Ontario Immigration Changes Acceptable Document List

May 10, 2017 – The Ontario immigration office has changed the documents it accepts as proof of residency under its International Masters Graduate Stream.

Credit card statements will no longer be accepted, according to a release from the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Under the stream applicants must prove they have lived in Ontario for a total of a year in the last two years.

Suggested alternative documents, which must feature the applicant’s full name and Ontario address, include:

• Phone bills, car insurance, house/apartment insurance, hydro or energy bills.
• Lease or leasing documents demonstrating residence.
• Pay stubs from an Ontario employer.

The International Masters Graduate Stream was opened for applications on May 1, 2017 and reached its limit the same day.

This is the second time the Ontario immigration office has opened the stream to applications in 2017. An OINP statement said numbers would be monitored to determine if it will again be reopened.

To be eligible to apply for the Masters Graduate Stream, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Graduated from a Master’s degree program at a publicly funded Ontario university and have completed at least one year full time.
2. Have level 7 or above English or French.
3. Lived in Ontario for at least one year in the last two.
4. Have sufficient settlement funds.
5. Intend to live and work in Ontario.
6. Must either legally live in Ontario or live abroad. Applications from elsewhere in Canada will not be accepted.
7. Application must be within two years of date on master’s degree certificate.

Meanwhile, the International PhD Graduate Stream remains open for applications.

To be eligible to apply for the PhD Graduate Stream, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Graduated from a PhD degree program at a publicly funded Ontario university and have completed at least two years of study.
2. Intend to live and work in Ontario.
3. Must legally live in Canada if applying from within. Applications from abroad also accepted.
4. Application must be within two years of date on PhD diploma.

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Status of OINP Streams

Immigration Stream	Status
Human Capital Priorities (Express Entry)	Open
French-Speaking Skilled Worker (Express Entry)	Open
Employer Pre-Screen	Paused (May 9, 2016)
International Student (Masters Graduate)	Paused (May 1, 2017)
International Student (PhD Graduate)	Open
Investor Immigration (Corporate)	Open
Investor Immigration (Entrepreneur)	Open

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