Q. Is documentation of language skills mandatory?
Answer: The present immigration Regulations do provide immigration officials with the authority to require evidence of language skills as part of the application. More an more visa offices are relying on such provisions in an effort to reduce the processing delays for skilled worker applicants by reducing the number of personal interviews required.
Evidence of language skills can include several types of documents. One document that is often relied on is an objective test score from the International Language Testing System (IELTS). A General IELTS score may be requested as evidence of language in the case that an applicant does not otherwise satisfy the documentary requirement clearly.
Other evidence of language skills which may be accepted, however, include evidence of an education or extensive work experience in an English language medium.