The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Employer Job Offer Category – International Student Stream is a pathway for international students in Canada who have graduated from eligible Ontario institutions and wish to obtain permanent residency in the province. This stream is designed to attract and retain talented individuals who have completed their education in Ontario and have the skills and qualifications needed to contribute to the province’s economic growth.
Through the OINP International Student Stream, eligible candidates may receive a nomination from the province, enhancing their chances of obtaining permanent residency in Canada. This program reflects Ontario’s commitment to welcoming and integrating international students, recognizing their potential to positively impact the local economy and enrich the province’s diverse cultural landscape. It also aligns with Ontario’s goal of attracting and retaining skilled individuals who have already demonstrated their commitment to the province through their education. It not only benefits international students by providing a pathway to permanent residency but also contributes to Ontario’s economic growth by filling gaps in the labour market with qualified and skilled professionals.
You can also get to know other immigration pathways more suited to each particular situation. All of our fees and packages are also available! Overall, the OINP International Student Stream plays a crucial role in enhancing Ontario’s competitiveness in the global talent market and fostering a diverse and inclusive society. You can also get acquainted with other OINP programs.
Book a consultation today to discuss your eligibility with an expert immigration advisor and take your first step toward living and working in Ontario. Let our immigration firm guide you through the International Student stream and make your Canadian dream a reality.
DRAW DATE
Feb 8, 2024
PROGRAM(S)
International Student Steram
INVITATIONS ISSUED
1182
LOWEST SCORE
78
For the International Student Stream, the job offer must be permanent, full-time, and skilled. The National Occupation Classification (NOC) will decide if your specific occupation is skilled or not is. It must further match one of the TEERs established under the NOC. These TEERs are the first 0, 1, 2, and 3. The salary for the offered position must either match or exceed the low-wage threshold set for that occupation in the particular region of Ontario where you are planning to work. If the salary information for the employment region where the applicant will work or report to work is not present in the wage report, the wage specific to Ontario should be utilised.
One of the factors differing from the other streams offered by the OINP program, is the wage cut-off necessary to apply. The International Student Stream allows applicants to submit their applications with a low wage job offer. If you are presently employed in the same position, the offered wage must match or surpass your current salary in addition to meeting or exceeding the minimum wage level.
If you are paid an annual salary, there is a way to convert it into the format of hourly wages. The calculation for your hourly wage involves deducting any bonuses or discretionary benefits from the annual salary. After deducting these, divide the remaining amount by the total number of weeks worked in a year (typically 52 weeks). Then, further divide this result by the number of hours worked per week. The resulting value represents your hourly wage. An employee is considered a full-time hire when they work for at least 30 hours per week.
For the job offer to be eligible, the offered position must be of immediate and critical importance to your employer’s business. This entails a direct alignment with your employer’s current business operations, and the role must be urgently required to sustain or enhance ongoing business activities.
It is important to note that the program excludes piece work, bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, or non-financial compensation from being considered as components of your hourly base wage.
There are certain criteria that an employer must meet to be eligible to provide a job offer to the International Student Stream applicant. The general requirements include
The employer must also meet certain revenue requirements for the most recent tax year. The minimum threshold depends on the location in Ontario
The Employer Form is one of the crucial forms that the employer signs as proof of the applicant’s lawful employment and position within the company. Once the form is completed and signed by the employer, the applicant must scan and upload it with their application.
What does “Report to Work” mean? There are cases when an applicant will have to work in more than one location. In such scenarios, the applicant must report their place of work as either:
Education eligibility can be assessed in four primary ways. Your educational background is eligible if you have obtained:
It is also necessary to make sure that these credentials were obtained while living and studying in Canada for more than half of the duration of the study program.
If an occupation requires a license to keep practicing in the field, it is necessary to possess a legitimate license or authorization issued by the relevant regulatory body in Ontario at the time of application.
An applicant’s ties to Ontario will determine how intent they are on continuing their career advancement in the province. Some of the factors that determine an applicant’s connection to the province and their future plans include:
If the applicant resides in Canada at the time of the application, it is necessary to maintain a valid status in Canada at the time of the application and until the time of nomination.
The Application Period is a necessary factor to keep in mind. The applicant must submit their application within two years of obtaining their educational background. This implies that your degree must have been obtained within two years submitting the OINP application. This timeline includes registering for an EOI, receiving the Invitation to Apply, and submitting the final application.
When the applicant receives the NOI, there’s 14 calendar days in which the application must be submitted. For this stage, there is a specific checklist and certain documents that must be gathered for the submission. These documents include:
The average processing time for the OINP International Student Stream is around 90-120 days. An applicant can check the status of the application on the OINP e-Filing portal.
While there are no government fees when submitting the application to Express Entry pool or creating an e-Filing portal, once the applicant receives the notification of interest, a sum of $1500 will need to be paid for the processing of the application. (Refunds are possible in case of incomplete applications or withdrawal before the start of the processing). If you decide to retain us as your representative, some professional fees will be applicable.
Once your application has been approved, you will receive the following via email:
Once the applicant has the appropriate documents, the following stage is applying for Permanent Residency through the OINP International Student Stream. To do so, there are certain conditions that an applicant has to meet and maintain throughout the whole process. Those include:
Creating a profile on the OINP e-Filing Portal.
Registering an expression of interest for the international student stream.
Filling in forms and uploading required documentations within 14 days of receiving invitation to apply.
Applying for permanent residency (PR) to the IRCC within 6 months of receiving the nomination.
