Case Bckground Information:
The sample case illustrates a real and successfully-executed application. Only the names of the applicant, the universities and company in the case have been altered to protect the privacy of the applicant.
The following is the applicant, Mr. Jason Kim's situation. Mr. Kim is a Korean citizen. He graduated from Dong Guk University in Korea with a Bachelor degree in Computer Science in 1992 and then worked as a Software Engineer at Asia Technology Inc., Seoul, Korea, till 1996 when he came to US for graduate study. Mr. Jason Kim is currently a Ph.D. graduate student in Computer Science Department at Columbia University, USA.
Mr. Kim came to Columbia University in Fall, 1996 and he submitted his application as an Independent Immigrant in early 1997 to Canadian Immigration Regional Program Center (RPC) in Buffalo, New York. His application was approved five months later and he is presently finishing his Ph.D. study in US.
Mr. Kim was married with no children when he filed his application.
Mr. Kim's Qualification Assessment:
This sample of self-assessment for qualifications is based on Mr. Jason Kim’s resume and other personal information. It explains how to evaluate your points for the 10 factors required by the Canadian government.
Factor 1: Age (maximum 10 points)Points are given for your age at the time your application is received.
Mr. Jason Kim was 26 when he filed his application. So he entered 10.
Table 1: Age Point
Age
Total Points
18
4
19
6
20
8
21-44
10
45
8
46
6
47
4
48
2
49 and over
0
KIM’S SCORE
10
Factor 2: Education (maximum 16 points)
Mr. Jason Kim had a Bachelor degree in Computer Science. So he entered 15.
You have not completed secondary school
0
You have completed secondary school but not in a program that allows for university entrance or does not include trade or occupational certification
5
Secondary school completed in a program that provides for university entrance
10
Secondary school completed in a program that includes trade or occupational certification
10
Post–secondary program completed (for example, college, trade school or apprenticeship) which required, as a condition of admission, secondary schooling at a level that does not ordinarily allow for entrance to a university (the gram must have included at lease one year of full–time classroom study)
10
Post–secondary program completed (for example, college, trade school or apprenticeship) which required, as a condition of admission, secondary schooling at a level that allows for entrance to a university (the program must have included at least one year of full–time classroom study)
13
University degree in a program that requires at least three years of full–time study
15
Second or third–level university degree (for example, Masters, PhD)
16
KIM’S SCORE
15
Factor 3: Education/Training Factor (maximum 18 points)
Education/Training Factor (ETF) refers to the length of training, education, and/or apprenticeship required to work in your occupation in Canada.
Mr. Jason Kim was a Software Engineer and he intended to continue to do so in Canada. From the "General Occupations List", he found the ETF for Software Engineer was 17.
If your occupation is listed in the General Occupations List (see Factor 4),
give yourself the number of points listed under the column marked "ETF"
for that occupation
As
Listed 17
If your occupation is not on the General Occupations List but you have "arranged employment" validated by a Human Resources Canada Center, the ETF points will be shown on the notification of arranged employment sent to you by the visa office
As
listed
KIM’S SCORE
17
Factor 4: Occupation (maximum 10 points)
You must score at least one point in this catagory in order to qualify for independant immigration. If you do not score at least one point, you must have arranged employment.
Mr. Jason Kim found from the "General Occupations List" the points as listed for Software Engineer was 5.
If your occupation is not indicated on the enclosed General Occupations List, check if there is another occupation for which you are qualified and experienced. If so, give yourself the points listed
As
Listed
5If there is no occupation listed for which you are qualified
0
If you have arranged employment
10
KIM’S SCORE
5
Factor 5: Arranged Employment (10 points)
"Arranged employment" is a guaranteed job offer by a Canadian employer that has been validated by a Human Resources Canada Center certifying that no suitably qualified Canadian or permanent resident is available to fill the position.
Mr. Jason Kim didn’t have a job offer from Canada. So he entered 0.
If you have arranged employment. (If you have arranged employment and the ETF (Factor 3) is 15 or more, you may also give yourself 10 points under Factor 4).
10
If you are a member of the clergy and have a letter from a congregation in Canada offering you a permanent salaried position.
10
If your family in Canada has a business in which you will work full time. This process must be initiated in Canada and the offer of employment must be approved by a Canada Immigration Center. As a first step, your relative in Canada should contact their nearest Canada Immigration Center and ask for information on the Family Business Program
10
KIM’S SCORE
0
Factor 6: Work experience (maximum 8 points)
You must have the equivalent of at least one year’s experience in your occupation to score a point in this factor. If you do not, your application will be refused and you must either wait until you gain the required experience or have a pre–arranged job validated by a Human Resources Canada Center which states that the prospective employer in Canada does not require you to have a year of experience.
The number of points depends on:
the number of years you have worked in your intended occupation after completion of formal training;
the number of points you scored for ETF (Factor 3.) You will find the point value of your ETF listed beside your occupation in the enclosed General Occupations List. Use Table 2 to calculate the number of points you would receive for experience. Find the point value that corresponds to your ETF (Factor 3), and read across to the number of years of experience you have in your occupation. This number is your score.
Mr. Jason Kim’s ETF points are 17 (see Factor 3) and he had 4 years of work experience. So he entered 8.
Table 2: Work Experience Point
ETF Points
1 Year
2 Years
3 Years
4 Years or more
1 to 2
2
2
2
2
5 to 7
2
4
4
4
15
2
4
6
6
17 to 18
2
4
6
8
KIM’S SCORE
8
Factor 7: Language Ability (maximum 15 points)
If you are fluent in both of Canada’s official languages (English and French), give yourself 15 points. If you are not fluent in both official languages, use Table 3 to estimate your credits. Award the credits that best reflect your ability to read, write and speak English and/or French. Use the following definitions:
Fluent: very good command of the language in a range of social and work situations, and no difficulty communicating in a professional capacity
Well: can communicate reasonably well about personal and familiar things
With difficulty: can speak/read/write just a few basic words
Mr. Jason Kim considers his English is proficiency. So he entered 9.
Table 3: Language Points
First Language
Read
Write
Speak
Fluent
3
3
3
Well
2
2
2
With difficulty
0
0
0
Second Language
Read
Write
Speak
Fluent
2
2
2
Well
1
1
1
With difficulty
0
0
0
Add the credits: Total of read + write + speak = ___9___ (total)
Calculate the number of points as follows:
For a total of 0 or 1 credit: 0 points
For a total of 2 to 5 credits: 2 points
For a total of 6 to 15 credits: the same number of points as of credits Factor 8: Demographic Factor
KIM’S SCORE
9
This is a number set by the federal government of Canada. Award yourself 8 points
8
KIM’S SCORE
8
Factor 9: Personal Suitability (maximum 10 points)
This factor has to do with how well a person and his/her family are deemed able to settle successfully in Canada. It refers to a person’s adaptability, motivation, initiative and resourcefulness. For your application to merit further consideration you should have at least 60 points before you add this factor to your score.
A visa officer will only award the points for personal suitability at your view. The most you can get is 10. The average is 5 to 7 points; few applicants receive either 0 or 10. You may wish to award yourself an average score of 6 in this factor.
6
KIM’S SCORE
6
Factor 10: Relative in Canada (maximum 5 bonus points)
Mr. Jason Kim didn’t have any relative in Canada. So he entered 0.
Table 4: Self–Assessment Worksheet
Give yourself 5 points if a brother, sister, mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen living in Canada. You must provide documents proving the relationship.
5
KIM’S SCORE
0
To calculate the total number of points.
Factor
Maximum Points
Your Score
1
Age
10
10
2
Education
16
15
3
Education/Training Factor (training/education/apprenticeship)
18
17
4
Occupation (you need at least 1 point or arranged employment)
10
5
5
Arranged employment
10
0
6
Work experience (you need a minimum of 2 points or ranged employment
8
8
7
Language ability
15
9
8
Demographic factor
10
8
9
Personal suitability (For your application to merit further consideration you should have at least 60 points before you add this factor to your score.)
10
6
10
Relative in Canada (bonus)
5
0
Total
78
The total points for Mr. Jason Kim were 78. Depending on your experience and qualifications, your points may be different from his result but you need score 70 points to qualify.