Waiting for OINP & work permit expires, I need guidance.

[Dharam_111]

Hello,

I would like to discuss a case with you.

My current work permit expires on **March 1 2026**. I am currently in the **OINP pool** under the **Foreign Worker Stream**, awaiting a nomination.

My employer has declined to pursue an LMIA but still wants me to continue working. They are not seeking a replacement, as I have been highly trained over the past two years, and they do not want to lose me or invest time in training someone new.

While researching, I found that I may still be able to work for them in the future and get my PR.

Since the **OINP quotas have increased for 2026**, and I currently have **58 points**, I believe I have a good chance of receiving a nomination. My **NOC code is 22221 (User Support Technician)**, which falls under the IT category.

I think that I can apply for a **visitor visa** or a **study permit** to maintain my legal status in Canada, and still remain eligible for an OINP nomination. My understanding is that I only need to stay in Canada and maintain valid status while waiting for the oinp invite. Is this correct?

In the meantime, my employer is willing to **freeze my position** and keep my **job offer active** without terminating my employment and they will hire a temporary replacement

Once I receive the nomination, my employer is prepared to proceed with the next steps for a new work permit.

Is this approach possible?

Please advise and share any additional details that could help.

For context, my **Express Entry CRS score is 458**, which I understand is currently too low for a federal invitation. Therefore, **OINP is my primary pathway** at this time.

Thank you for your support.

 

[Naturgrl]

Hello,

I would like to discuss a case with you.

My current work permit expires on **March 1 2026**. I am currently in the **OINP pool** under the **Foreign Worker Stream**, awaiting a nomination.

My employer has declined to pursue an LMIA but still wants me to continue working. They are not seeking a replacement, as I have been highly trained over the past two years, and they do not want to lose me or invest time in training someone new.

While researching, I found that I may still be able to work for them in the future and get my PR.

Since the **OINP quotas have increased for 2026**, and I currently have **58 points**, I believe I have a good chance of receiving a nomination. My **NOC code is 22221 (User Support Technician)**, which falls under the IT category.

I think that I can apply for a **visitor visa** or a **study permit** to maintain my legal status in Canada, and still remain eligible for an OINP nomination. My understanding is that I only need to stay in Canada and maintain valid status while waiting for the oinp invite. Is this correct?

In the meantime, my employer is willing to **freeze my position** and keep my **job offer active** without terminating my employment and they will hire a temporary replacement

Once I receive the nomination, my employer is prepared to proceed with the next steps for a new work permit.

Is this approach possible?

Please advise and share any additional details that could help.

For context, my **Express Entry CRS score is 458**, which I understand is currently too low for a federal invitation. Therefore, **OINP is my primary pathway** at this time.

Thank you for your support.

So you haven't even been invited? When was your NOC and score last drawn? What stream? When did you graduate?

So you stop working when permit expires. FYI, if you haven't been invited and not even nominated it could be up to a year before your work permit is approved. Tell your employer that they may need to freeze it a year or more. Nomination can take months for approval and then with work support letter you apply for work permit which can take 6-7 months.

So you can apply for a visitor record and stay in Canada. You will be refused and told to leave or approved with a date to leave.

Study permit - you need PAL, $21k cash plus tuition and justify program with career and education advancement. Need to explain why you must study in Canada and that the program is not available anywhere else. Chances are low unless Masters because IRCC knows you don't want to leave.

 

[Dharam_111]

So you haven't even been invited? When was your NOC and score last drawn? What stream? When did you graduate?

So you stop working when permit expires. FYI, if you haven't been invited and not even nominated it could be up to a year before your work permit is approved. Tell your employer that they may need to freeze it a year or more. Nomination can take months for approval and then with work support letter you apply for work permit which can take 6-7 months.

So you can apply for a visitor record and stay in Canada. You will be refused and told to leave or approved with a date to leave.

Study permit - you need PAL, $21k cash plus tuition and justify program with career and education advancement. Need to explain why you must study in Canada and that the program is not available anywhere else. Chances are low unless Masters because IRCC knows you don't want to leave.

My noc is 22221 (user support technician)
My EE score is 458 (low)
My oinp score is 58 ( foreign worker stream)
When I graduated - Does that matter ? Since now I am on PGWP. But I graduated in 2022.

I am worried please suggest. My employer can freeze my position for a year and can hire a temporary replacement that's not an issue. But just thinking about will I get invited ?

For visitor visa. Do we need to justify? They don't give long duration? In this case I can justify that I am Waiting for EE and OINP.

 

[Naturgrl]

My noc is 22221 (user support technician)
My EE score is 458 (low)
My oinp score is 58 ( foreign worker stream)
When I graduated - Does that matter ? Since now I am on PGWP. But I graduated in 2022.

I am worried please suggest. My employer can freeze my position for a year and can hire a temporary replacement that's not an issue. But just thinking about will I get invited ?

For visitor visa. Do we need to justify? They don't give long duration? In this case I can justify that I am Waiting for EE and OINP.

Have you checked your score to see if NOC and score drawn? If not do so. For visitor record, of course you need to justify why you are staying in Canada after work permit expires. IRCC expects you to leave once work permit expires. They may refuse it, or give you a few months. You will not get EE so cannot justify that.

 

[Dharam_111]

Have you checked your score to see if NOC and score drawn? If not do so. For visitor record, of course you need to justify why you are staying in Canada after work permit expires. IRCC expects you to leave once work permit expires. They may refuse it, or give you a few months. You will not get EE so cannot justify that.

What do you mean by check your score and see NOC score drawn ? My file is already in oinp. With score 58.

 

[Andresfcc1]

What do you mean by check your score and see NOC score drawn ? My file is already in oinp. With score 58.

They refer to check what the cut-off points has been for FSW for 2025. There have been only a handful of draws in which your NOC was included, and those too are depending on the location of the Job offer, you may want to double check that again on OINP website. What is the location of your employment?

https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-oinp-invitations-apply

 

[Naturgrl]

What do you mean by check your score and see NOC score drawn ? My file is already in oinp. With score 58.

So for the draws over the past year has your NOC and score been selected.

 

[Dharam_111]

It's in ontraio, Waterloo.
Can you help me more by checking the invites?

 

[Naturgrl]

It's in ontraio, Waterloo.
Can you help me more by checking the invites?

You are provided the link above. Check the draws for this year in your stream.

 

[Dharam_111]

I don't see they made any non Targeted draws for foreign worker stream in Ontario (Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge area), should I keep hopes considering they didn't draw from ontraio since a year?
I am very confused.
Do they also make a general draw ?

 

[Naturgrl]

I don't see they made any non Targeted draws for foreign worker stream in Ontario (Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge area), should I keep hopes considering they didn't draw from ontraio since a year?
I am very confused.
Do they also make a general draw ?

There have been no general draws for a long time and scores were high (around 80). If your NOC isn't being selected with your score then don't count on an invitation.

 

[Dharam_111]

There were draws happened with score 53 and above in 2023 with my Noc. And then it never happened. (My score is 58)
If I move back to my home country, and my company still keeps my position secured for 1-2 years. Then do I still be eligible for OINP, and can I keep waiting for pool ? Will I be still Eligible in OINP?