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ivicts

Hero Member
Jun 3, 2020
241
94
Singapore
Category........
FSW
NOC Code......
4012
AOR Received.
25-04-2023
If IRCC keeps draws regular and the only condition is IELTS + TEF - Canadian PR will continue to be easy. If they pause, show inconsistency, or change rules - it can be an endless chase imo. Last 3 years have been a good example. With number of students and work permit holders crossing all limits, you can be sure that FSWs will take a big hit sooner or later. Right now 481 is good, but for how long? If the draw size goes low (which it should) and PNP applications go high (which are, increase PNP quotas), things won't be predictable anymore.
The last 3 years were not a normal time due to COVID. The quota for economic immigrants through EE will increase from 83K to 109K next year so I assume the draw size will increase and the CRS will decrease instead. Maybe we will see CRS go back to 450s again? The thing that can keep the CRS high is the targeted draw which we have not heard anything about yet which is quite strange since we are at the end of March.
 

iSaidGoodDay

VIP Member
Feb 3, 2023
3,669
1,980
Kaneda
The last 3 years were not a normal time due to COVID. The quota for economic immigrants through EE will increase from 83K to 109K next year so I assume the draw size will increase and the CRS will decrease instead. Maybe we will see CRS go back to 450s again? The thing that can keep the CRS high is the targeted draw which we have not heard anything about yet which is quite strange since we are at the end of March.
That's the thing, one ITA doesn't mean one immigrant, it could be one, two or more. RCICs are saying IRCC only need to issue ~70k ITAs this year (I'm not sure if the math checks out). Even if you set that aside, the pool will replenish very fast. Previously, EE was not that popular, now everyone knows about EE and if scoring a good CLB in IELTS is not a big deal - that's why I wonder if 450s or sub 460s will ever happen. Also, in 2019 as the awareness of EE increased, we saw scores in the range of 460s (not sure if there was a pause at the start of 2019 too).

There are 800k students that entered Canada last year, they'd easily get 460+ score too. IRCC has the pool of future 460s+ ready with those numbers. Bill C-19 is going to slash a percentage of FSW draws this year and that doesn't seem to help people below 460 either.

Finally, 7k size draws could be outliers too, compensating for past pauses and could go away.
 
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Rach WLT

Star Member
Jul 13, 2021
73
10
Singapore
Category........
FSW
NOC Code......
1111
App. Filed.......
01-07-2022
hi the consent letter/authorization letter for joint account with my spouse to use as proof of funds. the letter should address to IRCC or to the bank?
 

Derr28

Member
Mar 31, 2023
17
6
Nope, no regrets.

French added 62 points to my score (if I remember correctly). I would be on around 440 without it and I don't expect CRS to drop this low anytime soon (if ever). It would take another 3 draws of 7,000 each to get it down to around 472.

I started learning French at the beginning of Covid lockdowns so I wouldn't be able to apply via FSW until mid 2022 anyway, so I didn't 'lose' any time or anything like that.

I got ITA at a perfect time (Oct 2022), when processing times are ridiculously fast. I never expected to get from ITA to COPR in 2.5 months and from ITA to landing in just over 6 months (landing at the end of April). This allowed me to time my move perfectly when I hoping for it to happen.

Learning another language, especially widely spoken one, is never a bad thing ;)

Last but not least - I like doing hard things. Learning French to B2+/C1 level in 10 months was something I would consider absolutely impossible if it wasn't the only way to increase my CRS score. Hell, the first French teacher I approached even refused to take me on because he said it's impossible. Well, I like proving that very few things are impossible and I consider learning French one of my biggest achievements.

So once again - nope, zero regrets :)
Congrats on your ITA, hope everything will work well for you in Canada! This just gave me even more motivation to pick up French now.

If you don't mind, could you share some tips on how you managed to get B2 in French in such a short period, or how you managed to break into the initial B1 level? Did you rely on a tutor throughout the 10 month period?

I've been learning French on my own for about 6 months now (about 2.5 hours a day) and would say i'm between A2-B1. But the thing is.. I've been stuck at this level for 2 months now. It just doesn't feel like i'm making any progress at all.

So far I'm just reading Harry Potter books, listening to InnerFrench podcast, doing Anki and writing a few short journals by myself. It's still hard to get used to all the "intermediate level verbs" that are so different from "A1-A2" verbs like "Tenir à + XX" = "vouloir XX". But i think i probably need them to get B2. Maybe it's time to engage a tutor for myself but i'm kinda hoping to save as much money as possible now for Canada.

I'm at 474 so I have 7 more points to go :confused:
 
Last edited:

AndyUK

Hero Member
Oct 15, 2022
358
384
Congrats on your ITA, hope everything will work well for you in Canada! This just gave me even more motivation to pick up French now.

If you don't mind, could you share some tips on how you managed to get B2 in French in such a short period, or how you managed to break into the initial B1 level? Did you rely on a tutor throughout the 10 month period?

I've been learning French on my own for about 6 months now (about 2.5 hours a day) and would say i'm between A2-B1. But the thing is.. I've been stuck at this level for 2 months now. It just doesn't feel like i'm making any progress at all.

So far I'm just reading Harry Potter books, listening to InnerFrench podcast, doing Anki and writing a few short journals by myself. It's still hard to get used to all the "intermediate level verbs" that are so different from "A1-A2" verbs like "Tenir à + qqc" = "vouloir". But i think i probably need them to get B2. Maybe it's time to engage a tutor for myself but i'm kinda hoping to save as much money as possible now for Canada.

I'm at 474 so I have 7 more points to go :confused:
Thanks! :)

Sure, always happy to help.

Yes, I had a tutor for the whole 10 months - 5x 1h every week plus exercises etc. so I was doing around 2.5h a day in total (literally every single day- if I missed a day, I would make up those hours on some other day).
I really admire people who can teach themselves to that level but I knew I wouldn't be able to do it plus have someone pushing me every day was really helpful.

Resources I used:
Cosmopolite books (with my tutor)
Grammaire progressive
Bescherelle (la conjugaison)
Coffee Break French podcast
InnerFrench podcast
French news, websites, movies, etc.
Conjuu app

Here's the important thing - I never reached 'true' B2+/C1 level (even though I passed TCF at B2+, B2+, C1, C2).
I was a solid B1/weak B2 level but the last 2 months I spent as much time as possible going through exam papers. Taking test/exams in any subject is a skill in its own right.
Writing and speaking parts often have similar or sometimes even the same questions - once you do enough of them, you can start creating templates, which will help you save time during the test.
As my teacher said - you're not supposed to use the language in a 'normal' way (unless you're VERY fluent, then it just comes naturally). It's a test and you're supposed to 'pimp it up' a bit ;) Have some more advanced words and grammar structures prepared, which you can use in almost any situation. Don't forget to use subjonctif a few times - it's required at B2+ level.

If you're already at a B1 level, do some mockup TEF or TCF tests and see how you score. Get a teacher (ideally someone who has previous experience in grading TEF/TCF) and ask them to grade you written and spoken answers.

Good luck!
 

Derr28

Member
Mar 31, 2023
17
6
Thanks! :)

Sure, always happy to help.

Yes, I had a tutor for the whole 10 months - 5x 1h every week plus exercises etc. so I was doing around 2.5h a day in total (literally every single day- if I missed a day, I would make up those hours on some other day).
I really admire people who can teach themselves to that level but I knew I wouldn't be able to do it plus have someone pushing me every day was really helpful.

Resources I used:
Cosmopolite books (with my tutor)
Grammaire progressive
Bescherelle (la conjugaison)
Coffee Break French podcast
InnerFrench podcast
French news, websites, movies, etc.
Conjuu app

Here's the important thing - I never reached 'true' B2+/C1 level (even though I passed TCF at B2+, B2+, C1, C2).
I was a solid B1/weak B2 level but the last 2 months I spent as much time as possible going through exam papers. Taking test/exams in any subject is a skill in its own right.
Writing and speaking parts often have similar or sometimes even the same questions - once you do enough of them, you can start creating templates, which will help you save time during the test.
As my teacher said - you're not supposed to use the language in a 'normal' way (unless you're VERY fluent, then it just comes naturally). It's a test and you're supposed to 'pimp it up' a bit ;) Have some more advanced words and grammar structures prepared, which you can use in almost any situation. Don't forget to use subjonctif a few times - it's required at B2+ level.

If you're already at a B1 level, do some mockup TEF or TCF tests and see how you score. Get a teacher (ideally someone who has previous experience in grading TEF/TCF) and ask them to grade you written and spoken answers.

Good luck!
Wow that is a really really impressive score! Thanks so much for sharing your tips and experience! I do agree with you, I guess I was too hard on myself by trying to aim for native level fluency. Definitely feel better about myself now. Time to look for a tutor who can spare an hour per day for me :D Thanks again. I'll come back once I get my B2 scores this year :)
 

iSaidGoodDay

VIP Member
Feb 3, 2023
3,669
1,980
Kaneda
Wow that is a really really impressive score! Thanks so much for sharing your tips and experience! I do agree with you, I guess I was too hard on myself by trying to aim for native level fluency. Definitely feel better about myself now. Time to look for a tutor who can spare an hour per day for me :D Thanks again. I'll come back once I get my B2 scores this year :)
Additionally, there are two type of French learners who make it in short time and win:
1. Learn french the @AndyUK/my way. Give time, enjoy it, etc.
2. And the other ones, who focus on understanding the basics and then get hyper-focused on the exam itself. You'd be surprised on how repetitive some questions really are. If you are able to lay the land, get through those repetitive questions and incrementally improve upon your weaknesses - that could be another strategy too.

Seen quite a few people who did #2 and are in the post-ITA club now too :)
 

AndyUK

Hero Member
Oct 15, 2022
358
384
Wow that is a really really impressive score! Thanks so much for sharing your tips and experience! I do agree with you, I guess I was too hard on myself by trying to aim for native level fluency. Definitely feel better about myself now. Time to look for a tutor who can spare an hour per day for me :D Thanks again. I'll come back once I get my B2 scores this year :)
Thanks :)
It just shows how important it is to work on the 'test' part as well as the 'language' part :)

Good luck! I'm sure you can do it in 2-3 months max.
 
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armitabbsn

Hero Member
Oct 6, 2020
256
164
Iran
Category........
FSW
NOC Code......
3131
For fsw PR application, before ITA I had declared that I will bring 20,000$
In my PR application(after ita) can I make it 18,000?
(We are two family member and 16,000$ is enough)
Im asking just there wouldnt be any contradiction?
 

GandiBaat

VIP Member
Dec 23, 2014
3,568
2,875
NOC Code......
2173
App. Filed.......
26th September 2021
Doc's Request.
Old Medical
Nomination.....
None
AOR Received.
26th September 2021
IELTS Request
Sent with application
File Transfer...
11-01-2022
Med's Request
Not Applicable, Old Meds
Med's Done....
Old Medical
Interview........
Not Applicable
Passport Req..
22-02-2022
VISA ISSUED...
22-02-2022
LANDED..........
24-02-2022
Enlightened folks, is it possible to use the B1 visa to visit the US as a Consultant (based in Canada) to meet with clients and gather client needs? @GandiBaat
I believe so. One purpose of B1/B2 visa is business meetings. So long you are not charging for your services while you were in USA, you should be fine. It can certainly be a part of larger engagement. Otherwise all those employees of all those companies travelling to US for business meetings will be illegal.

Hear Hear!

https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-visitors-for-business/b-1-temporary-business-visitor
  • Consulting with business associates
  • Traveling for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or a conference on specific dates
  • Settling an estate
  • Negotiating a contract
  • Participating in short-term training
  • Transiting through the United States: certain persons may transit the United States with a B-1 visa
  • Deadheading: certain air crewmen may enter the United States as deadhead crew with a B-1 visa
 
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