The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is transitioning to an Expression of Interest (EOI) scheme, which is a points-based system that rates candidates based on human resources and labour market considerations, rather than the former first-come-first-served model. This form of scheme is still in use by many other Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) for handling new registrants.
The New EOI System Will Be Applied By The OINP In The Following Streams:
- Employer Work Offer Category streams (Foreign Worker, International Student & In-Demand Skills)
- Masters Graduate stream
- Graduate stream
These streams are now closed to new entrants as the OINP works to improve the system. When the latest EOI system goes live in the coming weeks, they will reopen. The OINP did not specify a specific date.
How Will The EOI System Affect Immigration To Ontario?
The immigration lines that are transitioning to an EOI registration system used to be like a crowded theatre. People who wished to immigrate to Ontario by one of these PNPs would be able to apply on the province’s website.
Owing to high demand, these registration windows generally only lasted a few minutes before they were filled. There was a slew of other issues, including the need for the OINP to provide a separate email address for those that had technical issues that prevented them from registering, and some people argued that the scheme was discriminatory to those with slow internet connections.
The majority of other PNPs use EOI programmes. People are typically expected to provide a resume outlining their job history, qualifications, and all other related details. They are then granted a provincial score, and if they receive a high enough score, they will be invited to qualify for a provincial nomination for permanent residency.
Ontario began accepting public hearings on the new EOI system in the fall of 2020. According to a spokeswoman for the OINP, they got very favourable reviews.
Between September 9 and October 23, 2020, the province received approximately 250 comment submissions. Individuals, prospective candidates, employers, immigration groups and officials, as well as business associations and professional bodies, submitted these applications.
According to an OINP representative, many respondents thought the new EOI scheme would be fairer, more predictable, and more user-friendly than the existing intake procedure.