Ontario continues to make use of Express Entry-aligned streams with 142 new invitations issued

The Canadian province of Ontario has issued a total of 142 Notifications of Interest to candidates in the Express Entry pool in two draws, which took place on April 11 and 12.

The draws conducted were for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)’s Express Entry-aligned French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream (FSSW) and Skilled Trades Stream. Since the draw was for candidates who met the criteria for the FSSW and Skilled Trades Stream, there was no minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement to receive a Notification of Interest, or NOI, for these draws.

Under the FSSW Stream, 55 candidates who have submitted their Express Entry profile between January 1, 2018 andApril 12, 2018 were issued a NOI. An additional 87 candidates with Express Entry profiles submitted between January 1, 2018 and April 11, 2018 were issued NOIs under the Skilled Trades Stream.

The FSSW Stream was launched in 2015 to help the OINP select French-speaking skilled workers who also have sufficient English language abilities and who want to live and work permanently in Ontario.

The Skilled Trades Stream helps trades workers with experience in an eligible trade to settle in Ontario through the use of the Express Entry selection system.

Invited candidates with a successful application to the OINP will obtain 600 additional CRS points, leaving them well positioned to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) at a later federal Express Entry draw.

OINP data show that 791 Express Entry candidates have been issued NOIs under the two streams this year.

In addition to these streams, the OINP has been issuing NOIs on a regular basis to candidates through its Express Entry-linked Human Capital (HCP) Stream. The HCP Stream has a minimum CRS requirement of 400 points.

Since the beginning of 2018, the OINP has invited a total of 3,378 candidates from the Express Entry pool.

Candidates in the Express Entry pool do not apply directly to Ontario's Express Entry streams. Candidates must first obtain a NOI from Ontario through their IRCC online account.

Once a NOI has been received, candidates have 45 calendar days from the date the NOI letter was issued to submit an online application to the OINP.

In order to pursue any of Ontario's Express Entry-linked streams, Candidates must first enter the Express Entry pool.

To find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, fill out a FREE assessment form today.