Ontario has released new instructions for Ontario’s Expression of Interest system and Express Entry candidates for the submission of their complete PNP applications.
Ontario has issued new more specific guidelines for future immigrants and their representatives who are submitting applications for Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Immigration applicants to the province are required to submit a complete immigration application to the PNP of the province, known as the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Missing documentation or incomplete information can lead to rejection of the application, i.e., the application can be returned. Ontario states it reduces the processing times to accept only complete applications submitted through the Canadian Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) of the province.
The new instructions released by Ontario for submitting complete PNP applications include:
- Express Entry candidates
- Expression of Interest candidates
Express Entry Streams for Ontario
Under an Express Entry stream, candidates with foreign education are required to take an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to score points for education.
On the government website, Ontario has mentioned World Education Services (WES) to help with the ECA. However, there are many other designated organizations to help candidates complete their educational credential assessment. The federal government has named all the approved services on the website.
On its website, Ontario has also specified that applicants are required to authorize WES to share their assessment results with the OINP. For this, candidates are required to request (online) an additional report of their Educational Credential Assessment report.
If applicants authorize WES to share the results of their assessment only with the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) for applying under OINP or if applicants do not authorize WES to share the ECA information with the OINP, then their application will be returned due to incomplete information and application fee will be refunded. These candidates will miss the chance to apply to the program unless they receive a new notification of interest from the province.
Expression of Interest Streams
While submitting an application through the Employer Job Offer stream, the applicants are required to upload a PDF copy of the Attestation Form to complete the application. For the submission of the attestation form, the applicant must follow the below series:
- a) Print the attestation form.
- b) Sign it in ink.
- c) Upload the signed form to the “Other” tab under Supporting Documents.
If the applicant misses submitting a signed copy of the attestation form, the province will reject their application due to incomplete information and refund the application fee. In this case, the applicant will miss the chance to apply to the program, unless he or she registers a new Expression of Interest and receive a new ITA from the province.
