OINP Foreign Worker Stream with an Employer Job Offer

Alexander is a German citizen currently working in the healthcare sector in Waterloo, Ontario. He holds a valid work permit. However, because of his age, he doesn’t qualify for Express Entry. Alexander has heard about the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Consequently, he wonders if he qualifies for the Foreign Worker Stream with an Employer Job Offer.

What is OINP?

Ontario offers specific immigration options. An immigration process directed to this province falls under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The current options include the following:

• Employer Job Offer
  • Foreign Worker Stream
  • International Student Stream
  • In-Demand Skills Stream
• Post-graduates from Ontario Universities
  • Masters Graduate Stream
  • Ph.D. Graduate Stream
• Selection based on the required skills in Ontario
  • Human Capital Priorities Stream
  • Skilled Trades Stream
  • French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
• Entrepreneur Stream

This list is subject to change. I have previously explained the International Student Stream and the Entrepreneur Stream. The current article focuses on the Foreign Worker Stream.

The OINP Foreign Worker Stream – The job offer requirements

This stream focuses on people with skilled worker experience. You may reside in or outside Canada. However, if you are inside Canada, you must have a valid status. The core of this immigration option is to receive a job offer from a qualified employer. I have another article that explains who could be an eligible employer. Here are also the job offer requirements.

1. The offer is in a skilled occupation under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
2. It is full-time and permanent.
3. The salary is equal to or more than the prevailing wage.
4. The employer needs you urgently.
5. You will work primarily in Ontario.

The applicant’s requirements for the OINP Foreign Worker Stream

You must meet one of the following requirements to qualify for this stream.

• If the position requires a license in Ontario, you must hold that license from an Ontario regulator.
• If a license is not mandatory, you must show at least two years of work experience and at least 3,120 hours of work experience in the same position. The work experience must have occurred in the past five years.

Other than the work experience or licensing, you must also have the following minimums:

• Intention to reside in Ontario (e.g., because of your job prospects or family ties)
• If you are inside Canada, you must have a valid legal status.

The application process

Assuming you meet the requirements, you will follow these steps:

1. Create an online account on the OINP portal and enter the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.
2. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
3. Submit your documents and pay the processing fee online in the allotted time.
4. Receive a Confirmation of Nomination from the province.
5. Apply for permanent residency via the IRCC PR Portal.

Of course, the assumption here is that everything goes smoothly. Sometimes, there will be curveballs.

The EOI criteria for Foreign Worker Stream

When you enter the EOI pool, you receive points. OINP uses the following criteria to calculate your points. The maximum number of points you could receive is 76. Of course, these points are subject to change.

Employment or labour market factors

• Job offer: NOC TEER category, up to 10 points
  • NOC TEER 0 or 1 – 10 Points
  • NOC TEER 2 or 3 – 8 Points
  • NOC TEER 4 or 5 – 0 Points
• Job offer: NOC broad occupational category, up to 10 points
  • Occupational Category 0, 2, 3 – 10 points
  • Occupational Category 7 – 7 points
  • Occupational Category 1, 9 – 5 points
  • Occupational Category 4, 8 – 4 points
  • Occupational Category 5, 6 – 3 points
• Job offer: wage, up to 10 points
  • $40 per hour or higher – 10 points
  • $35 to $39.99 per hour – 8 points
  • $30 to $34.99 per hour – 7 points
  • $25 to $29.99 per hour – 6 points
  • $20 to $24.99 per hour – 5 points
  • Less than $20 per hour – 0 points
• Work permit status, up to 10 points
  • With a valid work permit – 10 points
  • Without a valid work permit – 0 points
• Job tenure with job offer employer, up to 3 points (only if work has occurred in Ontario)
  • Six months or more working in a job offer position – 3 points
  • Less than six months working in job offer position or not currently working in position – 0 points
• Canadian work experience: earnings history based on a CRA Notice of Assessment, up to 3 points
  • $40k or more earnings in a year – 3 points
  • Less than $40k earnings in a year – 0 points

Language

• Official language ability (IELTS General, CELPIP-General, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada), up to 10 points
  • CLB 9 or higher – 10 points
  • CLB 8 – 6 points
  • CLB 7 – 4 points
  • CLB 6 or lower – 0 points
• Knowledge of official languages, up to 10 points
  • 2 Official Languages – 10 points
  • 1 Official Language – 5 points

Regionalization

• Regional immigration: location of job offer, up to 10 points
  • Northern Ontario – 10 points
  • Other areas outside GTA (except Northern Ontario) – 8 points
  • Inside GTA (except Toronto) – 3 points
  • Toronto – 0 points

The past invitations

OINP reviews the EOI pool and then invites Foreign Worker Stream applicants based on Ontario priorities. The invitation criteria vary. However, the following list could give you an idea of who they usually invite and the number of points they usually have. You can check out the up-to-date statistics by visiting the OINP website.

Notably, the last time OINP ran a general draw under this program was in March 2022. All the newer draws have focused on certain occupations.

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Al ParsaiAl Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor – Queen’s University – Faculty of Law
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada

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