Ontario continues regular draws through Express Entry-linked stream
The French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream has now issued 1,609 invitations in 2018
Regular invitation rounds through Ontario’s Express Entry-linked French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream continue this month, with 13 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence issued on December 13.
The invitations followed 45 that were issued December 6 and bring the month-to-date total to 58 invitations through the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream in December.
It’s been an active 2018 for the stream, which has now issued 1,609 invitations or Notifications Of Interest (NOIs) over the course of the year through near weekly draws. November alone saw the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issue NOIs through it on five occasions.
The vast majority of NOIs issued in 2018 have come through Ontario’s three Express Entry-linked streams, which also include the Human Capital Priorities and Skilled Trades streams.
The Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s Federal High Skilled immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Class.
Express Entry candidates who receive a NOI and successfully apply for a provincial nomination are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking Score, which determines their position in the Express Entry pool.
These additional 600 points effectively guarantee an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence from the Government of Canada.
The French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream allows the OINP to search the Express Entry pool for eligible French-speaking candidates with strong English language abilities.
Candidates must be eligible for either the Federal Skilled Worker Class or the Canadian Experience Class, and meet specified provincial criteria in order to be considered for a NOI from the OINP.
Ontario has a large francophone minority population and the province says the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream supports its commitment to increase francophone immigration by five per cent of overall immigration.