The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers the International Student Stream that provides international students with a job offer in an eligible skilled occupation in Ontario, a pathway to permanent residence.
The OINP International Student Stream targets foreign national students who recently graduated from an accredited study program in Canada and have a full-time job offer from an employer in Ontario for a skilled position.
In this article, we have a detailed guide to the OINP International Student Stream – from eligibility requirements to the application process. Read on to find out more.
Eligibility Requirements: Applicants
Job Offer
To qualify for the Ontario International Students stream, a foreign national must be offered a job opportunity by an employer based in Ontario. The job must be full-time and have a pay level equal to or above the low wage level for that particular occupation in Ontario. The job offer must be for a position that is either Skill Level 0, A, or B (or the equivalent TEER level) as per National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Level of Education
Anyone applying to the OINP student stream must have completed an educational credential at a Canadian institution that meets either of the following criteria:
- A degree or diploma that takes two years to finish when you study full-time or;
- A degree or diploma that takes one year to finish when you study full-time but requires another completed degree as a prior condition for admission.
Please note: A few particular educational institutions do not fit into the OINP International Student stream draw. Applicants must check before applying to determine if their academic credential is accepted.
Intention to Reside
OINP requirements mandate that all applicants provide proof of their intention to reside in Ontario. This can be done by showing connections to the province via relatives or past residence, investment such as the purchase of a property in the province, or by participating in the society in Ontario through volunteer work, etc.
Other eligibility:
- At the time of submitting the application, an applicant must have legal status in Canada
- The applicant must have scrutiny relating to medical and criminal inadmissibility in Canada
Eligibility Requirements: Employers
Job Offer Requirements
For the employer’s job offer to qualify in the OINP Employer Job Offer International Student stream, the employer must have a business base in Ontario. Additionally, they should have been in active business for at least three years before the application date.
The job offer must be for a full-time and permanent position with a wage level that meets industry standards.
Business Requirements
To meet the Ontario PNP requirements, the business should have a reputable name in Ontario with a history of a positive workplace environment and ethical business practices. The business must also meet the following criteria of minimum gross annual revenue and employee requirements criteria.
- If the employer is based in the Greater Toronto Area, the business must have a minimum of CAD 1 million in gross annual revenue and at least five full-time employees.
- If the employer is based outside the Greater Toronto Area, the business must have a minimum of CAD 500,000 in gross annual revenue and at least three full-time employees.
Recruitment Requirements
The employer must also prove that efforts were made to recruit a Canadian citizen for this position before the job was offered to a foreign national. This clause might be exempted if the foreign national is already permitted to work in Ontario.
Application Procedure
To apply to the OINP International Student Stream, applicants must proceed with these four steps below.
Step One: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
The International Student stream OINP ranks its applicants using a points-based system. Eligible applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the OINP e-Filing Portal.
Based on the OINP International Student Stream points calculator, only the candidates with the highest rankings will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for the OINP International Student Stream latest draw.
To learn more about the OINP points calculator, refer to the next section of this article.
Step Two: Submit an application for provincial nomination
Once a candidate is invited to apply (ITA), they have 14 calendar days to submit an application. The PNP international student stream application must be submitted electronically using a ONe-key account.
These kinds of applications require comprehensive personal information along with supporting documents. You can take help from an immigration firm to organize your material. Make sure you have all things ready if you receive an ITA.
Step Three: Receive a provincial nomination
The processing time varies for every application. Typically, OINP International Students applications take anywhere between 30 to 150 days to be processed.
Once an application gets approved, the applicant will receive a formal provincial nomination from the province of Ontario.
Step Four: Submit a federal application for permanent resident status
After receiving the provincial nomination, applicants can submit a federal application for permanent resident status.
This application under the PNP Ontario requirements requires extensive personal information and supporting documentation, like the process of applying for the provincial nomination. You may get professional help to avoid any mistakes.
Please note that the OINP Employer Job Offer International Student stream does not fall under Canada’s Express Entry system. Hence, these applications take longer to process. The applicants under the OINP International Student stream draw must be prepared to wait a year or longer before their application is processed.
OINP International Student Stream Score Calculator
We have discussed above that the International Graduate Stream Ontario uses a points-based system to rank its applicants. The score is calculated as follows:
| Factor | Maximum Points | |
| Job offer | NOC skill level | 10 |
| NOC type | 10 | |
| Wage | 10 | |
| Canadian Work Experience | Length | 4 |
| NOC skill level | 3 | |
| Earnings history | 3 | |
| Education | Highest level of education | 10 |
| Field of study | 10 | |
| Canadian education experience | 10 | |
| Language | Official language ability (CLB level) | 10 |
| Knowledge of official languages (English, French, or both) | 10 | |
| Regional Immigration | Location of job offer | 10 |
| Location of study | 10 | |
| Strategic Priorities | Ontario may award additional points to address labor market needs as required | 10 |
| Total Available Points | 120 | |
Conclusion
The journey to apply for the OINP International Student Stream Draw can be long. Having an experienced immigration lawyer by your side can make this experience much more simple and hassle-free.
Contact Chaudhary Law Office for any help or advice in your immigration process.
