New Targeted Occupations for Express Entry in Ontario

Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream Introduced in Ontario

In Canada, Ontario is the most populated province and it continues to be a very popular destination for new immigrants looking to settle in Canada. Luckily, Ontario has an immigrant nomination program that helps skilled foreign nationals who have work experience obtain permanent residency in Canada, specifically Ontario, and thus contribute to the Canadian economy. It is important to note that the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is quite helpful to any Express Entry candidate as it provides them with the most points out of all Express Entry factors. For instance, a successful candidate may be able to obtain up to 600 additional points from the PNP program. As a result, they may be able to receive an invitation to apply at the next available draw for the Express Entry pool. Additionally, candidates under the Express Entry pool, who have work experience in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) occupations, are now prioritized by the Ontario province under this new initiative that was introduced on June 26, 2017. In this article, I will address the new Stream and how it affects the //toimmigrate.com/Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and Express Entry altogether.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Workers

In order to qualify under this Stream of Human Capital Priorities (HCP), a part of the //toimmigrate.com/Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), candidates must be eligible as ICT workers under Express Entry. As of June 26, Ontario has specifically targeted these types of workers for their province. The province of Ontario is searching for candidates under Express Entry with experience in specific ICT occupations and as a result the candidates are eligible to receive a Notification of Interest (NOI), which was previously called an invitation to apply for provincial nomination. Thankfully, this is even the case if they had scored less than 400 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Any of the following ICT occupations would be eligible to receive a NOI:

• NOC 5241 – Graphic Designers & Illustrators

• NOC 5224 – Broadcast Technicians

• NOC 2283 – Systems Testing Technicians

• NOC 2282 – User Support Technicians

• NOC 2281 – Computer Network Technicians

• NOC 2241 – Electrical & Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians

• NOC 2175 – Web Designers & Developers

• NOC 2174 – Computer Programmers & Interactive Media Developers

• NOC 2173 – Software Engineers & Designers

• NOC 2172 – Database Analysts & Data Administrators

• NOC 2171 – Information Systems Analysts & Consultants

• NOC 2147 – Computer Engineers (Except Software Engineers and Designers)

• NOC 2133 – Electrical & Electronics Engineers

• NOC 0213 – Computer & Information Systems Managers

• NOC 0131 – Telecommunication Carriers Managers

Eligibility for Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream

In order to become eligible for the Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream one must fall under one of the aforementioned ICT occupations and/or they must remain eligible for selection under Express Entry must have 400+ CRS points, and, of course, they must satisfy all other criteria. Keep in mind, under the HCP Stream, a Notification of Interest (NOI) will only be issued to candidates that are eligible under the Express Entry pool. If the candidate is eligible and a provincial nomination is issued, then this candidate will receive 600 additional points under the CRS and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada in a draw from the Express Entry pool.

In order to be eligible under the Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Steam, you must:

• Create a profile in the Express Entry pool with 400+ CRS points;
  - Please note this score must remain the same or above 400 points during the Ontario nomination processing stage and at the federal application for permanent residence processing stage.

• Ensure a minimum level of work experience under the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) or under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC);
  - For FSWC, one must have at least one year of continuous full-time employment experience, or the equivalent in part-time experience, in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B occupation within the last 5 years before receiving a NOI.
  - For CEC, one must have at least one year of cumulative full-time employment experience, or the equivalent in part-time experience, in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B occupation in Canada within the last 3 years before receiving a NOI.

• Obtain a Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD OR an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report created by a designated organization indicating that the foreign educational credential is recognized in Canada and is equivalent to Canadian standards;

• Exhibit English and/or French language proficiency level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or higher in all four competencies (reading, writing, listening and speaking);

• Specify that they intend to live in Ontario or “all provinces and territories” of Canada;

• Prove that they have sufficient funds for any and all expenses in Ontario; and

• Meet the additional criteria under the FSWC or CEC.

What to Do to Get an OINP

Fortunately for ICT workers, there doesn’t seem to be a definitive deadline for the targeting of ICT professionals. Recent reports have stated that the province of Ontario will require tens of thousands of ICT workers in the upcoming years. Therefore, going forward, it will be more than likely that Ontario will prioritize ICT workers for the //toimmigrate.com/Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). For individuals that obtain ICT work experience and/or any other work experience, the first and most important step to getting an OINP, under the HCP stream, is to create an Express Entry profile. Once your profile is created, the province of Ontario will be able to find that individual and know that they would like to immigrate to Canada and more specifically to the province of Ontario.

Contact Akrami & Associates

If you believe that you are a qualified ICT worker and want to become a candidate for the //toimmigrate.com/Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), we can help you with this process. If you have skilled work experience and meet all of the above mentioned requirements, we suggest you research what NOC you qualify for. Moreover, any Immigration application can become overwhelming if done alone and if you are still unsure or confused on whether or not you fit a specific NOC, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients receive permanent residency and the ability to work in Canada, specifically in Ontario, through Express Entry. If you believe that you might be eligible, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!