Selection process

Following a decision by the governmentdecision published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on March 27, 2013, the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles is renewing its rules relating to the intake of applications according to immigration class.

To find out if you can submit an application for a selection certificate, consult the page Intake of applications.

Preparing your application

Carefully prepare your application in order to speed up processing time. If it is complete and admissible, its assessment will be made easier. To the contrary, if the application is incomplete, it will be returned to the applicant by regular mail without being processed. From now on, this rule will be strictly applied.

A complete application includes legible required documentation, duly completed and signed:

• the Application for Selection Certificate – Skilled Worker – Principal applicant, spouse or de facto spouse (A-1520-AA) (Dynamic PDF, 701 Kb);
• the Documents soumis à l'appui de la Demande de certificat de sélection (A-1520-AF) (Dynamic PDF, 651 Kb) (Documents submitted in support of the Application for Selection Certificate). Don't forget to consult the Liste des autorités reconnues pour certifier conforme des documents (List of authorities recognized for certifying documents).
• the Contract respecting financial self-sufficiency (A-0522-OA);
• payment of required fees, as well as certified supporting documents, including admissible proof of your French and English proficiency.

Proficiency in French and English

Skilled worker candidates (principal claimants and spouses) who wish to obtain points for their French proficiency must demonstrate this proficiency by enclosing with their immigration application the results of a French evaluation test issued by one of the two organizations recognized by the Ministère, specifically:

• the Test d’évaluation du français adapté pour le Québec (TEFAQ) of the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris (CCIP);
  
• the Test de connaissance du français pour le Québec (TCFQ) of the Centre international d’études pédagogiques (CIEP);
  
• the Test d’évaluation du français (TEF) of the CCIP;
  
• the Test de connaissance du français (TCF) of the CIEP;
  
• the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) of the CIEP;
  
• the Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) of the CIEP.

Candidates who choose to present a TEF or TCF must enclose the results of the oral comprehension test and the oral expression test. Note that written proficiency is not evaluated when applying for a Québec Selection Certificate.

The current list of TEF, TEFAQ, TCF, TCFQ, DELF and DALF accredited centres can be consulted on the respective websites of the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris and the Centre international d'études pédagogiques.

Also, skilled worker candidates (principal claimants only) who wish to obtain points for their English proficiency must demonstrate this proficiency by enclosing with their application the results of an English evaluation test recognized by the Ministère, namely the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

The current list of IELTS accredited centres is available on the website of the International English Language Testing System.

To prove their language proficiency, candidates must provide the results of a standardized test, even if French or English is their mother tongue.

Reception of application

The Ministère checks if you can file an application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec Selection Certificate) in accordance with the rules in effect, if all the required documents are included in your application and if it is eligible for priority processing. Your application is eligible for priority processing if:

• you or your spouse, if applicable, have received a job offer from a Québec employer, and it meets the MICC’s validation conditions. Ask your future employer to consult the section Steps taken by the employer for hiring a permanent foreign worker;
  
  or
  
• you or your spouse, if applicable, hold a diploma, awarded by a teaching institution, in an area of training allowing you to get 12 or 16 points under the area of training criterion of the selection grid for skilled workers (see Liste des domaines de formation permettant d’obtenir 12 ou 16 points à la grille de sélection (PDF, 34 Kb)). The number of years of study required to obtain your diploma must be at least equal to the number of years required to obtain that diploma in Québec. Your diploma  must have been awarded in the last five years. Failing that, you must have practised, on a full time basis and for at least one year in the last five years, a profession or trade directly related to that diploma. for at least one year in the last five years.

An acknowledgment of receipt is sent to you to confirm reception of a complete application and, if applicable, to indicate that your application will be prioritized for processing. Your file will be returned to you if your application cannot be considered.

Examination of the application

Your application is examined in accordance with the regulation in effect.

One of three decisions is made once your application has been assessed:

• Selection based on the file: In some cases, an interview is not necessary and the application is processed solely on the basis of the applicant’s file. If you have attained the general passing scores of the selection grid, the interview may not be required. In this case, you will receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec Selection Certificate) in the mail as well as information about Québec. You will be notified of the next steps in your immigration process.
  
• Notice of intent to  refuse the application: You will receive a letter informing you that your application will be refused, unless you provide, within 60 days, documented proof to justify reviewing the decision. If the requested proof is received within the prescribed timeframe, the review of your application will continue. Failing that, your application will be refused without further notice. You then have the possibility to submit a request for an administrative review.
  
• Notice to attend an interview: If the preliminary review of your application is positive, you will be invited to a selection interview. This notice specifies the date, time and place of the interview as well as the documents you will have to have on hand.
  
  

  During this interview, the immigration counsellor reviews the information provided in the Application for a Selection Certificate, particularly the information on schooling, work experience and language knowledge. The counsellor will also ask you questions to assess the feasibility of your immigration plans. This evaluation primarily focuses on your knowledge of Québec, the steps you have taken and your personal suitability with respect to your professional activities.
  
  The selection interview is the ideal time to talk about your immigration plan with the counsellor and to ask questions.
  
  Approximate duration of the selection interview: 30 to 60 minutes.
  
  Following the interview, three results are possible:
  
  Approval: If the assessment is positive, the counsellor will inform you of the next steps to follow in your immigration process. If possible, the counsellor will immediately issue your Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec Selection Certificate). Otherwise it will be mailed to you. You will also receive a kit containing important information which you will be asked to read carefully. Depending on your needs, the counsellor may also give you other specific documents.
  
  Refusal: If the assessment reveals that you do not meet the selection criteria, an explanatory letter is given to you. You will then have the possibility to submit a request for an administrative review.

  Notice of intent to refuse the application: If supporting documentation is missing, the counsellor will give you an explanatory notice of intent to refuse the application. You will then have 60 days to provide the proof requested. If you do not provide the necessary proof within this timeframe, your application will be refused without further notice. You will then have the possibility to submit a request for an administrative review.

	USEFUL INFORMATION
	Selection missions for skilled workers are carried out in several countries at different times of the year. Some missions can take place on the same dates in a given territory. Consult the schedule of selection missions.