Immigrating to Ontario with French-English Express Entry (OINP)

Ontario’s OINP immigration program has three express entry options. This article discusses the specific Express Entry option known as the “French Speaking Skilled Worker” stream.

The French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream is an immigration program that provides a permanent residency pathway to foreign nationals who speak French and have professional skills.

Requirements for the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream Application:

Job Offer:	A Job offer is not required to apply for the French-Speaking Skilled Worker immigration pathway to Ontario.
Work Experience:	Applicants must have worked for one year full time in Canada in Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the NOC. Also, applicants must decide which one of the following two federal program to be assessed against: Federal Skilled Workers Programs; or Canadian Experience Class.
Education:	Applicant’s must have a Canadian bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree or its equivalent in another country. If the education was from another country, then applicants must obtain an  Educational Credential Assessment report that proves your education is equivalent to a Canadian degree.
Language	Applicants must be able to understand, read, write French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher. Proof of French competency may be requested. English reading and writing and speaking levels must be at CLB level 6.
Financial Assets	Applicants must have enough money to support themselves and any dependent family members when the applicant settles in Canada. Proof may be requested with bank statements, annual earnings from employment, etc. The cost to apply to OINP is $1,500.00 CAD.

Competitive Factors in the OINP Express Entry Programs:

Even if an applicant is fully qualified and satisfies all the requirements, the applicant might not be accepted or might otherwise be rejected at any stage of the application process since only the top candidates are selected from everyone competing.

The competitive factors in evaluating a French-Speaking Skilled Worker OINP program application include: age, education, work experience, if there is a job offer, language skills, and cultural adaptability. The competitive evaluation favours higher education, more work experience, economic or family ties to Canada, strong language skills, a valid job offer, and a suitable age for starting a life here.

Process for Applying to the OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker Program:

Step 1 – Determine Eligibility: The first thing the applicant should do before applying is make sure that they are qualified. The applicant should evaluate the technical and legal requirements for the French-Speaking Skilled Worker. It is recommended to speak with an immigration consultant on this matter. Once the applicant has decided that they meet the requirements, then they should proceed to the next step.

Step 2 – Create Express Entry Profile: The next step is for the applicant to create an Express Entry profile online with Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The applicant must then wait to be issued a Notification of Interest (NOI) from the province of Ontario.

Step 3 – Apply for Provincial Nomination: Once an applicant has the NOI, they may apply to the OINP for provincial nomination which will be competitively processed. If successful, the applicant will then get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

Step 4: Apply for Permanent Residence: Once the applicant has received the ITA, the applicant must submit an official application for permanent residence with the IRCC. Once this has been completed, the applicant will his or her profile evaluated by the IRCC for a final determination of whether the applicant will be issued a permanent residency visa for Ontario.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. The information and facts referred to herein may be amended, removed or otherwise changed by the applicable government authority. As such, the information contained herein is provided with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.