New Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream in Ontario

Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream under OINP

The Province of Ontario has an immigrant nomination program, called Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, which aids skilled foreign nationals who have the appropriate work experience to obtain permanent residency in Canada, specifically Ontario. Evidently, their ultimate goal is for the foreign national to successfully contribute to the Canadian economy. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is very unique as it provides the most points out of all Express Entry factors for the Express Entry candidate. More specifically, an Express Entry candidate may obtain up to 600 additional points from the PNP program. As a result, they may be able to receive an invitation to apply at the next available draw for the Express Entry pool. In addition, on August 16, the government of Ontario introduced the Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream which is a pilot for workers that are in high-demand occupations with a valid job offer in the province of Ontario. Therefore, in this article, I will address the new Stream and how it affects the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and Express Entry altogether.

Specific Occupations in High-Demand in Ontario

The new stream called the Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream was introduced by the government of Ontario as part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). This new stream allows the province of Ontario to nominate specific individuals to immigrate to Canada based on criteria set out by Ontario. These specific individuals can only apply to this stream if they meet all of the eligibility criteria and have received a permanent full-time and valid job offer from an employer within Ontario. Additionally, they must obtain a signed and completed Employer Form to submit as a part of the application package. The job offer from the Canadian employer must be in an eligible occupation that falls under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Level C or D. The high-demand occupations mostly fall under agricultural and construction occupations. Below is a list of specific occupations that fall under this new stream.

• NOC 7441 – Residential & Commercial Installers & Servicers
• NOC 7521 – Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane)
• NOC 8431 – General Farm Workers
• NOC 8432 – Nursery & Greenhouse Workers
• NOC 8611 – Harvesting Labourers
• NOC 7611 – Construction Trades Helpers & Labourers
• NOC 9462 – Industrial Butchers, Meat Cutters, Poultry Preparers, Related Workers

Eligibility for New In-Demand Skills Stream

In order to become eligible for the In-Demand Stream one must fall under one of the aforementioned occupations. Additionally, candidates must obtain a valid job offer from a Canadian employer that meets specific criteria.

The valid job offer must meet the following criteria:

• Is a permanent full-time job offer in an eligible occupation in either the agricultural or construction sectors; and
• Meets the prevailing wage levels within Ontario for that specific occupation and region
  – Please note that if the candidate is currently working in the position, the Canadian employer must meet the prevailing wage requirements and also pay a wage that is either equal or greater than the current wage

Candidates must also abide by the following requirements in order to be eligible under the In-Demand Skills Stream:

• Certificate or License
  – Candidates must have a valid certificate or license when applying for any work experience claimed in an occupation that requires such certification or licensing.
• Language
  – Candidates must exhibit an English and/or French language level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 or above in all language competencies (writing, reading, listening and speaking).
• Work Experience
  – Candidates must obtain 12 months of cumulative paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time experience, within Ontario within 3 years prior to applying. Additionally, they must be in an eligible occupation as mentioned above.
• Education
  – Candidates must have completed the equivalent of secondary school (high school) education or above in Canadian standards, as demonstrated through a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
• Funds
  – Candidates must have sufficient funds and income in Ontario.

Additionally, the Ontario employer must also abide by the following criteria:

• Been an active business for a minimum of 3 years;
• Have business locations in Ontario where the candidate will work;
• Comply with all provincial labour laws, which include but are not limited to employment standards, health and safety, and labour relations legislation;
• If the Ontario employer is located in the Greater Toronto Area, then the employer must have:
  – 1 million (minimum) in gross annual revenue for the most recent fiscal year, and
  – A minimum of 5 permanent full-time employees who are either Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the location where the candidate will work.
• If the Ontario employer is located outside of the Greater Toronto Area, then the employer must have:
  – $500,000 CAD (minimum) in gross annual revenue for the most recent fiscal year, and
  – A minimum of 3 permanent full-time employees who are either Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the location where the candidate will work.

It is important to note that a permanent full-time job offer is defined as an offer of employment with no definitive expiry date and which consists of a minimum of 1, 560 paid hours of employment in a one year period with a minimum of 30 hours per working week.

Contact Akrami & Associates

If you believe that you are a qualified for the In-Demand Skills Stream and want to become a candidate for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), we can help you with this process. If you have skilled work experience and meet all of the above mentioned requirements, we suggest you research what NOC you qualify for. Moreover, any Immigration application can become overwhelming if done alone and if you are still unsure or confused on whether or not you fit a specific NOC, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients receive permanent residency and the ability to work in Canada, specifically in Ontario. If you believe that you might be eligible, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!