Ontario invited 1,685 skilled migrants and international students to apply for a provincial nomination in its biggest-ever Expression of Interest (EOI) draw.
The draw, held on July 13, 2021, consisted of three separate invitation rounds for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) for candidates who had profiles in Ontario’s EOI pool.
Candidates were invited to apply (ITA) for an Ontario provincial nomination under one of two Employer Job Offer streams: the Foreign Worker or the International Student stream.
Of the three OINP draws held by Ontario, the biggest saw 1,211 ITAs given out to applicants under the Foreign Worker stream, with an EOI score requirement of 33. This draw was a general draw, with no targeted occupations or location requirements for applicants.
The next draw invited 431 applicants to apply for a provincial nomination from the Ontario government through the International Student stream. The EOI score requirement for this draw was 62.
The final draw under this round of the OINP issued 43 ITAs to immigration candidates to Ontario who were registered under the Regional Immigration Pilot. Successful applicants in this round were also eligible for Ontario’s two Employer Job Offer streams.
About the Foreign Worker stream
The Foreign Worker stream of Ontario’s Employer Job offer category allows foreign nationals with an eligible job offer from an Ontario employer to apply for Canadian immigration. This stream is open to both onshore and offshore applicants.
The eligibility requirements include:
- Two years of work experience in a skilled occupation;
- Having a job offer from an employer in Ontario; and
- Holding a genuine intent for immigrating to Ontario.
Applicants who wish to apply for Canadian immigration under this stream must register an EOI profile on Ontario’s website. Afterwards, the Ontario government will assign points to the profile based on the information submitted.
About the International Student stream
This stream of Ontario’s Employer Job offer category is also open to applicants with an eligible job offer from an employer in Ontario. Offshore applicants can also apply for Canadian immigration under this stream, given that they meet the eligibility requirements.
To qualify, candidates must have:
- Completed a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) program;
- An existing job offer from an Ontario employer; and
- Genuinely intend to move to Ontario.
Applicants under this stream need to submit an EOI profile on Ontario’s website, which will be evaluated by the Ontario government and given a score based on a number of deciding factors, which indicate the applicant’s ability to integrate into Ontario’s labour market.
About the Regional Immigration Pilot
This pilot was introduced to alleviate labour shortages in some communities. Under this program, Ontario will allocate 150 nominations this year to three rural locations: Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, and Quinte West/Belleville. Applicants who are eligible for any of the OINP Job Offer streams and have a job offer in one of these communities can apply for Canadian immigration under the Regional Immigration Pilot.
