The NEW Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program: (June 2018)
- Alberta Express Entry Stream.
- Alberta Opportunity Stream.
Candidates who successfully apply to these streams will receive a Provincial Nomination from Alberta – fast-tracking their Canadian permanent residence.
Alberta announced in late 2017 that it would be introducing the Express Entry and Opportunity streams, but the exact criteria for the programs were not released until June 14. Generally, the Express Entry stream targets candidates who already have active profiles in the federal Express Entry system, while the Opportunity stream targets those who are working in Alberta at the time of application.
1. ALBERTA EXPRESS ENTRY STREAM
The Alberta Express Entry stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry system. In order to be considered for the AINP stream, a candidate must already have an active profile in one of the three Express Entry aligned programs: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades or Canadian Experience Class.
Alberta will automatically consider profiles in the federal Express Entry pool. AINP will directly contact candidates whose profiles are of interest and will invite these candidates to apply for the AINP Express Entry stream. While the exact selection criteria is unknown, AINP states that it will seek candidates who demonstrate strong ties to Alberta and who can support regional economic development and diversification.
It should be noted that in order to be considered by AINP, candidates must indicate Alberta as a province of interest in their Express Entry profile.
Once a candidate is notified by AINP, they may submit an official PNP application to the province. If this application is approved, the candidate will receive a provincial nomination, resulting in a 600 point increase to their Express Entry CRS score. This means that the candidate will be virtually guaranteed an official Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.
2. ALBERTA OPPORTUNITY STREAM
The Alberta Opportunity stream does NOT require candidates to have an active Express Entry profile in order to apply. However, the program does have strict eligibility requirements:
1. Residency status and work permit requirements
Applicants must have valid status as a temporary resident in Canada, which authorizes them to work. The candidate must be residing and working in the province of Alberta. Please note that refugee claimants are not eligible under this stream.
2. Occupation requirements
At the time an application is postmarked to AINP and at the time the application is assessed, the applicant must be working in an eligible occupation in Alberta matches their previous work experience. Post-Graduation Work Permit holders must also be working in an occupation related to their field of study in Alberta.
There are two lists of ineligible occupations:
The Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations list: This list applies to all applicants. If your occupation is on this list, you are not eligible to apply.
The List of high-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta as indicated on Canada’s Refusal to Process an LMIA List: This list only applies to applicants who hold a Post-Graduation Work Permit. If you hold a PGWP and your occupation is on this list, then you are not eligible to apply.
3. English or French language requirements
All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in either English or French, equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 4. This must be demonstrated by providing valid results from one of Canada’s approved language tests.
Please note that as of June 14, 2019, the language requirement will increase to Canadian Language Benchmark Level 5 in either English or French.
4. Education requirements
All applicants must have completed a minimum of high school education in their country of origin.
5. Work experience requirements
At the time the application is postmarked and at the time AINP assesses the application, the applicant must be working in an occupation in Alberta which matches their previous work experience. PGWP holders must also be working in an occupation that matches their Alberta educational credential.
Experience must have been full-time (30 hours/week) – part-time experience will not be considered. As well, applicants must have the proper regulation, licensing, and/or status in Canada to perform the occupation legally.
Applicants must have a bona fide full-time job offer from their current Alberta employer to continue work in their current occupation. The job offer must be signed by the applicant and the employer and must offer continuous, full-time, paid work in the applicant’s current occupation in Alberta.
6. Income level requirements
All applicants must meet a minimum gross annual income requirement based on their family size. The family size includes the applicant, a spouse and/or common-law partner, and any dependent children.
Number of members in family unit (including you)
Required gross annual income
(yearly income before tax CAD)
|
1 |
$21,833 |
|
2 |
$30,876 |
|
3 |
$37,816 |
|
4 |
$43,666 |
|
5 |
$48,820 |
|
6 |
$53,480 |
|
7 |
$57,765 |
|
8 |
$61,753 |
|
9 |
$65,499 |
|
10 |
$69,042 |
Applicants can include their spouse or common-law partner’s salary when calculating the gross annual income, only if their partner meets the following two criteria:
Has a yearly Alberta income that is greater or equal to 42 per cent of the principal applicant’s; and
Has a bona fide job offer from an Alberta employer and is working currently for that employer with the proper authorization.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The Alberta Opportunity Stream is always open to new applications. Eligible candidates can submit an application at any time and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Interested candidates must prepare a complete paper-based application. All documents must be prepared in hard copy and submitted in a single envelope, by mail, to the AINP office.
If the province approves the application, Alberta will notify the applicant they have been selected for provincial nomination. Successful applicants will receive an official nomination package in the mail from AINP.
After receiving a provincial nomination, an applicant has six months to submit a federal application for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants in this program must complete and submit a paper-based application for permanent residence and submit it by mail to the appropriate application centre. Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence are generally processed within 18 months.
Think you might be eligible to apply for the New AINP program? Contact us and see if you qualify! We will send you a quick questionnaire and be able to assess your eligibility right away, free of charge.
Applying to become a permanent resident is exciting! Be sure to always meet the deadlines and requests from IRCC and reach out to others who are going through the process or have already obtained their PR. To communicate with other candidates and applicants, join the Foothills Immigration Forum on Facebook and join the conversation. Or contact us directly anytime to set up a free consultation. www.BelongToCanada.com. We’d love to hear from you.
Written by:
Leann Iamartino; Senior Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant; Commissioner of Oaths
Foothills Immigration Inc.
