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    Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) of Alberta

    The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is the provincial nomination program (PNP) of Alberta - one of the Canadian provinces. It allows the province to nominate Canadian immigration aspirants with the required skills and expertise. The nomination allows aspirants to stay and work in Alberta. The Alberta Ministry of Employment and Immigration determines specific requirements of the province and the yearly immigration share of different occupations to meet those requirements.

    AINP is an economic immigration program that aims to spur the growth of Alberta's economy by attracting and retaining work-ready immigrants. It is operated jointly by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) of Canada as well as the Government of Alberta. Once a skilled worker wins the provincial nomination from the Alberta government, he or she can apply for Canadian Permanent Residence (PR) through IRCC along with his or her spouse or common-law partner and dependent kids.

    Do note that IRCC makes the final decision on each PNP nominee's PR application.

    If a visa application satisfies the federal requirements for the skilled worker migration to Canada and also wins the Alberta Provincial Nomination Certificate, the processing time for the application reduces significantly. The latest PNP agreement terms for Alberta say that:

    • Once an immigration aspirant wins the AINP nomination, it does not have any expiry date. 
    • Right now, there's no cap on the number of immigrants Alberta can accept. Hence, it's much easier to gain Canada's PR status through AINP.
    • The newfound Canada Alberta Working Group discovers the labour shortage at a faster pace and works to resolve the issue. It helps recruiters to solve overseas employee immigration and staffing issues rapidly.
    • A pilot project, jointly run by the Alberta government and the federal administration, processes immigration applications of healthcare experts at a much faster pace.

    What is Alberta like?

    Alberta's Geography

    Alberta is one of the top immigration hotspots of Canada. The province houses more than 4.44 million people. Known as the Energy Province of Canada, it has many oil and natural gas fields. It is also known for its cattle farming and panoramic beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Its biggest two cities are Edmonton - its capital, and Calgary.

    The original inhabitants of Alberta were the First Nations People. But as it offers incentives to new settlers, the province enjoys steady immigration and population growth. Alberta is the richest province in Canada and taxes here are also lower than in the rest of the country.

    Alberta's Economy

    The fourth-largest province of Canada by population, Alberta leads Canada's economy because of the crude oil production and energy sector here. Its bituminous oil sands are the largest job provider here. Other industries present here are agriculture, forestry, tourism, manufacturing, education, and finance. 

    Every 2 years, Alberta's government releases the Alberta Occupational Outlook which predicts job shortages and surpluses for the next 10 years. The latest handbook predicts that the following occupations will see a labour shortage till 2028:

    • Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
    • Administrative assistants
    • Administrative officers
    • Anesthesiologists (among Health Professionals)
    • Early childhood educators and assistants
    • General office support workers
    • Homebuilding and renovation managers
    • Receptionists
    • Transport truck drivers

    There's another report called 'The Oil Sands Construction, Maintenance and Operations Labour Demand Outlook to 2023' that mentions the workforce requirement for oil sands construction, maintenance and operations jobs shortly. You can also check the Regional Occupational Demand Outlook and the Short-Term Employment Forecast (STEF) to have a better idea of what occupations will be in demand in Alberta in the near future.

    Visa2Immigration Canada visa and immigration experts can help you find the right occupation that increases your chances of winning the AINP nomination.

    Job Scenario in Alberta

    While many sectors saw negative impact due to the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdowns that happened, some of the sectors saw more job openings. Some of the occupations that saw a surge during the pandemic include:

    1. Computer and Information Systems Managers (NOC 0213)
    2. Employment Insurance, Immigration, Border Services and Revenue Officers (NOC 1228)
    3. Information Systems Analysts and Consultants (NOC 2171)
    4. Database Analysts and Data Administrators (NOC 2172)
    5. Software Engineers and Designers (NOC 2173)
    6. Construction Inspectors (NOC 2264)
    7. Nursing Coordinators and Supervisors (NOC 3011)
    8. Pharmacists (NOC 3131)
    9. Family, Marriage and other related Counsellors (NOC 4153)
    10. Health Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers (NOC 4165)
    11. Social and Community Service Workers (NOC 4212)
    12. Contractors and Supervisor, other Construction Trades, Installers, Repairers and Servicers (NOC 7205)

    The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points of the Express Entry applicants determine whether a skilled worker is eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream or not. Applicants with at least 300 CRS points stand a chance of winning a provincial nomination from the Alberta government. Another popular Alberta PNP is the Alberta Opportunity Stream which is only eligible for skilled workers in the eligible occupations who have at least six months of work experience in the field working for a minimum of 30 hours per week.

    Visa2Immigration Canada immigration experts can guide you on the best pathway to Alberta according to the current scenario.

    Who is eligible for the Alberta PNP program?

    An AINP candidate needs to win a Nomination Certificate from the Alberta government first and then submit the PR visa application to the IRCC. The nominations can be won under different categories, such as:

    • Strategic Recruitment Class category: You don't need a job offer to win a provincial nomination from Alberta in this category. It has sub-categories like:
      • Compulsory and Occupational Trades
      • Engineering Occupations
      • Post-Graduate Workers
    • Employer Driven Class category: You must have a job offer from an eligible employer in Alberta to secure a nomination under this category. Its sub-categories include:
      • Skilled Worker category: Applicants need to fulfill educational and specialized training requirements for the positions they have applied for - which should be under NOC 0, A, B categories.
      • Semi-Skilled Worker category: Aspirants with necessary qualifications in Food & Beverage, Hotel & Lodging, Food Service, Hospitality, Transportation, Manufacturing, and Trucking industries can apply under this category.
      • International Graduate category: Applicants with a diploma or degree from an approved Canadian institution in the field of their employment can work under this category.
    • Self-Employed Farmer Class category: Applicants with qualifications, training, and experience of running a farm trade, a blueprint of a farming venture in Alberta, required funding, a net worth of C$500,000 and equity worth CS500,000 for investment in their farming trade can apply for this job.

    How to apply for Canada PR through the Alberta Immigration Nominee Program?

    After gaining approval and nomination from the provincial government of Alberta, you need to apply to IRCC for the Permanent Residence (PR). The PNP nomination remains valid for six months and you have to apply for the Canadian PR before that. Your PR visa application should include:

    • Original AINP Nomination Certificate,
    • All the IRCC application forms that are duly completed, and
    • All the required documents and visa charges.

    FAQs

    1. How much time does it take to process the AINP?

    The processing time of the Alberta Immigration Nominee program depends on the type of visa you apply for, as well as the time IRCC takes to process your PR application. Generally speaking, it takes 9-15 months to process a visa for a semi-skilled worker; and 6-12 months to process a skilled worker's or an international graduate's visa.

    1. What kind of employment offer do you need to qualify for an AINP?

    You should have a job offer from an approved firm or recruiter from Alberta. The job offer should be continuous and full-time paid work that allows you to work in your current occupation for at least 30 hours per week. The wages paid to you should meet the minimum provincial wage requirements and the employment offer should be for 12 months or more.

    1. When to file the PR petition to the IRCC office?

    You must apply for Alberta's provincial nomination first, and then apply for the Canada PR to the IRCC's office. You must make sure that you meet all the PR requirements of the Alberta government as well as the IRCC before you apply for it.

    1. Can I get an update on my AINP application?

    Alberta authorities or the IRCC does not offer any updates on your application status. However, our Visa2Immigration experts can review your application docket and guide you through every step of the application process to make sure you successfully fulfill your Canadian dream.

    1. Do I need to pay something when I apply for the AINP?

    No, you do not have to pay anything to apply for the Alberta nomination. But you do have to pay the IRCC visa application fee after you receive the Alberta Nomination Certificate.

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      Australian Borders Opening

      Australian Borders Opening

      Australia will open its international borders in November 2021, The Federal Government will announce the ban on international travel lifted next month which will allow fully vaccinated Australian citizens to return home. Fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will be quarantined at home for 7 days, while unvaccinated Australians will still be required to be quarantined at hotels or dedicated facilities for 14 days. The states will gradually open their doors but New South Wales is expected to be the first to welcome international travellers.

      The main reason for this plan is to bring back international students who are stranded overseas. If the Australian government is opening the borders in 2021, it will also resume the overseas permanent resident applications processing.

      Visa2Immigration experts can help you quicken the process by reviewing your application and checking it for completeness, errors, and documentation. They can also suggest ways on how to make your application more powerful and increase your chances of success. Contact us today to get your Migration Application process started!