Ontario is expanding the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream of its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to include all international students who have completed one-year college graduate certificate programs.
“Previously, the OINP’s Employer Job Offer: International Student stream allowed candidates to apply with a one-year credential from an eligible institution only if the program required the completion of a degree as an admission requirement,” notes the OINP website.
“With this change, the OINP allows applicants of any one-year college program that grants an Ontario College Graduate Certificate to qualify.”
The change, which came into effect Jan. 1, does not affect those who have previously submitted applications but does now increase the number of certificate programs eligible for international student immigration under the province’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Most one-year graduate certificate programs in Ontario are now eligible for international student immigration.
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Since Ontario has changed its Expression of Interest (EOI) scoring factors for additional Canadian educational credentials and the highest educational credential obtained in keeping with the expansion of this stream, the province is encouraging applicants who have not yet been invited to apply to review the changes as they may now be eligible.
The revisions also include changes to the list of eligible educational institutions for this stream.
“We encourage potential applicants to check the OINP website before they apply for the updated requirements and scoring and to ensure they meet all stream criteria,” notes the OINP website.
Applicants under the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream must have the following to be eligible:
- a permanent and full-time job offer under NOC TEER category 1, 2 or 3, Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B that meets low wage levels for Ontario, and in a position that is necessary to the business;
- for those already working in such a position, the proposed wage must be equal to or greater than the current wage being paid;
- graduated or met requirements of a full-time minimum one-year post-graduate diploma program from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university;
- completed at least half the studies in Canada;
- submitted an application within two years from the date they completed the above course;
- legal status in Ontario, and;
- an intention to settle in Ontario.
Ontario Bullish On Boosting Employability Of Young Workers
Ontario’s move to encourage more international student, economic immigration comes as it is also trying to boost the job readiness of its current population by investing $62.9 million in two of its skilled trades programs to help more than 18,000 young people.
“We need more young people to know university isn’t the only path to success in life,” said provincial Immigration Minister David Piccini in December last year.
The government is expanding the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) with a $21.1 million investment to help more students across the province gain exposure to the skilled trades by accumulating hours toward an apprenticeship while completing high school.
“Ontario’s plan to go back to basics includes a renewed focus on hands-on learning that integrates learning with working in the skilled trades,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce.
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“This significant increase in pre-apprenticeships, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and the deployment of recruiters into 800 high schools across Ontario will help students jump-start their careers in the skilled trades and access good-paying jobs in communities small and large.”
Canada operates a two-tier immigration system which allows foreign nationals to gain their permanent residency through the federal Express Entry system’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as the PNPs of the 10 Canadian provinces.
Under the Express Entry system, immigrants can apply for permanent residency online and their profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.
Through a network of PNPs, almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can also nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.