PH.D. Graduates Human Capital Category

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Ontario Ph.D. Graduate is the Human Capital Program of the OINP, a Provincial Nominee Program performed by the province of Ontario. Ph.D. Graduate points out recent candidates with doctoral degrees received from an Ontario organization whose purpose is to live and serve in Ontario.

Applicants who are successfully chosen through the Ontario Ph.D. Graduate program will be called to submit an approved request for Canadian permanent residency.

PH.D. Graduates Human Capital Category

PH.D. Graduates Human Capital Category Eligibility Requirements

The following are the requirements one needs to meet to apply for the OINP PhD Graduate Stream: 

Educational Qualifications

  • PhD Degree: All the conditions for the conferment of a PhD from an eligible university in Ontario.
    • Of all the requirements mentioned, one has to have at least two years of study and currently be legally residing and studying in Ontario.

Residency Requirements

  • Recent Residency: At least 12 of the last 24 months’ residency in Ontario at the time the person is applying for the visa. 
    • Proof of Residency: Exemption can only be evidenced by documents that include phone bills, car insurance, energy bills, and display or lease agreements that display the full name as well as the Ontario address. 

Financial Requirements

  • Settlement Funds: Have sufficient reasonable cash or agreement income to pay settlement costs for the person and eligible dependents. 
    • Dependent family members: The compulsory benefit covers spouses, common-law partners, dependent children under 22 years of age, and any dependents of the said children. 
    • Determination: The required amount is modified by the federal government from time to time, preferably once every year. 

Application Timing 

  • Submission Deadline: It has to be stressed that the application should be sent no later than two years after the date of the grant for a PhD degree.

Intent to Reside 

  • Living and Working in Ontario: Intention to reside and work in the province of Ontario. 

Legal Status 

  • Current Status: If applying from Canada, have a legal status in the country such as a study permit, a work permit, or a visitor record. 
    • Maintained Status: This means that only those applicants who are on maintained status at the time of applying should apply. 

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Settlement Fund Requirements 

Demonstration of Funds 

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds through one or a combination of the following: 

  • Bank Statements: Proving the availability of the cash in the balance of the bank accounts or in other forms of investment instruments (which may not necessarily be in the form of fixed-term deposits but could be in the form of mutual funds). 
  • Employment Income: Employment income received periodically, but for the current year, from continuous employment within the Ontario region. 
  • Job Offer: The ad is a job offer in Ontario, Canada. 

Affidavit of Employment or Job Offer 

  • Employment Contract/Job Offer Letter: The mandatory list of searchable fields covers place of work, work schedule, and pay. 
  • Pay Slips: Present the last two pay stubs if currently working in Ontario or New Canada. Employees are required to present their last two pay stubs if employed in the province. 

Ties to Ontario 

Demonstrating Connection to Ontario 

Applicants can show ties to Ontario through:

  • Employment: Ontario employment in the present and/or past. 
  • Job Activities: Employment offers, recruitment, and/or job interviews for positions in Ontario. 
  • Education: Education attainment in Ontario. 
  • Volunteer Work: The volunteer engagement in the province of Ontario. 
  • Residency: What is an operating lease or a freehold interest in Ontario? 
  • Professional Networks: Ontario-based professions and associations. 
  • Family Ties: Relationships in a state called Ontario. 
  • Social Connections: Business or friendship setting in Ontario. 
  • Previous Visits: Previous visit to the province of Ontario. 

Application Period 

Degree Date Requirement 

  • Two-Year Window: In addition, it must be obtained within two years from the date mentioned on the application to the OINP.
    • Example: If the degree is dated June 1, 2017, the application must be submitted before June 1, 2019. 
  • Pending Degree: If it is not available, the official letter from the institution showing the expected date of the grant can be used.

PH.D. Graduates Human Capital Category Application Process

Before Applying

  • Review Eligibility and Checklist: Make sure you are qualified and that you have all the necessary documents as herein stated. Documents that are to be uploaded to the e-filing portal of Ontario must be easily readable.
  • Additional Documentation: This means that when filling out forms and submitting the application, one should be ready to provide extra documents that the OINP may ask for during the processing of the application.

Applying

  • Online Application: Finally, complete the application through the OINP’s e-filing portal, and it usually takes about 2 hours.
  • Registration and Submission: Once you submit your registration, you have 14 calendar days to fill out the application and submit it. The registration will, however, expire and be withdrawn from the register if the aforementioned is not done.
  • Payment and Final Submission: The application should be filled out before making a payment. It must be noted that once a plan is submitted, it cannot be tweaked.
  • Translation and Notarization: Any supporting document that is not in English or French should be translated and the translation certified. Employ the services of an accredited translator from the ATIO, otherwise notarize an ATIO-certified translator, or get a non-ATIO-certified translator’s work notarized.
    • Ontario Translators: If the given translation is to be certified by an ATIO translator and none is available, the translation should be notarized, and a letter of explanation for the same should also be provided.
    • Outside Ontario: It needs to be noted that all translations must be notarized. If translations are considered inadequate, a certified ATIO translator might be needed. Translations made by the applicant, by the applicant’s representative, or by any close person to the applicant are not allowed.

After Applying

  • Incomplete Applications: Some of them will require more detail and could result in having to complete a new application of some kind. This also applies to such things as miscounted backup documents or non-certified or non-notarized translations.
  • Requesting an Internal Review: If you think OINP made a mistake, then you should file an internal appeal within thirty calendar days if you live in Canada or sixty days if you live elsewhere from the date of receiving the decision of the letter. Only new evidence that was not available at the time of application for the grant can be introduced in the grant. Once an internal review decision is made, it cannot be changed.
  • Successful Applications: Get a Nomination Approval Letter (Letter of Nomination) and Confirmation of Nomination (OINP Nominee Certificate).

Nomination

  • Permanent Residence Application: At the CDA’s suggestion, the candidate should apply for permanent residence in Canada within sixty days from the date of nomination. In the list, include the Letter of Nomination and Confirmation of Nomination.
  • Intention to Reside in Ontario: To be considered for the award, a nominee should have the intention of living in Ontario at the time the work is being done.
  • Nomination Validity: The nomination is valid for six months, and again, after six months, in the same category, the same nominee could be nominated. Extensions can be requested if:
    • The permanent residence application is returned by IRCC as incomplete, and one has to resubmit it.
    • Stakeholder challenges, such as those in acquiring supporting documents like police rechecks, hinder timely application to the IRCC.

Additional Stream

  • Masters Graduate Stream: There is also an International Graduate Stream where the applicant must be a graduated student of an OINP-recognized university in the province of Ontario with a master’s degree. Discover the OINP Masters Graduate Stream in more detail.

Eligible Ontario Universities

To apply for the PhD Graduate Stream, your PhD degree must be from one of the following universities:

  1. Brock University
  2. Carleton University
  3. Dominican University College
  4. Lakehead University
  5. Laurentian University
  6. McMaster University
  7. Nipissing University
  8. Queen’s University
  9. Royal Military College of Canada
  10. Ryerson University
  11. St. Paul’s University is affiliated with the University of Ottawa.
  12. St. Jerome’s University is affiliated with the University of Waterloo
  13. Trent University
  14. University of Guelph
  15. University of Ontario/Orange Institute of Technology
  16. University of Ottawa
  17. University of Toronto, federated with St. Michael’s College
  18. University of Toronto
  19. University of Trinity College (federated with the University of Toronto)
  20. University of Waterloo
  21. University of Windsor
  22. Victoria University is affiliated with the University of Toronto
  23. Western University
  24. Wilfrid Laurier University
  25. York University

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