When they closed HCP last year it lasted over 6 months.
It actually closed for 9 months. It closed in May 2016 and reopened in February 2017. However, Ontario had to close it in May 2016 because it had received enough applications to fill its quota for the year. This is not the case right now. In fact, Ontario explicitly stated several times earlier this year that it would close and reopen the stream throughout the year so that the same thing wouldn't happen again this year, i.e., so that people would have opportunities to apply throughout the year, and so Ontario could process applications within the expected timeframe (i.e., within the 30-60 day timeframe rather than in several indeterminate months). Thus, we cannot conclude from last year's long pause that this year's will be as long.
http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/prodconsum/groups/csc/@oipp/documents/document/oi_en_oinp_faq.pdf
OINP Limit on Application Intake
1) Why is the OINP implementing limit on application intake?
The popularity of the OINP continues to grow. By May 2016, Ontario had received a sufficient number of program applications to fulfill its 2016 allocation. In January 2016 alone, the program received over 1,800 applications. To ensure processing efficiency and quality customer service, the OINP will be monitoring the volume of applications to its Express Entry Human Capital Priorities and International Masters and PhD student streams. These streams will be paused and reopened periodically throughout the year until the province’s 2017 federal allocation is fulfilled. Stakeholders will be informed when streams are temporarily paused and reopened again via the OINP Updates webpage.
http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/pnp/OI_PNPNEW.html
May 5, 2017
Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream: Issuance of Notifications of Interest
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) will resume issuing Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to applicants who qualify for Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream on a weekly basis.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to create a new profile in the Express Entry (EE) system to make it easier for Ontario to identify their profile during its search of the federal government’s Express Entry pool. Please note that if you create a new EE profile, you must delete your old profile.
Prospective applicants who meet the HCP Stream criteria, have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 400, and are identified in the Express Entry pool will be sent a NOI.
To ensure processing efficiency and quality customer service, the OINP will be monitoring the volume of applications to this stream. This stream will be paused and reopened periodically throughout the year until the province’s 2017 federal allocation is fulfilled. Stakeholders will be informed when the stream is temporarily paused and reopened again via this OINP Updates page.
February 24, 2017
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Re: International Masters Graduate and PhD Streams have reached their registration intake limits
Please note that the
International Masters and PhD Graduate Streams have reached their registration intake limits at this time. No registrations can be accepted through these streams at this time.
The OINP will resume accepting applications for these streams within the next three months. Please check the
OINP Updates webpage on May 1, 2017 for an update on when these streams will likely reopen.
To ensure processing efficiency and quality customer service, the OINP is monitoring the volume of applications to the International Masters Graduate, International PhD Graduate, and Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities streams throughout the year. These streams will be paused and reopened periodically until the province’s 2017 federal allocation is fulfilled. Stakeholders will be informed when streams are temporarily paused and reopened via the OINP Updates page.