The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program offers employers the opportunity to nominate foreign skilled workers for positions that employers are having difficulty filling. Through this program, Ontario will nominate employees and their families for permanent resident status if they have a pre-approved job offer from an employer in Ontario. During 2015, the OINP’s goal was to nominate 5,200 immigrants; in 2016, the OINP has a nomination target of (?), for both OINP and Ontario Express Entry candidates.

This program allows eligible employers to apply for foreign workers to fill permanent, full-time positions. One of the purposes of the OINP is to support employers in their efforts to recruit qualified, skilled workers for difficult-to-fill positions in Ontario. Eligible employers can employ foreign employees through the General Category and the International with a Job Offer. Post-graduate students applying through the International Masters Graduates and the International PhD Graduates streams may apply directly through the Ontario Immigration Nomination Program.

The general category is used by employers and investors to recruit foreign workers, whether outside Canada, or within Canada, such as visitors or temporary foreign workers. The International Student Category is used to recruit international students.

International Student with a Job Offer Stream

International students can apply to permanently work and live in Ontario if they have obtained an approved full-time permanent job offer from an Ontario employer, or from a business that is making an approved investment in Ontario. First, Ontario employers have to offer a Pre-Screen Application for OINP approval of the position they want filled. Businesses investing in Ontario must have their investment approved and endorsed by an Ontario ministry before they can submit a pre-screen application.

ONTARIO EXPRESS ENTRY

Express Entry is a new fast-track immigration system implemented by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to more effectively manage skilled immigrants permanent resident applications. In order to qualify for Express Entry and be nominated by Ontario, applicants must first qualify under one of two federal immigration programs:

·         The Federal Skilled Worker Program

·         The Canadian Experience Class

Ontario has formed two new Ontario Express Entry avenues through which skilled workers can apply for permanent residence in Ontario:

·         Human Capital Priorities Stream

·         French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

This allows the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) to nominate candidates who have qualified for Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Express Entry pool, and have the necessary skills – educational, language, work experience – to successfully assimilate into Ontario’s workforce and communities.