An application is a paper packet of forms and documents sent to Ontario after you receive their notification of interest. There are several steps to the Ontario process:
1. You create an Express Entry profile, and you mark Ontario and/or All Provinces on it in the question asking you where you would like to live.
2. Assuming your profile meets OINP's requirements (400 CRS, Bachelor's degree), you get a Notification of Interest<------As of February 16 2016, Ontario is no longer sending these out
3. You create an application packet consisting of the application form and supporting documents, and send it in to Ontario<------As of May 9 2016, any applications received by OINP will no longer be accepted
4. 50-110 days after your application has been received by OINP, they send you an Acknowledgement of Receipt. This marks the point your application officially begins to be processed
5. 45-90 days after it has begun processing, a decision is made on the application, and you receive your nomination
To answer your question, simply making the Express Entry profile does not count as an application.
For anybody who is curious about whether or not their OINP application is safe:
* If you are on Step 1 in the process above, you are not going to be able to apply to OINP this year
* If you are on Step 2 in the process above, then you are safe as long as you got your Notification of Interest on or before February 16 2016
* If you are on Step 3 in the process above, you are safe as long as your application was delivered (delivered, not sent) on or before May 9 2016
* If you are on Step 4 or 5, then your application is safe
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