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Most provinces in Canada have arranged with the federal government to allow them to nominate particular applicants for permanent residence because they would be an advantage to the provinces economy. These are called “provincial nominee programs (PNP),” and Ontario is no exception. Ontario has a PNP program individuals can apply for, within which there are various specific streams. Throughout this article, I will break down the Ontario PNP program, to help you learn how to apply and immigrate to Ontario as a skilled worker today!
Technically, the program is called the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Otherwise, there is a very closely related program, called Ontario Express Entry. Essentially, if you apply through the Federal Express entry program, because you qualify under one of the 3 available streams; the FSWP, the FSTP, and/ or the CEC, you could possibly be nominated out of the express entry pool to apply for permanent residence within Ontario. Though, that it simply the process of applying for express entry. The process of applying for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is the focus of this article. Individuals can apply directly to the OINP program if they are eligible for one of the three categories.
The OINP is made up of three categories. There is the business category, Employer Job Offer category and the Human Capital category. Each category then has various streams under which applicants may submit an application. The categories and streams can be best understood in a list:
You can be eligible to apply to the OINP if you are living either outside of Canada or in Canada with legal status. Also, you must have a valid job offer. More than this, you must meet the minimum requirements of whichever PNP program you are choosing to apply under. Please be aware of this and be sure to look into specific requirements, because they do vary from program to program. For example, for the Skilled Trades Stream, you must be residing in Ontario with a valid work permit at the time of application. Or, for Masters Graduates, you must be residing in Ontario with legal status or outside of Canada to apply. In general, there is no specific language requirement individuals must meet.
No, unfortunately, individuals can only apply if they have received a full-time job offer which is offered indefinitely from an Ontario employer.
The OINP previously gave applicants with the opportunity to have their applications reconsidered, if they believe an error was made by the program in making its decision. The, starting on January 1, 2018, applicants who believe that the refusal of their application happened as the result of an error, may request an internal review. To the average applicant, it does not seem clear how the process has changed. Though, it is always very important when applying to the Canadian government to ensure you are diligent with details and make no mistakes. Therefore, it is important to understand the process has changed.
No, a provincial nomination and/ or a Confirmation of Nomination do not give you legal status in Canada. This is simply an invitation to apply for permanent residence. This does not even necessarily indicate your application for permanent residence will be successful, unfortunately. Though, it is important to understand if you would like to come to Canada at this stage, you still have to apply for the necessary documents.
A Confirmation of Nomination is a document which will be issued to all successful nominees. These individuals must then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. As mentioned, this confirmation of nomination is not legal permanent resident status in Canada, and does not guarantee legal status will be achieved. At this stage, all individuals included on an application and accompanying family members must satisfy Immigration and Refugee Citizenship Canada eligibility requirements, including medical checks and criminal background checks.
Should you have any further questions or feel confused or unclear about how to apply for the Provincial Nominee Program, it is important to ask any questions you may have and discuss your concerns. By talking to immigration professionals about your concerns, this will ease your worries and assist with the application process. Many immigration applications are difficult to pursue on your own and 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 obtain permanent residency through the Provincial Nomination Program. If you believe that you may be eligible to apply, 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 advice.
With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!
