New point system in Ontario programs

New point system in Ontario programs

Another province has significantly changed its evaluation system.

The province of Ontario has changed the system for evaluating candidates in its immigration program. This happened after Canada switched to the new National Occupational Classification.

The following streams were affected by the changes:

No more points are awarded for the laubour market priorities factor. Previously, you could get up to 10 points if your occupation was in demand when the points were calculated. But in the new scoring system, the work permit factor was added. If a candidate has a work permit in Canada at the time of application, they will receive 10 points.

The points for occupation have been revised. Previously, you could get either 5 points or 10 points for your occupation, but now it ranges from 4 to 10 points depending on the occupational category:

  • management, natural and applied sciences, and health — 10 points;
  • transport and equipment — 7 points;
  • business, finance, and administration, manufacturing and utilities — 5 points;
  • education, law, social, public and government services, natural resources, and agriculture — 4 points;
  • art, culture, recreation and sport, sales and services — 3 points.

There is a wider range of points for the wage listed on the job offer. Earlier a rate of $20 to $39.99 CAD was worth 5 points, now it is worth 5 to 8 points. The higher the rate, the more points. The maximum point, 10, is still given for wages over $40 CAD per hour, and no points are given for wages under $20 CAD per hour.

Instead of work experience in Canada, experience working for the company that gave the candidate the job offer is now evaluated. You can get 3 points for six months of work before you apply. Points are no longer awarded for the occupation for which the candidate has worked.

Another factor is the location of the employer in Ontario. The previous scoring system gave 6 points if the employer was in Toronto and 10 points if outside of Toronto. Now there are no points at all for Toronto, and the scores for other cities are as follows:

  • cities in northern Ontario — 10 points;
  • other cities outside of Toronto — 8 points;
  • Toronto suburbs (GTA) — 3 points.

Graduate students are awarded points in a similar pattern for the location of their institution in Ontario.

Also for graduates, the scoring of points for the program of study has changed. Previously, you could receive from 5 to 10 points for in-demand areas. Now there are more points, and there are only three options for earning them:

  • engineering, healthcare, mathematics, computer science, trades — 12 points;
  • all other areas except the arts and humanities — 6 points;
  • arts and humanities — 0 points.

For other factors — skill level of the occupation, earnings history in Canada, education, language skills, and study experience in Canada (for graduates) — the points accrual has not changed.

But there is another critical change in the Foreign Worker stream. Candidates are now evaluated in languages, which was not the case before. There is still no requirement for English or French in the stream, but now it will increase the chances of being invited.

If you need help with assessing your chances of immigration, developing a relocation strategy, and applying for a permanent residency or visa, contact our company.

Source
  • #Canada news
  • #immigration to Canada
  • #immigration to Ontario
  • #Ontario immigration program
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