Are you interested in applying for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) but have felt discouraged by many of the myths and common misconceptions floating around the internet?
Here at VisaPlace, we’re going to try and put your mind at rest by highlighting three of the biggest myths regarding the Provincial Nominee Program – as well as telling you exactly why they’re wrong.
As an example, we’re going to look at the popular Provincial Nominee Program, Opportunities Ontario. Bear in mind, the requirements for each Provincial Nominee Program can be subject to slight variations, but the below should give you a good idea of how PNPs work.
Myth 1. It’s too expensive
Although there is a non-refundable processing fee for each PNP application, it isn’t an unattainable amount. According to Ontario Canada’s online FAQ:
“The fee is $2,000 for General Category applicants who will be working for an employer located in the GTA and $1,500 for General Category Applicants who will be working for an employer located outside the GTA. For employees of investors, the fee is $3,500. The fee for International Student Category applicants is $1,500.”
NOTE: The fee is processed per application, so multiple applications per person will incur multiple fees.
Myth 2. You can’t apply if you’re already in Canada
This is false. You can apply for a PNP such as Opportunities Ontario if you’re already in Canada, however there are a couple of conditions that apply. These are:
- You must hold a legal status in Canada
- You must have received a job offer from an employer who has been pre-screened and approved by the PNP you are applying for.
Not sure about your legal status? Let us elaborate in the bullet points below. You should be eligible to apply for a PNP from within Canada if you currently possess:
- A valid work permit
- A valid study permit
- A visitor record
- A valid passport from a visa-exempt country which shows the date you entered Canada
NOTE: If you are a refugee claimant, you will most likely have to wait until after you’ve left the country to apply for a Provincial Nomination Program.
According to Ontario Immigration: “Refugee claimants who have a failed refugee claim or have withdrawn their claim are able to apply to Opportunities Ontario only after they have left Canada. Refugee claimants with pending applications to remain in Canada are not eligible to apply to Opportunities Ontario.”
Myth 3. Only four college programs are eligible
We’re not entirely sure where this myth originated from, however just by looking at Opportunities Ontario website, we can see there is a plethora of participating colleges and universities from which you can graduate and become eligible to apply for a PNP.
It’s also great news if you’re an international student who is soon to graduate. Ontario Immigration says: “We want to retain the best and brightest Canadian-trained international students. They will give Ontario an advantage in the global competition for talent and they will easily integrate into Ontario’s labour force and society.”
Get the truth, not myths
Our experienced lawyers at Visaplace have helped thousands of individuals and families to immigrate to Canada, to visit, work, study or live, and we can help you, too! Contact us today for more information about Canadian immigration, or fill out our free immigration assessment to get started right away.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
