Effective June 14, 2018 the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) was updated to simplify the application process, reduce wait times and provide fair access to applicants. The most significant changes are the creation of the new Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) and an expansion to the occupations and skill levels that are accepted.
These changes will open the program to virtually all skills and professions in Alberta with more flexibility for trade skills. It will also ensure that workers with professional, personal and community ties to Alberta are first in line to become permanent residents with a pathway to citizenship.
The AOS replaces the Employer Driven Stream and Strategic Recruitment Stream. This means there are now only two streams for applicants: The Alberta Opportunity Stream and the Self-Employed Farmer Stream.
The AOS Criteria include:
- Candidates must have valid temporary resident status in Canada as a foreign worker
- Candidates must have a valid work permit based on a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or select eligible LMIA exempt work permit
- A candidate’s occupation can be any skill level but there are a list of ineligible occupations posted on the AINP website
- Language requirements must be met. The Candidates must meet Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 until June 13, 2019 when the CLB level will be increased to 5.
- Education criteria:
- From June 14, 2018 until December 31, 2020 candidates must have completed minimum of high school in their country of origin
- Starting January 1, 2021, Candidates must have completed minimum of high school equivalent to Alberta Standards.
Applicants under the old streams of Employer-Driven and Strategic Recruitment that are postmarked on or before June 14, 2018 will be assessed based on the criteria that we were in place at the time of submission. Applications will under the old streams postmarked June 14, 2018 will be declined.
For more information on the changes to the AINP please click here:
http://www.albertacanada.com/opportunity/programs-and-forms/ainp.aspx
