The Ontario Masters Graduate Stream is a component of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), a provincial immigration program designed to meet the needs of the labor market and attract skilled individuals to Ontario.
For international students who have completed a master’s degree at an Ontario university that is eligible, it provides a route to permanent residency.
In today’s competitive job market, advanced education has become an essential catalyst for professional development and success.
Perceiving the worth of gifted worldwide alumni, the territory of Ontario in Canada has found a way critical to draw in and hold worldwide ability.
One of the leadership programs empowering this mission is the Ontario Master’s Graduate Stream, a pathway intended to bridle the capability of international Students who have finished their graduate degree in Ontario.
About Ontario Masters Graduate Stream
International students residing in Ontario can apply to live or work permanently in Ontario through the Master’s graduate stream.
Under this stream, the candidate should hold a Graduate degree from an Ontario university within the most recent two years of finishing the Master’s Degree.
Before being nominated by the province, applicants must first apply for Ontario’s Expression of Interest portal and wait for an invitation.
To obtain Canadian permanent residence, applicants must apply through the federal government’s portal after receiving the nomination.
The applicants cannot take advantage of Express Entry’s six-month average turnaround time because the entire procedure does not involve submitting applications via the system.
Applications submitted through a non-Express Entry route typically take 22 months to be processed.
1. How Does the OINP’s Master’s Graduate stream work?
An applicant must follow the following steps to apply for the OINP’s Mater Graduate stream:
1. Register an expression of interest (EOI) under OINP’s Master Graduate stream.
2. After receiving an invitation to apply, please apply to apply for the Master’s Graduate stream within 14 days through the OINP electronic application portal.
3. Apply to the Federal Government (IRCC) for permanent residence within six months of receiving the nomination.
2. Eligibility Criteria and Application Process For the Ontario Master’s Graduate Stream
To be considered for the Ontario Masters Graduate Stream, applicants must fulfil several requirements.
They probably finished a full-time graduate degree program of something like one scholastic year in Ontario.
They probably lived in Ontario for no less than one year during their examinations.
In addition, applicants must demonstrate their ability to communicate in another language, meet income requirements, and intend to live and work in Ontario after obtaining permanent residency.
An Expression of Interest (EOI) must be submitted to the OINP as part of the application process.
Candidates with the most elevated scores are welcome to apply for nomination, after which successful candidates can continue with their permanent residency application.
Also see: How To Find Canadian Jobs For Immigrants
Requirements For Ontario Masters Graduate Stream
After you get an invitation to apply, you might apply to the Master’s Graduate stream.
For your application to be accepted, you must fulfill each of the requirements listed below. You need not bother with an offer for a job to apply.
1. Expression of Interest and Invitation to Apply
- You must have gotten an invitation to apply within the identified deadline.
- You must demonstrate that you possess the qualifications stated in your registered and attested expression of interest with the OINP.
2. Education
You must have completed the requirements for a master’s degree in order to be eligible.
This implies:
- At least one academic year of full-time study entails at least 15 hours of instruction per week throughout the year, including any work-based training you may have received as part of your studies.
- If the program is equivalent to at least one full-time academic year, part-time studies may be eligible.)
- The degree is from an Ontario university that is eligible.
If you are applying while enrolled as a student, you will not be considered unless:
- It is to fulfill Ontario’s requirements for obtaining a license in a regulated occupation.
- You also have a full-time job in Ontario.
If you have received a scholarship, grant, or bursary that requires you to return to your home country after earning your master’s degree, you are not eligible. You can only apply if you can show that you intend to live in Ontario and have fulfilled those obligations.
3. Language
You must be able to understand, read, write, and speak in English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher.
To demonstrate that you have the required language abilities, you should accept a supported English or French language test before you present your application to this stream.
The test must have been taken within two years of when you submitted your application, not when you were invited to apply.
They accept the following for English tests:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) (General test only)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (General Training only)
For French tests, they accept:
- Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF)
- Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF)
4. Residency in Ontario
Before applying, you should have lawfully lived in Ontario for around one year in the past two years.
Remember that your one year of residency can count toward other years.
This indicates that there may be lapses, provided that all periods of residence in Ontario total at least 12 months within the preceding two years.
Also see: What Is The NOC (National Occupational Classification) In Canada Immigration Requirements?
5. Settlement Funds
When you settle in Canada, you must have enough money to support yourself and your dependents.
Remember that your spouse, common-law partner, and children under the age of 22—including their children—are all considered family members.
Any one of the following, either alone or in combination, can help you fulfill this requirement:
1. Funds as shown by the balance shown on bank statements or account statements for other investments like mutual funds, non-locked-in deposits, and fixed-term deposits, among others.
2. Earnings per year from ongoing employment in Ontario
3. A job offer in Ontario
For Instance: You checked how much money you must have, and you must have $29,000 (CAD) based on the size of your family.
You have a job offer in Ontario for $25,000 per year and a $5,000 savings account balance for a total of $30,000.
Utilizing a mix of your job offer and bank statement would meet the requirements of the settlements fund.
Give bank statements that incorporate a huge one-time deposit.
They might request that you give extra documentation to help that your assets are liberated from debt or liability.
6. Intention to Live in Ontario
You must intend to reside in Ontario once granted permanent residence.
This will be determined by looking at your ties to Ontario, which may include doing things like:
- Working or having worked in Ontario
- Getting job offers or applying/interviewing for jobs
- Studying
- Volunteering
- Leasing or owning property
- Visiting
- Having professional networks and affiliations, family ties and personal relationships
7. Residency at the Time of Application
At the time of application, you must be one of the following:
- living in Ontario with legal status (study permit, work permit, visitor record)
- living outside Canada
You don’t qualify if you’re living in a province or territory in Canada other than Ontario when you apply.
8. Legal Status in Canada (If Applicable)
Suppose you are submitting your application from within Canada.
In that case, you are required to have legal status at the time of your application—a visitor record, study permit, or work permit—and you should continue to have that status until the time of your nomination.
You may apply if you are in “implied status” when you submit your OINP application.
‘Implied status’ implies that you presented an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to renew/extend your temporary status document (a visitor record, work permit, or study permit) before its expiry date.
You can continue to work or study in Canada under the same terms as your current permit until an IRCC decision is made on your application.
9. Application Period
After completing the requirements for your master’s degree, you must submit your application within two years.
This means that the date on your degree must be within two years of when you submitted your OINP application, not when you were invited to apply.
For instance, you must have registered an EOI, received an Invitation to Apply, and submitted your application by June 1, 2023, if your degree was awarded on June 1, 2021.
Use the date on the official letter from your university to determine when your degree will be awarded if you do not yet have one.
Documentation Checklist For Ontario Masters Graduate Stream
While registering an Expression of Interest for the OINP Master’s Graduate Stream, you are required to have the following documents:
1. Attestation Form that has been completed and submitted the same day as the submission of the Expression of Interest.
2. Copy of Work permit, study permit or any other current and previous status document from IRCC or the CBSA. If you have an implied status, you must submit:
- An acknowledgment letter from IRCC stating that they have received your request to extend your status, or
- IRCC fee receipt
3. To support your points for your Canadian earning history, you must upload a copy of a Notice of Assessment (NOAs) issued by the Canada Revenue Agency within the last 5 years.
4 . To substantiate your points for the field of study, and location of study, upload a copy of your Canadian credential or degree. You will also be required to submit your transcript.
5. Language test report. Your test results must not be older than 2 years.
6. To prove that you stayed in Ontario for at least a year, you will also need to provide documents such as phone bills, rent agreements, payslips from an Ontario employer, etc.
7. A scanned copy of your passport or visa photograph
8. Copy of the personal information page of your passport.
9. Documents to demonstrate your settlement funds. These include copies of your latest bank account statements with three months’ activities.
10. Documents to prove that you aim to settle in Ontario.
11. Your latest resume includes your work experience, education, contact number, current residential, and email address.
Also see: High-Paying Part-Time Jobs For College Students
Benefits Of The Ontario Masters Graduate Stream
The Ontario Masters Graduate Stream’s Advantages:
1. Seamless Transition
The Master’s Graduate Stream smoothes out the change from international student to permanent resident, giving a pathway for capable people to construct their professions in Ontario.
This initiative allows international students to fully utilize their skills and knowledge in the local labor market.
It acknowledges the contributions and investments they have made throughout their education.
2. Access to Employment Possibilities
Ontario’s diverse industries and thriving economy provide numerous employment opportunities for highly skilled individuals.
Through the Master’s Graduate Stream, graduates get sufficiently close to the job market and are strategically situated to protect work with Ontario employers, adding to the development of different areas.
3. Permanent Residency
The Ontario Masters Graduate Stream provides graduates with a route to permanent residency, providing graduates with the stability and security they need to pursue long-term career objectives and establish a life in Canada.
As long-lasting residents, graduates can partake in the advantages of the Canadian healthcare system and social programs and have the chance to apply for Canadian citizenship ultimately.
4. Provincial Nominee Program Advantage
Being nominated for permanent residency by the OINP in the Ontario Masters Graduate Stream improves the candidate’s overall profile.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) assignment gives extra focus to the Express Entry system, which can build the possibility of getting an invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
5. Contributing to Ontario’s Prosperity
The Ontario Masters Graduate Stream contributes significantly to the province’s economic expansion.
By drawing in profoundly skilled international graduates, the program tends to the labor market gaps, fills specialized positions, and advances development.
Diverse experiences, new perspectives, and expertise are brought to the workforce in Ontario by graduates, fostering creativity and driving entrepreneurship in a variety of sectors.
Job Offer Documents For Ontario Masters Graduate Stream
1. Letter of Offer of Employment
You are required to include a signed copy of your offer of employment. The letter of offer must:
- Be under a half-year-old
- Be imprinted on business letterhead and distinguish the work locale, phone/fax numbers, email, and site addresses
- Distinguish the capable official/boss and incorporate their signature.
- Be stamped with the business’ corporate seal (if material)
- Include:
1. work title
2. National Occupational Classification (NOC) code
3. The compensation for the position being advertised
4. Obligations and responsibilities
5. Number of hours of the week and the number of long stretches of work each year
6. Number of days/long stretches of get-away
7. Work environment area
Also see: Proofs Of Funds: Minimum Amount To Study In Canada (2023)
8. Work start date
9. This a sign that the proposition being made is for a full-time frame position of uncertain span (no end date)
10. Affirmation that the agreements of the proposition for employment are compelling as of the date of selection, assuming that you are now working for your manager in the endorsed business position.
On the other hand, if you are not, on the date, you get a work license and start working for your boss in the supported work position.
Suppose you are already working for your boss, similarly situated as your proposition for employment.
In that case, you can present your original offer of employment with your application, regardless of whether it is more seasoned than a half year.
However, you will also need to include a recent letter from your employer confirming that you are still employed, the terms of the job offer, and any modifications to the position offered.
Your initial letter of offer for a job must:
Have both your signature and your employer’s signature;
If you and your employer did not sign your initial job offer, you must sign the most recent letter confirming your ongoing employment. Current business
Include all of the required information listed above.
2. Current Employment
If you currently work for a business similarly situated as your offer of employment, incorporate duplicates of your two latest compensation slips.
3. Collective Agreement
Include a copy of the applicable wage-setting section in your collective agreement if your position’s wage meets the wage requirements outlined in your agreement, even though it falls short of the median wage.
4. Licence or Authorization
Scan and upload a copy of your license or authorization if your job offer is for a position in Ontario that requires a mandatory license or other authorization.
5. Labor Market Impact Assessment
You are required to obtain a copy of the LMIA from your employer if you are working in Canada on a work permit that is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
The LMIA needs to be for the same NOC code as the job you’re applying for.
Also see: Take Free IELTS Practice Tests Online
Conclusion
For international students looking to establish their careers and lives in Canada, the Ontario Masters Graduate Stream is a beacon of opportunity.
This program empowers skilled individuals and strengthens Ontario’s social and economic fabric by providing a straightforward path to permanent residency.
Initiatives like the Ontario Masters Graduate Stream ensure that Ontario remains a welcoming and prosperous destination for ambitious individuals worldwide as the province continues to recognize the immense value of global talent.
With this article, we believe you must have known about the Ontario Masters Graduate Stream, its benefits, and the documentation needed.
Good luck in your pursuit.
