Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (AINP) offers you a way to immigrate to Canada. Through the AINP Alberta:
Invites residency applications from non-Canadians who want to make Alberta their home; and
Nominates successful applicants to the federal government, so they can gain permanent residency in Canada.
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program offers two different ways for skilled and semi-skilled workers to become permanent residents.. The two pathways are:
Alberta Opportunity Stream
Alberta Express Entry Stream
Alberta Opportunity Stream
The Alberta Opportunity Stream targets foreign nationals who are already working in Alberta and who have an offer of employment from an Alberta employer to continue working full-time in the province.
In order to qualify you must meet all of the following requirements:
Must be residing and working in the province of Alberta with legal temporary resident status.
Be working in an eligible occupation in Alberta
Have a full-time job permanent offer from their current Alberta employer to continue work in their current occupation.
Take an approved English or French language test and obtain Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 if the job is a NOC Skill Levels 0, A, or B occupation or CLB 4 for NOC C and D occupations.
All applicants must have completed a minimum of high school education in Canada or in their home country.
Must be working in an occupation in Alberta which matches their previous work experience. This can be either a minimum of 12-months full-time work experience in their current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months or a minimum of 24-months full-time work experience in their current occupation in the last 30 months which can be obtained in Canada and/or abroad.
Alberta Express Entry Stream
The Alberta Express Entry stream allows the province to offer provincial nominations to candidates with active profiles in the federal Express Entry system. Alberta will consider profiles in the federal Express Entry pool who demonstrate strong ties to Alberta. and who can support regional economic development and diversification. The program is by invitation only and foreign nationals cannot apply directly to the program prior to being selected by the AINP.
AINP Application Process
A broad overview of the process to apply to the AINP is below.
Stage 1: Application
Submit a complete paper- based application for nomination to the AINP. Express Entry Stream applicants must receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the AINP in their Express Entry profile prior to applying. Alberta Opportunity Stream applicants do not need an invitation, and can apply directly to the AINP without an ITA
Stage 2: Nomination
If your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation of nomination as a provincial nominee from the AINP
Stage 3: Permanent Residence
After receiving a AINP confirmation of nomination, you must submit an application for permanent residence. Alberta Express Entry Stream applicants will apply online via the Express Entry system. Alberta Opportunity Stream applicants will submit a paper based application to the IRCC Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
AINP Application Processing Times and Fees
Currently, the average AINP processing time for all streams is 180 days or longer
The AINP currently does not charge an application fee.
Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Fees and Processing Times
Main Applicant-Processing fee $825 and right of permanent residence fee $500
Spouse or Partner-Processing fee $820 and right of permanent residence fee $500
Each Dependent Child- Processing Fee of $225
The processing time for an applicant with an Express Entry profile and who has applied to a provincial Express Entry stream is 6 months. The processing time for all other applicants is approximately 18 months.
Proof of Funds
You must show that you have sufficient funds to successfully establish yourself and your family in Canada and to pay your immigration costs and travel expenses (if applicable) at the time of your application for permanent residency to IRCC (as well as at Express Entry profile submission stage). The amount of money you need to s determined by the size of your family, as shown below.
| Number of family members | Funds Required ( in Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $12,960 |
| 2 | $16,135 |
| 3 | $19,836 |
| 4 | $24,083 |
| 5 | $27,315 |
| 6 | $30,806 |
| 7 | $34,299 |
| For each additional family member | $3,492 |
The funds must be in your name or in the name of your accompanying spouse. These funds must be unencumbered by debts or obligations transferable and available to you. Funds must be liquid (i.e. not real estate) and cannot be borrowed. You normally do not have to show that you have these funds if:
You have a valid job offer (offer of arranged employment) in AND
You are currently working or authorized to work in Canada
How can a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant Help?
In addition to making sure the application is complete there are three main areas where an RCIC can help.
Immigration Strategy and Option: An RCIC can advise you on the different options that are available to you to obtain permanent residence in Canada and explain the pros and cons of each option. It is important you choose the best immigration program from the start as this will likely save you time and money in the long run.
Professional Representation: If you do not have a representative assisting you then you will probably only submit the minimum required documentation. Submitting only those documents sometimes is not enough to make your case and to satisfy the program officer or visa officer you meet the requirements of the visa. Generally, it is wise to submit as much evidence as you can above and beyond the minimum required. Your representative can assist you in preparing and submitting a strong application by identifying the weaknesses in your application and advising you how to strengthen your application.
Submission letter: An RCIC will prepare and submit a submission letter on behalf of the applicant along with the application. The submission letter is an important part of the application. which summarizes and more importantly demonstrates why you meet the requirements of the visa.
Ready to apply to the AINP?
We will:
Review your information and develop a strategy to apply
Prepare and submit your application for nomination to the AINP
Prepare and submit your permanent resident visa application to IRCC
Act as your authorized representative to the AINP and IRCC.
If you want to apply for permanent residence through the AINP we are here to help! Please complete our free assessment form or contact us and one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants will revert to you within 48 hours
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