Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program or OINP brings good news for international students who have completed a year of college program. The update is applicable to the International Student Stream under the Employer Job Offer category. IRCC expanded the eligibility requirements for international students with a legitimate job offer in Ontario to acquire permanent residency in the province.
What’s the Latest Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Update?
According to the latest Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program update, international students with an Ontario College Graduate Certificate from any one-year college program, are eligible to apply.
The update has been effective from 1st January 2024.
Prior to this, students with a one-year credential from specific institutions only could apply for the program.
IRCC brought forth this change to meet Ontario’s economic needs and fill the labour shortages in the province.
What is the OINP International Student Stream?
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is the economic immigration program of Ontario. It functions through IRCC and enables the province to invite skilled foreign workers and international students. The OINP also nominates specific candidates for permanent residence.
The International Student Stream falls under the employment job offer category of the program. Internationals living in or outside Canada are eligible to apply for this program through this stream. They, however, must have a valid job offer in Level 0, A or B category as stated in the NOC.
The employer and job should also meet the eligibility requirements in this program. For instance, the employer in Ontario should complete an Employer Form. The international student needs to submit it while applying.
You need to get the approval from Canadian Government and an Ontario provincial nomination under this stream to be able to apply for a work permit. It is also an efficient pathway to permanent residence in the province.
What are the eligibility requirements?
A diploma or graduate degree of at least a year if the student completed it on a full-time basis from an eligible Canadian institution
A diploma or an undergraduate degree of at least a year if the student completed it on a full-time basis from an eligible Canadian institution
A college graduate certificate of at least a year if the student completed it on a full-time basis from an eligible institution in Ontario
A graduate degree of at least a year if the student completed it on a full-time basis from an eligible Canadian institution
International students usually have queries about the eligibility of their graduate certificate. In such cases, you should check if the Ontario College Graduate Certificate is mentioned on the official credential you received from the university.
What else do you need?
The legit authorization you need for the job
A valid job offer in skilled occupation NOC 0, A or B
Legal status in Ontario during the application period
Proof that you intend to reside in Ontario
How can you show your ties to Ontario at the time of applying?
Academic journey in Ontario
Employment history in Ontario
Family ties
Previous visits to Ontario
Professional connections
Volunteering history in Ontario
Job offers in Ontario
Property ownership in the province
Personal relationships
Ontario is one of the most sought-after places for skilled international students and foreign workers to live their Canadian dream. The International Student Stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program allows skilled international students to get their dream job and apply for permanent residence here. The entire application process gets simpler and easier with experienced immigrant consultants by your side.
Ottawa has been one of the most sought-after places for international students to pursue their academic goals. Some academic institutions, however, exploited this popularity to increase their revenues. They enabled several international students to arrive in Canada without the proper support they needed to grow here. This not only stresses sustainable population growth but also housing and healthcare in Canada. Thus, the Canadian Government will set a cap on the number of approved study permit applications for two years. This is expected to give time to the country to stabilize new growth and provide the existing students with enough support.
What’s the Latest Update on International Student Admissions?
Marc Miller, Immigration Minister will set a two-year cap on the international student admissions. This is important to stabilize new growth and provide a standard lifestyle to the international students already living in Canada.
This cap is expected to approve about 360,000 study permits in 2024, which is almost 35% less than what was in 2023. The government will cap the permits based on specific provinces and territories. Provinces with maximum unsustainable population growth will have significant reductions in approving study permit applications.
However, the update doesn’t impact study permit renewals and current study permit holders. Elementary, secondary, master’s and doctoral courses are not included in this update.
How will the Study Permit Applications Work in 2024-2026?
The government will ask each province and territory to follow a specific portion of the cap. They can then allocate further among their DLIs.
Every study permit application should have an attestation letter from a territory or province. They need to set up a system for students to issue their attestation letters by 31st March 2024.
What are the Changes in Study Permit Eligibility Criteria?
IRCC ensures that the cap remains aligned with the PGWP. Hence, here are some changes they announced to the Post-Graduation Work Permit program as well.
You can apply for a 3-year work permit if you have completed a Master’s or a short graduate-level program.
International students who pursue a study program under the curriculum licensing agreement will not be allowed to apply for a postgraduation work permit after graduation from 1st September 2024.
Spouses of international students in doctoral and master’s programs will only be allowed to apply for open work permits.
Wrapping Up,
The new limitations on study permit applications ensure that the Government of Canada maintains a sustainable growing environment for international students. From adequate student housing and healthcare to developing a recognized institution framework, Canada is all set to take care of everything necessary for international students to live and work here. It is possible to get through this strict study permit application process with the right consultant by your side. Why don’t you get in touch with Onkar Immigration and get thorough guidance about the process?
According to the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026, Canada will welcome about 485,000 permanent residents in 2024. The aim is to fill labour shortages with as many skilled immigrants as possible. Thus, IRCC leaves no stone unturned to make things easier for candidates interested in immigrating and Canadian employers looking for global talent. If immigrating to Canada has been on your wishlist, this is the time to make it true. A licensed immigration consultant can help you with the programs, application processes and issuance of permits.
What are the Key Canadian Immigration Updates in 2024?
IRCC has adopted new measures in various sectors, depending on what the country needs. The category-based Express Entry, for instance, prioritizes candidates with work experience in five specific industries. Similarly, there are changes in provincial nominee, temporary residence and family class programs. So, let’s dive a little deeper into what to expect from Canadian immigration in 2024.
Express Entry Changes
The category-based draws were introduced in 2023 and yielded quite positive results. So, we expect all-program draws to take a back seat this year while most draws prioritize categories such as healthcare, transport, trades, STEM, farming and food. IRCC can add or remove any category in 2024. The decision depends on the economic gaps and labour requirements in Canada. Candidates with French language proficiency were also eligible for the category-based draws.
About 110,770 Federal High Skilled Immigrants are expected to get their ITAs in 2024. The number may rise to 117,500 in 2025 and 2026.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Changes
PNPs are all set to become the biggest immigration pathway in 2024 in terms of targets. These immigration programs let local governments handpick candidates based on their specific economic needs.
PNPs are expected to invite at least 110,000 candidates in 2024 across nine provinces and two territories excluding Quebec. You can check out the new guidelines for PNPs here.
IRCC also aims to help territories and provinces plan their immigration strategies better through multi-year immigration plans in 2024. Each regional government will be able to plan the immigration rules for prospective candidates in a more precise manner.
International Student Program Changes
IRCC takes a stricter approach to prevent scams in international student programs. For instance, Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) need to verify each letter of acceptance submitted by international students before proceeding with the study permit issuance.
A thorough review of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is also in the queue in 2024. The review will make it easier for the students to apply and get their Canadian PR.
Parents and Grandparents Program Updates
The program will welcome at least 32,000 candidates in 2024. If you are interested in sponsoring your parents or grandparents through this stream, you need to submit your interest in the pool through an online application. It’s like a lottery system and you may get your chance if picked randomly during draws.
What are Some Unique Changes As Promised by IRCC?
The Canadian Government is more serious about filling labour gaps and improving the country’s economy. Hence, besides updating the immigration programs, they have considered the following changes as well.
New IRCC board of advisors
IRCC plans to create a new body of advisors in 2024 to improve Canadian immigration policy and services. It might include experienced authorities, who would bring fresh policies and approaches to the table for better immigration program development,
Focus on the use of AI and technology
Canadian immigration will prioritize the use of AI and technology in 2024. The updates will make things easier for IRCC officers, highlight diversity priorities and reduce processing times. The digital transformation will help eligible candidates apply for immigration faster and in several ways. In other words, they will have more options to apply for immigration here.
A new role of the Chief International Talent Officer (CITO)
The immigration department in Canada will appoint a new role known as the Chief International Talent Officer. With the rising diverse requirements in the country, it can be difficult to identify and fulfill those in a specific time span. The CITO is supposed to take care of it. They will assess and identify the vacancies in the country’s labour market and align them with the country’s immigration system.
How Can Our Immigration Consultants Help?
At Onkar Immigration, we stay abreast of all the updates that will govern the Canadian immigration system in 2024. Whether you want to study in Canada or apply for permanent residence here, we have the right team to guide you
The exploitation of international student programs in Canada has made headlines for several years. Now, IRCC has adopted some strict and effective measures to stop the abuse and prevent students from fraud. One of the new frameworks, for instance, allows further processing of student visa applications only after their DLI or Designated Learning Institute has verified the students’ letters of acceptance (LOA). This is a great step to maintain the integrity of international student programs in Canada.
How DLIs Would Verify Acceptance Letters of International Students?
700 students from India were issued fraudulent admission letters from Canadian educational institutions. Many of them arrived in Canada in 2018-2019 and even had completed their Canadian work experience. Unfortunately, they were made aware of the fraud as they applied for permanent residence here.
So, IRCC wants to make sure all letters of acceptance are authorized and verified by the DLI before any further processing. So, how is this new framework going to work? Let’s find out.
Students can get access to an online portal of their allotted DLI through which they need to submit their LOA. The school has to verify the LOA within 10 days of the letter’s submission. The DLIs will lose access to the online portal after those 10 days. If a student’s LOA isn’t verified within that time frame, their visa application will be cancelled and returned.
Not everyone from the DLI will have access to the LOAs. Only the official representative of IRCC can get access to and verify the submitted letters.
What is the Trusted Institutions Framework?
IRCC has proposed the Trusted Institutions Framework to be effective in 2024. It introduces a two-tier model for issuing study permits. This measure aims to strengthen the credibility of international study programs in Canada.
IRCC is yet to hold discussions regarding the framework. However, it is believed to prevent student fraud and help DLIs process study permits at a faster rate.
The framework would bring forth a set of criteria to help the DLIs identify genuine students, report on each student’s compliance and provide them with an enriching academic experience.
What Else Can International Students Expect in 2024?
International students can expect a wide slew of changes in 2024. Some of the prominent ones are:
Introducing new changes to the PGWP program
Raising the cost of living requirements by an extra $10,000 CAD
Changes in the 20-hour work cap for international students
Canada is still a promising study destination for students from all over the world. New IRCC measures in 2024 are expected to make things safer, easier and faster for international students. A trusted immigration consultant in Alberta, Edmonton such as Onkar Immigration can guide you through all changes and help you get the study permit hassle-free.
IRCC announced major changes to the International Student Program on 27th October. These updates would create a better framework for IRCC to protect the students from fraud. This announcement marks the first review of the PGWP or Post-Graduation Work Permit in ten years. The changes will not only benefit students but also the DLIs or Designated Learning Institutes in Canada. It will be effective anytime in the coming months.
What are the New Changes in the Post-Graduation Work Permit Review?
All the changes focus on strengthening the program. The DLIs will need to confirm the acceptance of the letter of each applicant directly with IRCC. This will leave no space for errors or fraud. The Government will be able to issue study permits based on legit acceptance letters only.
IRCC will also adopt a recognized institution framework by the 2024 fall semester. The DLIs can then process the study permit applications on a priority basis.
IRCC is expected to complete the assessment of PGWP in the coming months. They will bring forth specific reforms according to the needs of the country’s labour market.
What is the Post-Graduation Work Permit?
The PGWP lets you work for any Canadian employer. You need to complete an eligible post-secondary program in Canada to be able to apply for this program. The permit is usually valid for up to three years. However, it varies depending on the course duration of your Canadian educational program.
Legit work experience is crucial for international students to apply for permanent residence in Canada. And PGWP is the best way to achieve that.
What are the Eligibility Criteria for PGWP?
International students need to meet the following criteria to apply for PGWP.
You need to complete a professional training, vocational or academic program at a legit DLI. The program should be at least eight months long and reward you with a degree or diploma.
The DLI should provide you with a legitimate transcript and an official letter conveying that you have met all the requirements for the program.
You need to show your full-time status as an international student in every academic session of your program.
You can also graduate from a public post-secondary institution like a trade school or college to be able to apply for this program.
Remember:
The government nullified the full-time student status requirement during the pandemic for specific international students. Exceptions include those who are studying in March 2020 or between Spring 2020 and Summer 2022. It also doesn’t apply to students who took a break from studies in the final session.
PGWP Growth Statistics
PGWP is highly popular in Canada. Firstly, it lets international students earn work experience. Second, the country gets an opportunity to fill its labour shortages.
According to Statistics Canada, the total number of PGWP holders increased from 10,300 to 64,700 between 2008 and 2018. In fact, the data shows that number of PGWP holders increase every year in Canada.
At least 286,000 international graduates had a valid PGWP at the end of 2022. Several PGWP holders get permanent residence every year. 157,000 students got their PR in 2021 while 95,000 in 2022.
Need Help With Study Permits in Canada?
The PGWP review will make things a lot easier for eligible international students and the Canadian Government. It will enable the faster processing of study permit applications and reduce the chances of student fraud.
If you need any help with the study permit application in Alberta or Edmonton, we have got your back. Share your study goals with our team and we will guide you accordingly.
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