I would like your opinion on my sister's CIC Independent category application with regard to not taking IELTS examination. The timeline is as follows:

Application sent to CHC, New Delhi - May 2000
Acknowledgement (creation of file) - Sep 2000
Interview waiver letter (requesting for new IRPA forms) - Oct 2003
Sent new IRPA forms / Police clearance - early Nov 2003
Sent Medical examination results/passport - late Nov 2003

She / her spouse never took IELTS. Since interview had been waived according to the letter she received in Oct 2003, she assumed that she did not have to take IELTS when she sent the new IRPA in Nov 2003. Eventually she sent in the passports (at the request of CHC). IETLS was not a requirement in the old application.

Now she feels that she should taken IELTS and sent in the scores along with the new IRPA forms, or she is worried about the visa being delayed due to lack of IELTS results. In order to take the IELTS examination, she needs the original passport which is with CHC, New Delhi!!

Has any one run into this situation? Any suggestions? The obvious thing seems to be to wait till CHC gets back to her (either her family gets the visa, or they ask for IELTS results, in which case she has to get the passport back from CHC). IELTS authorities will not accept any other form of identification except original passport on the day of the examination.

thanks for your valuable input,
Sekar