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What happens to my application if I receive the province nomination but cannot launch a business due to COVID-19?

I was recently nominated by the state of Ontario. However, the situation has changed a lot since I submitted my letter of interest last year, largely due to COVID-19. How long do I have to proceed with the next steps? If I cannot complete the required steps or start the business in time, can I enter the candidate pool again with the same business proposal or do I have to restart the process?


Answers
  • JTH Lawyers Inc.
    October 28, 2020

    This is a common problem with PNP's, this is why I never suggest them as a first option. Tying the success of permanent residency to the success of a business is already a challenge, adding on the top the challenge of doing it in a new country, and now with COVID as another challenge. Since you probably have a representative for your Ontario PNP, I wouldn't intervene, but I strongly recommend looking at the options of the startup visa program, where permanent residency is given regardless of the success of the business. I would advise strong care and due diligence in selecting your immigration professional, because there is a vast array of options available under the startup program, and the success rate varies a lot from one to another. Ask the tough questions to your immigration professional, and see how detailed the answers so you can better assess his qualifications. It's a rather new program and not that many people have developed their expertise yet.