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Canada’s way of assessing potential immigrants under the Federal Skilled Worker program is so vague, the same applicant presenting the same paperwork could score either a high-flying pass or a dismal failing grade depending on interpretation, the Federal Court of Canada says.

The new assessment process for potential “economic-class” immigrants was found lacking in what is thought to be the first court challenge it has faced.

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A financial analyst from Pakistan applying last year for permanent residence status in Canada as a federal skilled worker was given a score of five points, out of a potential 25, in the education category of her assessment.

It was argued in court that different assessments of the same credentials could have scored her 19 or even 23 points.

Federal Court Justice Cecily Strickland found all three scores could have been seen as correct or “reasonable.”

“Having reached the conclusion that the [visa] officer’s decision was reasonable, I would also note that the alternate interpretation suggested by the applicant was also a possible outcome,” Judge Strickland wrote in a recent decision released this week.