published on 28 April 2021 @ 5:03 pm · COMMENT
Immigration Update
Ontario Re-Opens the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: International Student Streams, with New Expression of Interest System
On April 28th 2021, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) announced the re-opening of the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: International Student streams. These programs are pathways to permanent residence for applicants with a job offer from an eligible employer in Ontario.
The OINP also announced a new Expression of Interest (EOI) system, to manage demand. Previously, any applicant who meet the minimum eligibility criteria for either program could submit an application. However, demand for these programs increased considerably over the last several years resulting in the programs meeting their quota very quickly. As a result, the programs were closed to intake for the majority of the year.
Under the new EOI system, these programs will remain open year-round. Candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria may submit an Expression of Interest at any time. Periodically, the OINP will conduct draws to select candidates on a general basis (the highest overall scoring candidates) or on the basis of specific targeted labour market or human capital needs. If invited to apply, the candidate can then progress to the next stage of the process and submit an application for nomination.
A candidate’s Expression of Interest will be scored based on the following factors:
- Job offer: NOC skill level (Not applied to Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate streams);
- Job offer: NOC type;
- Job offer: wage;
- Canadian work experience: length (cumulative);
- Canadian work experience: NOC Skill Level;
- Canadian work experience: earnings history;
- Highest level of education;
- Field of study (Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams);
- Canadian education experience (Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams);
- Official language ability (Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams);
- Knowledge of official languages – bilingualism (Not applied to Foreign Worker or In-Demand Skills streams);
- Regional immigration: location of job offer (Not applied to Masters or PhD streams);
- Regional immigration: location of study (Not applied to Masters or PhD streams;
- Strategic priorities to address immediate labour market needs in the province or a region of the province, as determined by OINP on the expression of interest system invitation to apply webpage.
The EOI scoring system rewards applicants with Canadian work experience and a job offer in Ontario, particularly in high-skilled occupations. Unlike the Express Entry system, age is not one of the scoring factors. As such, these programs are an excellent opportunity for applicants currently working in Canada who may have difficulty qualifying for permanent residence through Express Entry due to their age.
The OINP has also announced they will be re-opening the Masters Graduate, and PhD Graduate, and In-Demand Skills streams shortly, also now under an Expression of Interest system.
Express Entry Update: Provincial Nominee Draw
On April 28th 2021, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a new round of invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system.
This draw invited candidates who qualify for selection under the Provincial Nominee Class. The minimum score selected was 717 and 381 candidates were invited to apply. To qualify for selection under the Provincial Nominee Class, candidates must have received a nomination certificate from a Canadian province or territory. Candidates who are nominated by a province or territory can be awarded 600 additional points under the federal Express Entry system.
filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE