Alberta reopens provincial nomination program

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? The province of Alberta has reopened its provincial nomination program after putting it on pause last fall for re-evaluation and modification, and is now accepting new applications.

What does the change mean? The programs allow skilled immigrants who are nominated to apply for permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: Permanent residency through any of the streams of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).
• Who is affected: Canadian employers recruiting foreign workers in Alberta who are skilled workers, trades workers, semi-skilled workers or international graduates of post-secondary institutions in Canada.
• Business impact: The reopening of the programs gives Alberta employers opportunities to sponsor foreign skilled workers in several categories.

Background: AINP reopened all streams and categories to new applications on Jan. 27; applications postmarked before that date will be returned. The streams include:

• Strategic Recruitment Stream. Candidates apply without an employer if they qualify under the Compulsory and Optional Trades category, the Engineering Occupations category or the Post-Graduate Worker category.
• Employer-Driven Stream. Candidates apply with their employer if they have a permanent, full-time job offer from an Alberta employer and qualify under one of three categories: Skilled Worker, Semi-Skilled Worker, or International Graduate.
• Self-Employed Farmer Stream. Candidates may qualify if they have the experience and means to buy and establish a farm in Alberta.

BAL Analysis: Each stream and category has its own eligibility criteria. Qualifying AINP candidates must first be nominated and then apply through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada as a provincial nominee.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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