As an OINP applicant myself, I waited 3-4 months without a CEC/FSW ITA. For most draws during that period, I was stuck 2 points below the ITA levels and I was approaching an age reduction of further 10 points in July so I choose to go with OINP. I would advise otherwise as I'm bitter now, both on
- Ontario evaluation timeline taken is about 100-140 days nowadays, or even worse I hear.
- After the province (OINP) nominates you, you apply to IRCC after ITA. The PNP application processing timeline that IRCC takes is 9 months now when most CEC/FSW can demand 5 months. Most FSWs are getting processed even faster these days.
Hence my suggestion is If you can wait it out avoid it if you are only 4-5 points away from regular CEC/FSW ITA.
But to avoid regrets later, you can collect all the documents since you need them for your ITA also anyway, upload them into the OINP portal, etc.. and however delay paying your fees until the 43 or 44th day of NOI. Hopefully, you get an FSW/CEC ITA by then.
Badluck these 45 days, say you didn't get ITA and hence apply OINP if you get an ITA in the next 30-4O days of the OINP application, and assuming OINP has still not processed your documents you can ask them for a refund. OINP doesn't touch applications for at least a month these days. Think and decide for yourself good luck