On July 13, Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held the biggest Expression of Interest (EOI) draw in the history of the program. 

Combining three major Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, the OINP sent out invitations to foreign workers, international students, and applicants with employment offers in rural communities. All told, the program invited a total of 1,685 candidates to apply for provincial nomination. 

All candidates invited qualify for one of two available Employer Job Offer streams. This draw sets OINP’s record as the largest number of invites sent through the Employer Job Offer streams for this year. 

Candidates only received an invitation if they were able to register an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s online portal. Once registered, the province then ranks a candidate’s profile based on a number of factors. These factors largely depend on a candidate’s capacity to settle down and thrive within Ontario. 

Points are also awarded based on a candidate’s occupation and skilled work experience in Canada. The OINP uses the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system to assign points.

For this draw, the breakdown of candidates were as follows: 

• 1,211 candidates eligible for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream. Candidates needed to score a minimum of 33 points on their EOI to receive an invite. 
• 431 candidates eligible for the Employer Job offer: International Student stream. Candidates needed to score a minimum of 62 points on their EOI to receive an invite.
• The remaining 43 candidates are eligible for both Employer Job Offer streams and were qualified through the new Regional Immigration Pilot. No minimum score needed.

More on the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

The Foreign Worker stream is open to all foreign nationals with an eligible job offer from an employer located in the province. Applicants are not required to be in Canada during the time of application, as long as they can fulfill all the eligibility requirements. 

In order to be eligible for the Foreign Worker stream, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

• Must have the equivalent of two years of skilled work experience in your occupation.
• Must have an eligible job offer from an Ontario-based employer. 
• Must intend to immigrate to and settle in the province.

To apply for the stream, interested applicants must submit an EOI with the OINP. 

More on the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

The International Student stream is open to all foreign nationals who have obtained a post-secondary degree from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada, with an eligible job offer from an employer located in the province. Candidates applying for this category also do not need to be in Canada at the time of application, as long as the eligibility requirements are met. 

Those who wish to apply for the International Student stream are required to:

• Complete a post-secondary program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. 
• Have an eligible job-offer from an Ontario-based employer.
• Intend to immigrate and settle in the province.

Applicants must also submit an EOI profile to the OINP in order to qualify for the stream. 

More on the Regional Immigration Pilot 

The pilot was created to address labor shortages in rural communities in Ontario; namely, Catham-Kent, Cornwall, and Quinte West/Belleville. It is slated for two years, with over 150 nominations alloted for applicants who might best fit these communities.

The pilot’s goal is to place skilled immigrants within these Ontario communities, which were chosen due to their specific labor challenges, as well as their capacity to help new immigrants settle in, among other factors. 

While a job offer in Ontario is necessary to be eligible for at least one stream in the Employer Job Offer category, applicants need not be physically in Canada to be eligible for this Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The Employer Job Offer category consists of three streams: 

• Foreign Worker, for skilled workers; 
• International Student, for graduates of any post-secondary institution in Ontario; 
• In-Demands Skills, for workers within specific sectors, such as those in construction, trucking, personal support, and agriculture. 

In order to apply for the pilot, candidates must submit a completed intake form and send an email to the OINP. 

How to Apply 

If you’re interested in Ontario and other provincial immigration pathways to Canada, register to one of our private online discussions. Register to an orientation for free here.

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