ONTARIO PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM (OPPORTUNITIES ONTARIO) VISA

Ontario recognizes that newcomers play a critical role in the province's economic success and that represent a valuable source of skilled workers and professionals. The province also recognises that multinational firms establishing or expanding their businesses in Ontario may also want to bring key executives, managers or employees to work in their Ontario operations. The Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (Opportunities Ontario) is designed to contribute to job creation, job retention and economic development by seeking to attract and retain up to 1,000 qualified employees and their families for specified jobs for which there are currently labour-market needs. This program also seeks to facilitate the immigration of professionals in any managerial, skilled and semi-skilled or tade-related occupation

Individuals who meet all requirements may be nominated by the province for permanent residence as provincial nominees and will also enjoy the priority processing of their applications for permanent residence by Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC). In the interim, selected nominees may apply for a temporary work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed by the Federal government.

ONTARIO PILOT PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM BASIC VISA REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for the Ontario Professional/Skilled Worker program, the employer offering the job must meet various criteria. The job offer must be for a permanent and full-time position in any managerial, skilled. Semi-skilled or trade-related occupation and meet the current wage levels for that profession or skilled occupation.

Approved positions include those which are abroad or in Canada. The position must be directly related to, and necessary for, the company's core operations, meet current wage levels for the occupation, and be offered to individuals who meet the criteria for the offered employment. Once approved, selected nominees are eligible to apply for a temporary work permit allowing them to come and work in Ontario, while their application for permanent residence is being processed.

ONTARIO PILOT PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM VISA ENTITLEMENTS

Successful applicants and holders of an Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program visa become permanent residents of Canada. Permanent resident are entitled to live, work and study in Canada on a permanent basis.

Additional benefits of Canadian permanent residence includes access to government-subsidised education and state of the art healthcare (Medicare), as well as unrestricted access to Canada's labour market and associated insurance and pension benefits. Permanent residents also have the ability to apply for Canadian citizenship and opportunity to sponsor family members to join them in Canada.

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