Ontario receives additional 2019 nominations, invites Express Entry candidates

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has received an additional 700 nominations for 2019 and issued 667 invitations to Express Entry candidates through its Skilled Trades Stream.

The additional nominations announced this week bring the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)'s annual allocation under Canada's Provincial Nominee Program, or PNP, to 7,350.

The PNP allows participating provinces and territories to nominate a set number of Economic Class immigration candidates each year for Canadian permanent residence.

The additional nominations will allow the OINP to continue processing applications and issuing nominations on top of its original 2019 allocation of 6,650, which the OINP said it has now reached.

Express Entry invitations

On Wednesday, the OINP reported issuing 667 Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to Express Entry candidates through its Skilled Trades Stream.

The stream is one of three OINP immigration pathways linked to the federal Express Entry system, which is Canada’s principal source of skilled foreign labour.

Of the three, the Human Capital Priorities Stream has been by far the busiest this year, issuing nearly 7,000 NOIs to candidates over the course of five draws.

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The Skilled Trades Stream allows the OINP to search the Express Entry pool for candidates with Ontario work experience in eligible skilled trades and invite them to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

Eligible trades are those listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73 or 82 of Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC).

The December 11 selection round saw Express Entry candidates with CRS scores as low as 410 receive an NOI. By contrast, a federal draw from the Express Entry pool that was held the same day had a minimum score of 472.

Express Entry candidates who receive an NOI and apply for a provincial nomination from Ontario will be considered under the OINP's 2020 nomination allocation.

For more details on eligibility requirements for the OINP's Skilled Trades Stream, please visit this dedicated page.

Temporary Foreign Worker nominations

The OINP also announced that applications for another 250 dedicated nominations for temporary foreign workers with work experience that is rated skill level 'C' under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC) will continue to be processed under the OINP's In-Demand Skills Stream.

These nominations are part of a federal initiative announced earlier this year that created 2,000 additional PNP spaces this year so long-term, intermediate-skilled temporary foreign workers who have integrated into Canadian society can transition to permanent residents.

"It's great to see the OINP cap what's been an incredible year with new Express Entry invitations," said David Cohen, senior partner with the Campbell Cohen Canadian immigration law firm in Montreal.

"The invitations were also a good reminder that there are options for potentially obtaining a federal invitation to apply for permanent residence when you have a lower CRS score, with a provincial nomination being chief among them."

Find out if you are eligible for the Express Entry pool