Q: I HAVE NO TIES TO THE PROVINCE I'M APPLYING TO! AM I DOOMED?
It is entirely possible that the province you are applying to is one you have no ties with- especially since some provinces, like Ontario, let you apply without any prior ties or employment. If this is the case, don't panic. You are not in trouble at all! When I applied to Ontario, I had absolutely no ties to Ontario, none to Canada- I had never been to Canada, I had no family or friends there, I had absolutely nothing that could be construed as a reason for me to stay there. However, I still got my PNP from Ontario- the trick is to write a convincing Letter of Intent regardless.
If you don't have any ties to the province you are applying to, make sure of two things:
Make sure your statement of intent is as explicit as possible;
Spend the letter explaining why you plan on residing in the province you are applying to
For instance, discuss the job market- you can talk about how the province you are applying to is best suited to the kind of employment you are looking for. This has a double benefit, since it a) makes a clear case for why you want to settle in the province you are applying to, in spite of no previous ties, and b) shows them that you are serious about it- you've done your research, you know what you are talking about, you're not just making things up.
You can mention other things, too- you can mention, for example, local tax rates, property rates, you can mention the weather- anything which you can explain factors into your decision to move to the specific province you are applying to, and which proves that you have done your research, showing that you are serious about moving to the province.
Q: IS THERE ANY FORMAT OR TEMPLATE FOR WRITING THE LETTER?
There really isn't- there are many people who will tell you that you should write in a formal format, but you don't have to. All you need to do is cover the basics- if you have any ties to the province, establish them. Make sure to have an explicit statement of intent to reside in the province in the letter, preferably right at the beginning of the letter. The letter should not be too long- about three to five paragraphs, single spaced and font size 12, and never more than one page. The letter should be clear: write clearly, concisely, and without too much embellishment. If you feel comfortable writing it in a formal format, you can do so. If you would rather write it as a short essay (I Would Like To Stay In ____ Because...), you can do that too- just remember to be clear, and remember that you include everything in the letter that is important.
