How to skip the language requirement

[kk1957]

My Mother fulfills all requirements for the Citizenship application except the language requirement. She will be 54 this August, does not know english, does not work and not even able to do the house work without pain in the body, how can she take english classes at this age? Is there a way to skip the language requirements for her?

Has anyone in this forum been able to skip the language requirements?

Please help!!

 

[MiriamT]

My Mother fulfills all requirements for the Citizenship application except the language requirement. She will be 54 this August, does not know english, does not work and not even able to do the house work without pain in the body, how can she take english classes at this age? Is there a way to skip the language requirements for her?

Has anyone in this forum been able to skip the language requirements?

Please help!!

If she turns 55 soon, and (hypothetically) before the new requirements come into effect (applicants aged 14-64 years old will be required to fulfill language requirements; now it's 18-54) then she wouldn't need it. (Source: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=859509 )

I was looking around CIC's website and found the following:

"Step 7: If you do not think you can get the results to apply for citizenship, we suggest enrolling in a free, government-funded course that provides proof we will accept. These include:
the federal LINC/CLIC course; or
a provincially-funded language program in British Columbia’s English Language Services for Adult (ELSA), Manitoba, Ontario, or Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (in French only)." Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/language-step-7.asp

 

[polara69]

My Mother fulfills all requirements for the Citizenship application except the language requirement. She will be 54 this August, does not know english, does not work and not even able to do the house work without pain in the body, how can she take english classes at this age? Is there a way to skip the language requirements for her?

Has anyone in this forum been able to skip the language requirements?

Please help!!

In my opinion, if you cannot speak one of the national languages, English or French, you should not being able to become a citizen. It is a matter of respect towards the country you live in. But hey, Canadians are known to be softies!!!

 

[era1521]

My Mother fulfills all requirements for the Citizenship application except the language requirement. She will be 54 this August, does not know english, does not work and not even able to do the house work without pain in the body, how can she take english classes at this age? Is there a way to skip the language requirements for her?

Has anyone in this forum been able to skip the language requirements?

Please help!!

No intention to disrespect, but why would your mother need to have the citizenship under circumstances you mentioned?

 

[wd1]

Learning english would be wort it. She still has lots of life ahead of her.

 

[kk1957]

In my opinion, if you cannot speak one of the national languages, English or French, you should not being able to become a citizen. It is a matter of respect towards the country you live in. But hey, Canadians are known to be softies!!!

No intention to disrespect, but why would your mother need to have the citizenship under circumstances you mentioned?

I understand what you mean, but the true reality is that even though French and English are official languages, she has been able to get around with her native language for last 7 years.
Being a Canadian is more than being eligible to a bunch of laws set by some people. Until a few years ago, one could give the knowledge test in the language of their choice. 911 itself is equipped to provide support with 100+ languages.

 

[susann]

I understand what you mean, but the true reality is that even though French and English are official languages, she has been able to get around with her native language for last 7 years.
Being a Canadian is more than being eligible to a bunch of laws set by some people. Until a few years ago, one could give the knowledge test in the language of their choice. 911 itself is equipped to provide support with 100+ languages.

I am sorry that you have the trouble with your mom. She is in Canada for 7 years and she never felt the need to learn the language. Why is she feeling the need to become a Citizen of a country which language she do not want to learn? And why should Canada make an exception to a person, who does not feel that speaking the language of the country is important?
And in the case she was sick for the whole 7 years and was not able to attend any of the free English classes that are offert, she should have taken some online English courses at home.

She is a representer of the county in the rest of the world. I would find it strange meeting a citizen of a country and he/she can not speak the language.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[dpenabill]

My Mother fulfills all requirements for the Citizenship application except the language requirement. She will be 54 this August, does not know english, does not work and not even able to do the house work without pain in the body, how can she take english classes at this age? Is there a way to skip the language requirements for her?

Has anyone in this forum been able to skip the language requirements?

Please help!!

Everything else aside, the revised requirements will take effect prior to her being entitled to the age waiver under current regulations. The revised requirements statutorily increase the age at which the waiver becomes available by another ten years.

Same for the knowledge of Canada requirements.

The difference is that proof of language must be submitted with the application itself for anyone who is not entitled to the waiver. Not including proof of language with the application renders it incomplete and it will be returned.

There are other grounds for waivers, medical grounds for example. You do not hint of these.

Thus, unfortunately, it appears that in order for her to become a citizen before 2026 (when she would be entitled to a waiver under the new requirements), she would have to learn either English or French.

 

[eileenf]

There are some exceptions given to taking the knowledge test if the applicant has a mental or intellectual disability that they declare (and ask for accommodation of) at the time of application. This doesn't sound like it applies to your mother though.

Applicants need to take the knowledge test and do the interview in one of the official languages, so in fact your mother would need an exception to these requirements as well, not just the language proof requirement. As Dpenabill and others have said, if health precludes her from learning English or French, she will likely need to wait until she is 65 to apply for citizenship.

 

[wilbur]

Agreed 100%, if there is no interest in learning the language I don't see the point of becoming a Citizen, why would she want to? Only for the passport? It is not fair...

I am sorry that you have the trouble with your mom. She is in Canada for 7 years and she never felt the need to learn the language. Why is she feeling the need to become a Citizen of a country which language she do not want to learn? And why should Canada make an exception to a person, who does not feel that speaking the language of the country is important?
And in the case she was sick for the whole 7 years and was not able to attend any of the free English classes that are offert, she should have taken some online English courses at home.

She is a representer of the county in the rest of the world. I would find it strange meeting a citizen of a country and he/she can not speak the language.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[era1521]

Until a few years ago, one could give the knowledge test in the language of their choice.

I never heard of this; citizenship test is focus on demonstrating ability to communicate in one of the official languages.

Again, why would she need the citizenship; to vote - I cant imagine getting any of politics with no language skills, so it makes no sense; for passport - you mentioned a fragile health not really suited up for world trekker.

 

[neutral]

My Mother fulfills all requirements for the Citizenship application except the language requirement. She will be 54 this August, does not know english, does not work and not even able to do the house work without pain in the body, how can she take english classes at this age? Is there a way to skip the language requirements for her?

Has anyone in this forum been able to skip the language requirements?

Please help!!

And what about the Citizenship Test? If she doesn't understand English (French I suppose neither) how she's going to pass the test?

 

[TomTony]

Guys please don't judge someone without knowing his/her situation, may be some kind of medical/social/religious/traditional privacy or problem has prevented kk1957's mother from learning English or French... Those who have information, please give kk1957 the right advice.

Regards to all.

 

[TomTony]

CIC website says "If you have a disorder, disability or condition that is cognitive, psychiatric or psychological in nature which prevents you from submitting upfront proof of language ability for citizenship, you must provide supporting documentary evidence to assist decision makers in understanding the basis of your claim. Please note that we will not process your application and will return the entire application to you if such supporting documentary evidence is not included."

I think cognitive condition includes problems with thinking, memorizing, language use, and attention. So if she has one of those problems, she can ask a letter from her family doctor stating her condition, it will be better if she asks her family doctor to refer her to a specialist, get a letter from a specialist, and send the letter with the application...

Make sure to add a cover letter with the application.

I'm not sure about the refund policy for the returned applications. So please ignore my reply if you think you can not prove that your mother has any cognitive condition.

Good luck.

 

[jhjeppe]

Guys please don't judge someone without knowing his/her situation, may be some kind of medical/social/religious/traditional privacy or problem has prevented kk1957's mother from learning English or French... Those who have information, please give kk1957 the right advice.

Regards to all.

Please do not take this the wrong way, this might sound harsh, but it is the best advice that anyone can give you...

I am sorry, but your comment is as convoluted as the original poster's question above...

Consider this:

A person that is a citizen of a country should be able to speak a language that the majority of the population can understand, without this necessary skill, the person is as useless as a bucket of armpits to that country and it's community.

How will this person become involved in a political affiliation? How will they communicate with government employees without the need of expensive translation services? How will this person successfully integrate within society? Continue Education? or do just about anything else but sit at home and be of no use to the country that they are a citizen of?

Im sorry if I am sounding rash but the time of freeloaders and fraudsters are over, you absolutely cannot count yourself as part of Canada without the necessary language skills.

Don't you find it frustrating when you go to a store and someone who cannot speak a lick of english is attempting to help you? seriously? I cannot remember the amount of times I had to ask a manager if I could speak to someone who didn't come to this country on a floating door...

It's really simple. Learn the language, it's the most basic requirement of immigrating anywhere.

In 7 years this individual has had no interest in learning any type of language skill, now she expects Canada to help her out a little? no... This will not work.

Immigration & Citizenship is not a one way street, you need to do your part as well. You cannot expect to get a bunch of handouts if you haven't done anything to at least try and integrate into Canadian Society...

Im sorry my friend, but you will find that this is the opinion of most people, Immigrants as well as citizens...