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| Quebec denies French student's immigration over English thesis chapter | Quebec denies French student's immigration over English thesis chapter |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Canada's Quebec province has denied immigrant status to a French citizen because she was unable to demonstrate adequate French-language proficiency. | Canada's Quebec province has denied immigrant status to a French citizen because she was unable to demonstrate adequate French-language proficiency. |
| Quebec rejected Emilie Dubois' application apparently because part of her university thesis was in English. | Quebec rejected Emilie Dubois' application apparently because part of her university thesis was in English. |
| Ms Dubois came to Quebec from France in 2012 and completed a doctorate at a French-language university. | Ms Dubois came to Quebec from France in 2012 and completed a doctorate at a French-language university. |
| The biology graduate said she alternated between "laughing and not understanding" when she got the letter. | The biology graduate said she alternated between "laughing and not understanding" when she got the letter. |
| Quebec is a predominantly French-speaking province and Ms Dubois, 31, was applying to settle under a provincial programme for foreign students that requires applicants to display a strong ability in the language. | Quebec is a predominantly French-speaking province and Ms Dubois, 31, was applying to settle under a provincial programme for foreign students that requires applicants to display a strong ability in the language. |
| "If someone who is French and born in France, going to a French-speaking university and doing everything in French and they are still denying this, it's nonsense," she told the BBC. | "If someone who is French and born in France, going to a French-speaking university and doing everything in French and they are still denying this, it's nonsense," she told the BBC. |
| Despite passing a French test to prove her language ability earlier this year, she received a rejection letter stating that she had not completed her education entirely in French - including her thesis. | Despite passing a French test to prove her language ability earlier this year, she received a rejection letter stating that she had not completed her education entirely in French - including her thesis. |
| Public broadcaster Radio-Canada, which first reported on her case this week, posted a photograph of the letter. | Public broadcaster Radio-Canada, which first reported on her case this week, posted a photograph of the letter. |
| Only one of five chapters in her thesis on cellular and molecular biology was written in English, for publication in a scientific journal. | Only one of five chapters in her thesis on cellular and molecular biology was written in English, for publication in a scientific journal. |
| "This is how scientists are communicating - they are sharing knowledge and this is done mostly in English-speaking journals," Ms Dubois said. | "This is how scientists are communicating - they are sharing knowledge and this is done mostly in English-speaking journals," Ms Dubois said. |
| Ms Dubois said it felt as though "the world was falling on my head" when she received the final rejection letter. | Ms Dubois said it felt as though "the world was falling on my head" when she received the final rejection letter. |
| She had planned to settle in Quebec and build her life there. "I don't belong to France anymore," she said. | |
| She said she was hopeful she might get the decision overturned, as the case is being championed by her local provincial assembly member, Catherine Dorion. | |
| Quebec's immigration minister said in a statement on Thursday evening that the decision "doesn't seem to make much sense". He has asked officials to look into her case. | Quebec's immigration minister said in a statement on Thursday evening that the decision "doesn't seem to make much sense". He has asked officials to look into her case. |
| Quebec has a special agreement on immigration with Canada's federal government and has broad powers in the selection of immigrants. | Quebec has a special agreement on immigration with Canada's federal government and has broad powers in the selection of immigrants. |
| A potential immigrant must obtain a "selection certificate" from the province before they can apply for permanent residence with the federal government. | A potential immigrant must obtain a "selection certificate" from the province before they can apply for permanent residence with the federal government. |
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