The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) recently invited a slew of foreign workers and international graduates to apply for provincial nomination.
On October 20, 546 candidates with Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles in the OINP qualified for a nomination from the province through three different immigration streams. Invitations to settle in Ontario were sent out to those in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream, the Masters Graduate stream, the PhD Graduate stream.
Here is a breakdown of the number of candidates invited for each stream:
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream – four (4) candidates, qualified under the Economic Mobility Pathways Project;
- Masters Graduate Stream – 479 international student graduates with an EOI score of at least 35 points; and
- PhD Graduate Stream – 63 international student graduates with an EOI score of at least 25 points.
Notably, this was the second-largest draw for the Masters Graduate stream category.
More on the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
Foreign nationals with an eligible job offer from an employer located in the province can apply for the Foreign Worker stream. They need not be in Canada at the time of application, but must fulfill all the eligibility requirements.
To be eligible for the Foreign Worker stream, applicants are required to meet the following:
- Applicants must have the equivalent of two years of skilled work experience in their occupation.
- Applicants must have an eligible job offer from an Ontario-based employer.
- Applicants must intend to immigrate to and settle in the province.
The first step to applying for this immigration stream is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province. The OINP will then rank and score an applicant’s EOI profile based on the information they submit.
More on the Human Capital: Masters Graduate Stream
The OINP’s Masters Graduate Stream is an opportunity for international students with a master’s degree from an eligible university in Ontario to immigrate to the province without a job offer.
To be eligible for the Masters Graduate stream, applicants are required to meet the following:
- Applicants must complete all requirements necessary to obtain a master’s degree;
- Applicants must graduate from an existing master’s program at an eligible university in Ontario;
- The program of study must be at least one year in length and must be completed on a full-time basis.
- Applicants must submit the application within two years of obtaining their master’s degree.
- Applicants must demonstrate residence in the province for at least 12 of the last 24 months before the application submission date.
- During the application period, applicants may be residing in the province with legal status (i.e., study permit, work permit, visitor record) OR residing outside of Canada;
- Applications from potential applicants who are in implied status at the time of applying are accepted
- Applicants must intend to live and work permanently in the province.
The first step to applying for this immigration stream is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province. The OINP will then rank and score an applicant’s EOI profile based on the information they submit.
More on the Human Capital: PhD Graduate Stream
Similarly, the OINP’s PhD Graduate Stream is an opportunity for international students who have obtained a doctorate degree from an eligible university in Ontario to immigrate to the province without a job offer.
To be eligible for PhD Graduate stream, applicants are required to meet the following:
- Applicants must obtain a PhD degree from an eligible university in the province;
- At least two years of the degree requirements completed while lawfully living and studying in the province.
- Applicants must submit the application within two years of obtaining their PhD.
- Applicants must be legally residing in the province for at least 12 of the last 24 months before the application submission date
- Applicants must intend to live and work permanently in the province.
The first step to applying for this immigration stream is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province. The OINP will then rank and score an applicant’s EOI profile based on the information they submit.
How to Apply
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