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Cassandra Fultz, RCIC-IRB

Cassandra specializes in immigration to Canada from the USA, as well as immigration cases pertaining to Procedural Fairness Letters (PFL), post-deportation Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC), Study Permits, PR Card Renewal on Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds, Criminal Rehabilitation, Temporary Resident Permits, Canadian citizenship, Family Sponsorship, and Visitor Visas. She advocates for her clients with an impressive success rate, including for applications with prior refusals.

Published by Cassandra Fultz, RCIC-IRB on May 14, 2025

Why Taking an Intensive French Course Isn’t as Crazy as It Sounds – It Might Be Your Best Path to Permanent Residency

For many people living and working in Canada on temporary status, the journey toward Canadian permanent residency (PR) can feel like a frustrating uphill climb. You’ve studied, worked hard, paid taxes, and contributed to your community—yet with the rising points cutoffs for Express Entry and tightening pathways, permanent residency may still seem out of reach.

But here’s the thing: if you’ve been in Canada for a few years and you’re struggling to qualify for PR through traditional means, there’s a powerful, often overlooked solution that could change everything—learning French.

Yes, even if you’ve never spoken a word of it before.

Why French Matters More Than Ever

In recent years, the Canadian government has made it a clear priority to attract and retain French-speaking newcomers, not just in Quebec, but across the country. Canada has set bold targets to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec to strengthen bilingualism and support economic growth in francophone minority communities.

To encourage this, IRCC offers bonus points under Express Entry for French language proficiency:

Up to 50 additional CRS points for strong French skills
And 25 points for moderate French ability, even without English fluency

These points can make the difference between missing the cutoff entirely—or receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next draw.

The Power of an Intensive Course

You might be thinking: “But I don’t have years to learn a new language. I work full time.”

This is where intensive French courses come in.

Unlike casual evening classes or self-paced apps, intensive courses are structured, immersive, and designed for results. In a matter of weeks or months, you can reach CLB 5, 6, or even higher—the levels required to claim those coveted extra CRS points.

These programs often include:

Daily language instruction
Real-time speaking practice
A focus on functional, professional French
Targeted preparation for language tests like TEF Canada or TCF Canada

And they work. Many newcomers who felt stuck in the PR process have drastically improved their chances through French study—and some who were previously hundreds of points below the cutoff now find themselves not only eligible, but competitive.

Is It Worth It?

If you’ve lived in Canada for years and still feel like PR is out of reach, ask yourself this:

Would you rather keep waiting and hoping the points drop, or take action to control your outcome?

An intensive French course isn’t crazy. It’s smart, proactive, and forward-looking. And with Canada’s continued push for bilingual immigrants, there’s never been a better time to embrace it.