Workers and Entrepreneurs willing to settle in Alberta can benefit from the streams of its nominee program which is called the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). In this blog, we’ll be looking at the AAIP in detail and see how you can immigrate to Alberta through this program.
Alberta is a province in Western Canada that has two major cities of Canada, Edmonton, and Calgary. Immigrants with skills and work experience can settle in the province with the help of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program which was previously called the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program.
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Under the AAIP, there are eight options for immigration streams, and these streams are split between options for entrepreneurs and options for workers.
What are the Streams for Workers?
The following are the streams that allow workers:
- Alberta General Express Entry Stream
- Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Rural Renewal Stream
The following are the streams for entrepreneurs
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Farm Stream
- Rural Entrepreneur Stream
Streams for Workers
The General Express Entry Stream of Alberta is an option for the Express Entry System candidates who have a score of at least 300 in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Additionally, the candidate also needs to have an occupation that supports the economic diversification and development of Alberta.
Upon nomination by Alberta, the candidate will receive extra 600 CRS points which basically guarantees an Invitation to Apply for PR in a subsequent Express Entry draw.
The Accelerated Tech Pathway is included in the Express Entry stream. This option is for candidates working in Alberta’s technology industry at the moment and who have received a job offer from the technology industry in any of the 38 occupations in the provincial list.
International graduates who have completed their studies from an approved post-secondary institution in Alberta and skilled workers who are working in Alberta at the moment can use the Alberta Opportunity Stream.
The AAIP encourages student applicants who can show their work and education skills that are oriented to the labor market needs of Alberta to apply for the Alberta Opportunity Stream.
The Alberta Rural Renewal Stream was established for supporting the skill shortages and labor needs in rural communities of Alberta. It is planned to tackle the financial needs and stimulates the community’s growth. This stream is for candidates who have a job offer from an Alberta employer to work in the rural community of the province.
Streams for Entrepreneurs
Firstly, the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is an option for international students who have completed graduation from an approved Alberta post-secondary institution and want to start a business. Under this stream, applicants initiate or run a business in Alberta on the basis of a work permit and after that, they can apply for permanent residency.
Secondly, the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for skilled international graduates who want to start a business. After the applicant begins business operations in Alberta, the will be nominated for permanent residency.
The Alberta Farm Stream is planned to draw farm operators and owners to Alberta to manage or purchase a farming business. This stream is for applicants who are able to show farm management skills and ample financial resources for investing in a primary production business of farming in Alberta.
The Rural Entrepreneur Stream of Alberta is for entrepreneurs who have immigrated to the province and want to start a business or purchase a business in any rural community in Alberta. The program is designed for entrepreneurs to create jobs for residents of Alberta and nominate the applicant for permanent residency.
How Does the Provincial Nominee Program Work?
Firstly, applicants need to find out which stream is right for them according to their specific situation and on the basis of their eligibility criteria.
Enhanced streams are oriented with the federal Express Entry system. Candidates in the Express Entry System who want to settle in the province may get a Notification of Interest from the government of Alberta and they need to respond to it. Candidates need to apply through the portal of AAIP upon selection.
Only the Alberta Tech Pathway and Alberta Express Entry stream are enhanced in Alberta.
The rest of the current streams in the province are base streams and for applying through one of them, applicants need to submit an Expression of Interest through the AAIP portal of the province, rather than being selected through the Express Entry system.
