Hi guys,
I've seen a lot of questions and confusions on this board regarding this topic- the intent to reside in the province that nominates you, and how you are supposed to demonstrate that in your application. I figured that, since this is the one part of the application process that i do have a full handle on, I might as well make a guide that would serve to help all those who are applying to provinces for a PNP.
Please note, I am only referring to the provincial application process for now. That means that this only refers to the letter of intent that you need to submit when you are applying directly to a province; when you apply under Express Entry later, you are required to submit Schedule 4/4a to demonstrate your intent to reside in a province. This post does not cover that. It covers, instead, the process to demonstrate intent to reside when you are applying to get a PNP.
DISCLAIMER: This guide is based on my own experiences with OINP- all the information in this guide holds true for the OINP application process. There may be some differences in how the process works for you, based on which province you are applying to. For instance, Alberta's AINP program does not let you apply unless you have valid employment, or an offer of employment, in the province- in that case, a lot of the questions in this guide won't apply to you.
Q: WHAT IS A LETTER OF INTENT?
A letter of intent is something that most provinces require when you apply directly to them to receive a nomination from them (as well as an additional 600 points). The letter of intent is a document you write to demonstrate your good faith intent to reside in the province that you are applying to for a nomination, provided you get a nomination from them, and then PR status from CIC.
Q: WHAT DOES A LETTER OF INTENT HAVE?
A letter of intent establishes any ties you may have to the province you are applying to, in an attempt to establish that you do indeed have reason to stay in that province. You must provide a statement of intent that demonstrates your intent to settle in the province you are applying to.
Q: WHAT IS A STATEMENT OF INTENT?
Above all else, your letter of intent must have a statement of intent to reside in the province. Basically, this statement explicitly outlines that you plan on residing in the province you are applying to. For example, assume you are applying to Ontario under the OINP program. In this case, the letter should start with:
I, <insert your name>, do hereby declare my intent to reside in the province of Ontario, should I be nominated for a PNP, and should I receive Permanent Resident Status.
Q: WHAT KIND OF TIES SHOULD BE MENTIONED IN THE LETTER OF INTENT?
Taken directly from the OINP Application Guide:
You may also provide evidence of your ties to the province. Ties to the province can include but are not limited to, the following:
Employment in the province;
Job offers or jobs applied/interviewed for in the province;
Volunteer work in the province;
Lease agreements for a residence in the province or property ownership;
Professional networks and affiliations;
Family ties;
Social connections or personal relationships;
Previous visits to the province.
You will need to provide evidence of any of these separately as well, by providing lease agreements, appointment or employment reference letters, or address proof for any family you claim is living in the province you are applying to. However, in the letter itself, don't worry about the proof- the supporting documents will act as that. In the letter, you just mention any and all ties you may have to the province. The idea is to show them that you have reasons to stay on in the province that you are applying to- they need to believe your declaration of intent to reside there, and this kind of stuff helps back you up.
Q: DO I HAVE TO WRITE A LETTER OF INTENT EVEN IF I HAVE NO TIES TO THE PROVINCE I AM APPLYING TO?
Yes.
Q: I HAVE NO TIES TO THE PROVINCE I'M APPLYING TO! AM I DOOMED?
It is entirely possible that the province you are applying to is one you have no ties with- especially since some provinces, like Ontario, let you apply without any prior ties or employment. If this is the case, don't panic. You are not in trouble at all! When I applied to Ontario, I had absolutely no ties to Ontario, none to Canada- I had never been to Canada, I had no family or friends there, I had absolutely nothing that could be construed as a reason for me to stay there. However, I still got my PNP from Ontario- the trick is to write a convincing Letter of Intent regardless.
If you don't have any ties to the province you are applying to, make sure of two things:
Make sure your statement of intent is as explicit as possible;
Spend the letter explaining why you plan on residing in the province you are applying to
For instance, discuss the job market- you can talk about how the province you are applying to is best suited to the kind of employment you are looking for. This has a double benefit, since it a) makes a clear case for why you want to settle in the province you are applying to, in spite of no previous ties, and b) shows them that you are serious about it- you've done your research, you know what you are talking about, you're not just making things up.
You can mention other things, too- you can mention, for example, local tax rates, property rates, you can mention the weather- anything which you can explain factors into your decision to move to the specific province you are applying to, and which proves that you have done your research, showing that you are serious about moving to the province.
Q: IS THERE ANY FORMAT OR TEMPLATE FOR WRITING THE LETTER?
There really isn't- there are many people who will tell you that you should write in a formal format, but you don't have to. All you need to do is cover the basics- if you have any ties to the province, establish them. Make sure to have an explicit statement of intent to reside in the province in the letter, preferably right at the beginning of the letter. The letter should not be too long- about three to five paragraphs, single spaced and font size 12, and never more than one page. The letter should be clear: write clearly, concisely, and without too much embellishment. If you feel comfortable writing it in a formal format, you can do so. If you would rather write it as a short essay (I Would Like To Stay In ____ Because...), you can do that too- just remember to be clear, and remember that you include everything in the letter that is important.
Q: DOES THE LETTER OF INTENT HAVE TO BE NOTARIZED?
No.
Q: IS THE LETTER OF INTENT LEGALLY BINDING?
This is one of the questions that comes up the most on this forum- are you legally bound to stay in the province that nominated you, and only that province, if you get Permanent Residency?
The answer to this question is no, you are not. Once you are a permanent resident, you are protected by the Constitution of Canada, which gives you the right to mobility- that is, you can travel to, and live, anywhere in the country that you wish to, without restrictions.
However, keep the following in mind:
You have a moral obligation to try and live in the province that nominated you, and to try and make it work, for at least 6-12 months. What this means is, once you go to Canada, you should spend some time trying to settle down in the province that nominated you. Try to find a house, try to get a job. If, after a period of 6 or more months, you still have been unsuccessful in your attempts to settle, you have given your good faith effort at attempting to reside in that province (which is what you declared in your letter of intent that you would do), and you can move to another province where your prospects are better;
On that note, you need to demonstrate at least an attempt to reside in the province that nominated you. While once you land in Canada, you have all the rights and privileges of a permanent resident, do remember that they do not apply to you until you have officially 'landed-' i.e. until you have crossed the border checks. If at the border check, the officers determine that you have no intent to go to the province that nominated you (maybe by checking your itinerary, which shows them that your ultimate destination is not the province that nominated you, or that you are only stopping there for a few days before going to some other province), they may refuse you entry.
The long and short of it, then? The letter is not legally binding, but it places a moral obligation upon you to try and reside in the province that nominated you. That moral obligation can and may be enforced prior to your entry into Canada. So the best thing to do is to make an honest and concerted effort at settling in the province that nominated you- if it does not work out, then you can move freely to any other part of Canada without any worries.
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That's all, I hope the guide was helpful! If some other frequently asked questions come up, I will be sure to add them to this post, and I will also try answering your questions in this thread!
Good luck to everyone applying!
