Permanent Residence In Canada For International Graduates Under Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

International students who recently graduated from a degree or diploma study program at a Canadian university or college can apply for a provincial nomination under the International Student category of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

With a nomination, the applicant can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status. Applicant’s spouse or common-law partner as well as any dependent children can also be included on the application.

Ø  Basic Requirements

However, there is a set of requirements that an applicant must have to fulfill. Given below are key requirements to apply under the International Student category of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

• Applicant must be graduated from or has met the requirements of a full-time degree or diploma program from a publicly-funded Canadian college/university
• The study program should be of at least two years in length or a one year post-graduate certificate program, which requires a previous degree to qualify
• Applicant must have completed at the minimum half of their studies in Canada
• Applicant must apply within two years from the date on which he/she graduated
• Applicant must have an approved permanent or full-time job offer in a high-skilled occupation (National Occupational Classification level 0, A or B) that fulfill the entry-level wage levels in Ontario for that occupation

Ø  Some other important things to note

• The Ontario International Student category is not associated with the federal Express Entry system. Therefore, applications for permanent residence made following a nomination under this program are processed entirely outside Express Entry.
• It is not compulsory that the study program should have been located in Ontario; graduates of study programs across Canada can be eligible to apply.
• Obtaining a job offer from an employer in Ontario is mandatory as it is not possible to successfully apply to this stream without a valid job offer. However, Ontario employers looking to hire under this visa program, first have to submit a Pre-Screen Application mentioning the position they wish to fill. Their application must be approved by OINP.

Are you looking for assistance in preparing your application for Canadian permanent residence?

If so, the experienced staff at WWICS can assist you in your goals. At WWICS, we handle each case individually and offer customized advice to the clients through our legal counsels comprising ICCRC members, solicitors and other paralegals.