Immigration Forum / Canada / September 2008

Hi,

A boy I will call John was brought to Canada earlier this year from
Africa for medical care. Now the family he lives with would like to
sponsor him. Once his immigration application is in process, he will
be allowed to register in a school. He is now having private
tutoring.

According to the papers he has, he would be 15, but he doesn't look
that age. He looks more like 13. His literacy skills were assessed at
grade 1 level. He was apparently not scolarized at the orphanage where
he was living in Africa.

Is there a way to know more precisely what his age could be? This is
important because if he is indeed 15, he will be placed in a
highschool, whereas if he is14 or less he will go at a primary school.
Considering that he is very shy and introverted and that his English
is not that good, placing him with older teenagers would only add to
the challenges he has to face.

From what I could find on the Internet, a dentist may be able to give
us some clues about his age. Are there other tests or ways to find
out?

Mcello