Ontario invites 722 Express Entry candidates working in the tech sector

Ontario has a vibrant tech sector and the city of Toronto in Ontario is one of the fastest-growing tech markets. Several jobs have been added in the tech sector the past five years. So, Ontario is replete with wonderful opportunities for techies. Tech workers can easily get an opportunity to settle in Ontario as the province conducts tech draws regularly. Recently, it has held a tech draw by issuing 722 Notifications of Interest to express entry candidates. This means that candidates needed to have a profile in the express entry pool in order to be invited by Ontario. Foreign nationals who get NOIs from Ontario have a greater chance of securing Permanent Residence in Canada. The tech draw was held on October 15th. These invited candidates are now eligible to apply for a provincial nomination. Also, the invitations were issued under the Human Capital Priorities Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

Eligible Tech Occupations

Through the Tech Pilot Draws, Ontario recruits those candidates who have worked in the field of six in-demand occupations. Following are the six occupations in which candidates required work experience of a minimum of one year:

Computer programmer and interactive media developers
Web designers and developers
Computer and information systems managers
Software engineers and designers
Database analysts and data administrators
Computer engineers

Ontario invited only those express entry candidates who had work experience in one of the above mentioned occupations. Express Entry candidates invited had a Comprehensive Ranking System in the range of 462 and 470. So, candidates who fall short of a few points in the express entry draws can consider Ontario tech draws for immigration to Canada. Furthermore, if these candidates manage to secure a provincial nomination from Ontario, 600 extra points will be added to their CRS scores. Eventually, this will increase their chance to get an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

What is the Ontario Tech Draw?

Ontario faces an acute labor shortage in the technological sector. Therefore, last year, the immigration ministry of Ontario introduced Tech Draws that fall under the Human Capital Priorities Stream in order to have an influx of immigrants with technological skills. Through a tech draw, the OINP searches for IT professionals who fulfill the requirements of the Human Capital Priorities Stream and have a minimum of one year of work experience in one of the targeted occupations. This was the 4th Tech Draw held by Ontario this year. Candidates who have recived invitations have now 45 days to apply for Ontario Provincial Nomination.