Express Entry PNP Update: Provinces Continue to Welcome New Applications

Some of Canada’s most desired destination provinces have been active with respect to their Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams this Spring, giving candidates in the Express Entry pool a range of opportunities to obtain a provincial nomination certificate. With such a nomination, a candidate obtains 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence at a subsequent draw from the pool.

A recent report issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) revealed the importance of PNPs for candidates who want to take a decisive step towards achieving their Canadian immigration goals. Last year, more than one-in-four invited candidates had a provincial nomination, up from around one-in-eight the previous year. Moreover, so far this year provinces have appeared keen to welcome even more new applications from candidates in the pool.

Over recent weeks, the provinces of Ontario, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia (BC) have each taken significant steps to bringing in more immigrants and their families through Express Entry.

Ontario

Toronto, Ontario

Earlier this month, the government of Ontario announced that it would issue Notifications of Interest (NOIs, effectively the same as an invitation to apply) to candidates in the Express Entry pool on a weekly basis. These NOIs are issued for the Human Capital Priorities stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) — a highly popular, yet unique, stream within the Canadian immigration landscape.

Previously, NOIs for this stream had been issued intermittently, but with no indication of regular issuance periods from the province. Indeed, no NOIs were issued between February, 2016 and February, 2017. Based on Ontario’s recent announcement, all of that is set to change.

The Human Capital Priorities stream operates on a passive model; it is neither first-come, first-served, nor Expression of Interest-based. Instead, the OINP searches the pool for eligible candidates who may settle in the province successfully based on set criteria, and issues them a NOI. Among the criteria is a requirement for the candidate to have at least 400 CRS points.

Invited candidates have six months to register on Ontario’s online application system and submit the application. Once registered, the candidate has 14 days to submit the application. A government processing fee of $1,500 CAD applies.

Ontario also has an Express Entry-aligned French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream, which, at the time of writing, remains open consistently. That is to say, it is not passive like the Human Capital Priorities stream.

Saskatchewan

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

On May 16, the popular International Skilled Worker – Express Entry sub-category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) reopened for 600 new applications. This was the third such reopening this year, and the application intake typically fills within days, benefiting candidates who have prepared thoroughly in advance. Historically, intake periods do not come with prior notice.

At the time of writing, the sub-category remains open. If the intake is reached and the program subsequently closes for a period, it may reopen again later in 2017.

Among the eligibility criteria is a requirement to have work experience in an in-demand occupation. No job offer is required, and this work experience may be from outside Canada. For the most recent intake period, the province provided an updated occupations list, which may be reviewed below.

NOC	Occupation	Skill Level
0423	Managers in Social, Community and Correctional Services	0
0513	Recreation, Sports and Fitness Program and Service Directors	0
0714	Facility Operation and Maintenance Managers	0
0821	Managers in Agriculture	0
1252	Health Information Management Occupations	B
2161	Mathematicians, Statisticians and Actuaries	A
2221	Biological Technologists and Technicians	B
2225	Landscape and Horticulture Technicians and Specialists	B
2231	Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians	B
2232	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians	B
2244	Aircraft Instrument, Electrical and Avionics Mechanics, Technicians and Inspectors	B
2253	Drafting Technologists and Technicians	B
2255	Technical Occupations in Geomantic and Meteorology	B
7253	Gas Fitters	B
7312	Heavy-duty Equipment Mechanics	B
7321	Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics and Mechanical Repairers	B
7332	Appliance Servicers and Repairers	B

Nova Scotia

Nova's Scotia's Cabot Trail

There was a flurry of activity in the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) in early May, with the highly popular Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream welcoming applications for the first time since 2015.

This stream contains two categories, one of which does not require a candidate to have a job offer. For this category (Category B), candidates must have at least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in the last six years in one of the 16 ‘opportunity’ occupations considered by Nova Scotia.

Occupation	NOC code
Financial Auditors and Accountants	1111
Other financial officers	1114
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations	1123
Administrative assistants	1241
Accounting and related clerks	1311
Civil engineers	2131
Information systems analysts and consultants	2171
Computer programmers and interactive media development	2174
Computer network technicians	2281
User support technicians	2282
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses	3012
Licensed practical nurses	3233
College and other vocational instructors	4021
Paralegal and related occupations	4211
Social and community service workers	4212
Financial sales representatives	6235

Soon after opening, intake under Category B of the stream was paused. A staff member at the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration, speaking to CICNews, said that this was because the online application system was experiencing technical difficulties, and that it is expected that applications will once again be accepted under this category in due course.

Nova Scotia has a second Express Entry-aligned PNP stream, known as Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry. This stream, which remains open at the time of writing, provides a pathway to permanent residence for skilled applicants who have worked for a Nova Scotia employer for at least one year.

British Columbia

Vancouver, BC

On May 10, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) invited 364 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination certificate. Of these, 133 candidates were invited under an Express Entry-aligned category. While this may seem like a small figure, it should be noted that this was the eighth such draw to take place so far in 2017, and on each occasion Express Entry candidates have been among the invitees.

Like Ontario, BC also has an invitation to apply system, but in BC’s case candidates must also register in the province’s own immigration management system before being invited to apply.

The single most valuable factor

“Let’s not forget that since improvements to Express Entry came into effect last November, a provincial nomination is now the single most valuable factor within the system. It is the golden ticket to Canada,” says Attorney David Cohen.

“We have seen year on year the importance of these programs, as the federal government places more trust, and higher allocations, in the hands of the provinces. I was at an immigration summit earlier this month, which included a discussion panel featuring three provincial ministers of immigration. These ministers mentioned Express Entry often — they clearly see it playing a significant role in their immigration strategies today and in the future.

“For international workers and their families wishing to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry, the first step is to create an Express Entry profile. All of the provinces that are active in selecting newcomers through Express Entry require the applicant to get in the pool first.”