On December 15^th, 2020, Ontario held its latest Tech Draw. Around 668 Express Entry candidates were invited to apply for provincial nomination.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has issued NOIs to those candidates who might qualify for the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream. The applicants must possess a valid profile in the federal Express Entry system.

The 668 primary applicants received NOIs from this draw. The Express Entry candidates required a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 460 and 468. The candidates did not require a job offer, but a minimum work time experience of one year was required in the following tech occupations:

• NOC 0213 Computer and information systems managers

• NOC 2147 Computer engineers

• NOC 2172 Database analysts and data administrators

• NOC 2173 Software engineers and designers

• NOC 2174 Computer programmer and interactive media developers

• NOC 2175 Web designers and developers

If the applicants are awarded a nomination from this province, they will receive an additional 600 CRS points in their overall CRS score. These extra points assure the applicants that they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. This draw was Ontario’s fifth Tech Draw this year. Whereas, on July 29, the biggest Tech Draw was held, in that 1,288 Express Entry candidates were invited to apply for provincial nomination. In 2020, Ontario has issued invitations to 9,082 candidates in the following streams:

• Human Capital Priorities stream

• French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream

• Skilled Trades stream

Steps to get an invitation for the Ontario Tech Draw

• Create a valid profile in Canada’s Express Entry System, and get eligible for this stream.

The Express Entry System is responsible for the management of the three main economic immigration streams of Canada. These streams are:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWP)

2. Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTP)

3. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Moreover, other provincial immigration programs are attached to the Express Entry System. The eligible candidates for the immigration programs are issued scores under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System. The points are awarded on basic human capital factors such as age, language, work experience and language proficiency. The candidate’s CRC score is one of the major selection factors for the application for Permanent Residence. The candidates who have the highest CRS points are issued invited to apply for permanent residence.

• The OINP Tech Draws, point out the eligible tech workers to apply for a provincial nomination from Ontario.
• The provincial nomination is a different process as compared to Canadian immigration.
• The invited candidates can also use their provincial nomination to apply for Canadian permanent residence.