Ontario recently conducted their first Tech Draw of the year, inviting 1,186 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. 

On February 16, Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted a draw inviting candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores ranging from 453 to 467 points. In particular, candidates chosen by the OINP for this Tech Draw may be eligible for a provincial nomination through the program’s Human Capital Priorities stream.

In order to qualify for a provincial nomination for Ontario’s Tech Draw, candidates were required to have work experience in one of the following tech occupations:

• NOC 0213 – Computer and information systems managers;
• NOC 2147 – Computer engineers;
• NOC 2172 – Database analysts and data administrators;
• NOC 2173 – Software engineers and designers;
• NOC 2174 – Computer programmer and interactive media developers; 
• NOC 2175 – Web designers and developers.

Candidates who were able to receive a nomination now have up to 45 calendar days to submit their application. 

In order for a candidate to be considered for the OINP’s Tech Draw, they must first submit a profile to the federal Express Entry system, which manages the pool of Canada’s economic immigration candidates. 

Applicants in the Express Entry system are then given points based on a number of human capital factors, the basis for the CRS score.

Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) then holds a Tech Draw the Express Entry pool to invite eligible tech workers to apply for provincial nomination.

Should a candidate successfully receive a nomination through the Tech Draw, they will be able to add an additional 600 points to their overall Express Entry CRS score. This effectively guarantees them an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residency during the next Express Entry draw. As Canada is currently targeting provincial nominees and candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category for their current draws, it is likely that these Tech Draw nominees will receive an ITA soon. 

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