usaloser said:Oh Canadiana,
Thanks so much for your responses here. My situation is quite similar to "biyaya" but probably much worse. My FBI certificate expires on August 13th (3 months counting from date of issue). I do not have any IELTS scores. I have the whole application packet ready and just like the poster you responded to below, I fear that by the time I take IELTS in September/October, the job code will have its quota filled up. Not only that, my FBI certificate would also expire by then. I do have 10 year old TOEFL scores, a 637 out of a 677, transcripts of my undergraduate degree from United States (including A grade in critical writing and A grade in speech class) and GMAT Verbal of 86th percentile - just listing the evidence of English language proficiency that I have. I have been working as a consultant in USA for the past five years serving fortune 500 clients and as you can imagine, English is just like my first language.
Do you think it makes sense for me to apply now without the IELTS score with a letter explaining the situation while giving evidence of my English language proficiency and promising to deliver the IELTS results as soon as I have them? What is the worse case scenario here? They return my packet and then I resend it with the IELTS in October? Best case, they keep my application, and I send my IELTS scores in October to CIO.
Alternatively, I could wait till I have my IELTS results in October and then apply with a 5 month old FBI certificate. That is also risky because then I'd have an expired FBI certificate and two months down the road may not have the open slots in my NOC code.
Please advise which of the two options I should go for ! Thanks so much for anyone's thoughtful responses to my dilemma.
Welcome back, usaloser.
My reply last time holds: all applicants as of June 26 2010 have to submit an approved language test result (even native language speakers).
(my post is at: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/important-need-to-send-all-documents-to-the-cio-now-not-visa-office-t45808.0.html;msg354178#msg354178
My understanding is that the difference to Biyaya's situation (which you use as comparison) is that you haven’t taken the IELTS or CELPIP and thus may have less confidence re what your score would be. A suggestion: mitigate this with practice and by taking the test. Why are you waiting until October? As a consultant in your position, you have important advantages over most applicants: the financial resources and the hotel and airline miles to be able to fly to one of many IELTS test locations with space available (or to take the CELPIP) - use them! Being in the US, you can order Cambridge practice tests and have them overnight. If you feel ready for it, FWIW, there is a test this Saturday.
In terms of the FBI, you know that they’ve already accepted your prints, so consider paying the $18 to send a new request to the FBI just in case you don’t get a chance to send the package before your current background check expires.
I understand that this may feel very frustrating for you. Everyone has their own trials and tribulations to go through as they go through the process. None of the items you’ve mentioned are insurmountable (hey, at least you are still eligible and didn’t find yourself out of the game overnight when the NOC codes changed!) – take advantage of the opportunities you have!
That all being said, only you can choose what path you go down and what risks you choose to take. Good luck with your application!