency test is valid for only two years, hence the student who took 3 or more years of study will need to re-take the exam after graduation to fulfil the Express Entry requirement.  It is an additional expense to students trying to recover from International tuition fees.

In addition, I would like to bring to the Committee notification the presence of fake Language tests that were used and discovered by a Canadian College when a higher percentage of students who claimed to have passed have actually failed woefully and could not speak.  This incident was all over the news and, in the recent discovery, there were more than a hundred immigrants who were turned back at the airport due to presenting fake language results.  Several students who failed the language test could not graduate from school which evidence the quality of education and language proficiency is a requirement before students can graduate from an Institution.

Honourable Minister if we are truly to ask ourselves the question on the purpose and essence of subjecting international graduate immigrants to write the IELTS / CELPIP or TEF exams, it is to ascertain that migrants are able to show evidence of communicating (Speaking, Listening, Writing and Reading) in English/French, however, the refugee, family-sponsored and many other categories get a PR approval without having to seat for the test and cannot communicate effectively in English nor French. 

International students who were taught in the Canadian official language (English or French) underwent series of rigorous learning prior to graduating yet the immigration system requirements do not respect, appreciate, nor take into consideration the language education attained in a Canadian institution. International students were studying in either of the official languages; reading reference texts and writing exams, assignments, and term papers in class, listening and speaking in the class, attending various seminars, networking events, granting informational interviews, and finally presenting to an audience, do have evidence of the language proficiency.

The English /  French Language is a compulsory course you have to undertake before graduating from a college or university regardless of the program you are studying depending on the Province. 

If were are to be truthful to ourself Honourable minister, the essence of the language test is to ascertain an individual /Immigrant can communicate within the community and society effectively, however, this purpose is defeated with the requirement being mandated for thousands of graduates who have invested heavily in their education career in Canada, communicating and studying in English or French Language (Reading and studying hard to pass exams, writing exams, assignments and term papers in class, listening and speaking to lectures in class, attending various seminars, attending networking events, granting informational interviews and finally presenting formally in front of the audience.)

Also, the immigration system is not taking credit for the experience doing part-time jobs while studying, residing and communicating effectively at work, society and community.  Graduates feel that the immigration requirements have failed them and does not respect, appreciate nor take into consideration the education they have attained in Canadian Institution is more valuable, and an investment worth in thousands aimed to facilitate a  successful settlement and integration in Canada.  The fortune invested in school fees into the educational sector and economy as well as gaining valuable knowledge is worth starting a career in Canada.

Graduates are of the strong opinion that the Government, CIC should eradicate the exploitation of graduates from IELTS / CELPIP or TEF fees paid every time they take the test, time consumed and other expenses incurred in booking and travelling cost to exam centres. To make it worst, the exams expire in two years which boils down to the purpose of writing the test is defeated.  The test generates funds for the various exam providers which is not fair and right for graduates who have studied and graduated in Canadian Institution. 

It would be appropriate if students who have studied in Canada be given the highest point automatically under the various immigration programs such as Express Entry, Provincial nomination and the various scheme Language Proficiency once a graduate has earned a diploma, Degree or PhD certificate in Canada. 

It would be ideal for CIC to respect, appreciate the investment, value of education taught in Canada and accept the education taught by Canadian Institutions as evidence to prove language proficiency.  It is enough evidence to be able to communicate effectively by writing, speaking, reading and listening.  It would be ideal if the maximum points are awarded to graduates on the proficiency requirements. 

Most importantly, the graduates who have studied here in Canada should be able to start a life and build the economic growth of the country and should be given an upper edge under the various immigration requirement knowing the investment, relocation and value earned while studying in Canada. It would be great if the old system is re-adopted, where graduates from a Canadian institution earns 600 points upon securing a job after graduation to start contributing to society due to the shortages of manpower and the recent Coronavirus epidemic.

Many graduates left their respective country to come to Canada to study, learn and work with the understanding that 600 points are to be achieved upon securing a valid job offer after the education but the rule was changed along the line putting millions of immigrants who are already in Canada studying prior to its implementation in jeopardy after the 600 points from job offer to qualify for PR was eradicated.

It would be ideal for CIC to revisit the 600 points eradicated to graduates who have secured a valid job and should be given priority knowing the rigorous requirements prior to the student visa was approved, therefore graduates whom who wish to settle in Canada after graduating and securing a job should have the easy pathway to settlement in Canada to get the PR status regardless of the age.

Many Graduates had to return to their respective countries after working in several respective organisations who value the quality of work and valuable experience they can contribute.  Unfortunately due to the graduates not having sufficient points under the points-based immigration system despite having a PhD, Masters, Diploma and over 15 years external and one-year internal experience in Canada still finds it difficult to attain the required points to get an ITA nor meets the requirement.

Due to fact that the PGWP cannot be extended, employers are unwilling to do an LMIA for graduates to get a work permit to continue on the same job due to the rigorous stress involved which leads to the graduate leaving the country after the expiration of the PGWP which has defeated the purpose of Canada calling for immigrants to come work in Canada when doors are shut to students with a lot of valuable experience and has formed their life here in Canada with his/her family. 

I implore many immigrants who have graduated, yet to graduate or attain the PR status after suffering to sign and share this petition to allow graduates who left their countries to start a career and life here in Canada after completion of the education in a Canadian Institution to be exempted from the language test as well as the adverse changes in immigration rule of eradicating the 600 points with a valid job offer which should be considered for Canadain graduates.

Honourable Prime Minister, Immigration Minister and Committee, it doesn’t make sense that Graduates from a Canadian Institution is asked to seat for the language proficiency test. I expect the committee and the education ministry should be able to approve and waive the language proficiency test for Canadian which is undermining the qualitative Canadian education learning institute isn’t valid proof of communication for a 1-3years duration.

Sincerely,

Yomi

A similar petition (https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-automatic-permanent-resident-pr-status-for-international-students-upon-degree-completion?recruiter=827275618&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_medium=whatsapp&utm_content=washarecopy_14971464_en-CA%3Av4&recruited_by_id=29eced00-c110-11e7-8e36-d1e756de9ae1 in line with the necessary changes was also raised which we need every Interantional studentsupport 

Thank you so much for your support in signing the petition.

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