Maple News reports that Ontario has temporarily suspended the intake for its Employer Job Offer: International Student stream due to unexpected technical difficulties that disrupted the online registration system. The pause was announced shortly after the stream opened for applications on November 26.
This particular stream is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and allows international graduates with job offers in Ontario to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence. Typically, the application window is open for only a short period because of high demand.
According to the Ontario government’s update, the program will not reopen for applications today. Officials have not yet confirmed when the stream will resume accepting new applications but noted that the system experienced an exceptionally high volume of users, which likely contributed to the technical problems.
Applicants hoping to register are advised to monitor the official Ontario immigration website for further updates. The government emphasized that being placed in a queue or seeing a high-demand notification page is part of the normal process and not in itself a technical error. However, for those encountering genuine technical issues, the OINP recommends contacting them directly via email, providing a screenshot with a date and time stamp and a detailed description of the error.
To file an application, candidates must have a valid job offer from an eligible Ontario employer and submit an up-to-date employer form. Applications must be submitted using a desktop computer, as the system is not compatible with mobile devices or tablets. Once the intake cap is reached, the portal will automatically close, preventing further submissions.
The province has acknowledged challenges in managing the high number of applications through its current system. As a result, the OINP plans to introduce an Expression of Interest (EOI) system in 2021 to streamline the application process, improve transparency, and enhance user experience.
The Employer Job Offer: International Student stream is a key pathway for international graduates seeking to transition from study to permanent residence in Ontario. As demand continues to outpace system capacity, both applicants and immigration authorities are adapting to ensure smoother future intakes.
Maple News will continue to monitor this developing story and provide timely updates as new information becomes available.