Alberta Provincial Immigration Program
Currently the Province of Alberta has following province-specific immigration categories that are being actively pursued by the province:
1. Skilled Worker Category
This is an employer driven category. A foreign worker who has a permanent, full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in a skilled occupation i.e. skill levels 0, A, B of National Occupational Classification, can apply under this provincial immigration program to obtain permanent immigration visa. The Alberta employer that needs a full time permanent foreign worker must obtain validation, Labour Market Opinion (LMO), for the offer from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. While applying for immigration under this Provincial Immigration Program, the candidate must prove that he/she has the intention and ability to permanently live in Alberta.
2. International Graduate Category
This is also an employer drive category. Under this category of Alberta’s provincial immigration program, the applicant should be a recent graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution and should have a permanent, full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in a skilled occupation listed under skills levels 0, A, and B of National Occupational Classification. This process can also be initiated by an Alberta Employer if that Employer wants to retain an international graduate on a full-time, permanent basis.
3. Semi-skilled Worker Category
This is also an employer driven category under Alberta’s provincial immigration program. In order to be eligible under this category, a foreign worker must have a full time, permanent job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible semi-skilled occupation as listed under skills levels C & D of National Occupational Classification. On the other hand, if an Alberta Employer wants to retain an eligible semi-skilled foreign worker on a full time, permanent basis, the process for immigration can be initiated by the employer. Presently, the following occupations are eligible to apply under this category:
• Food and beverage processing industry
• Hotel and lodging industry:
o Food and beverage servers and room attendants
o Front desk agent/clerk
• Manufacturing industry
• Long-Haul Trucking industry
• Foodservices industry
4. Compulsory Trades Category
This category of provincial immigration program of Alberta falls under the Strategic Recruitment Stream and has peculiar characteristics. In order to be eligible under this category, the applicant must be a tradesperson who has successfully passed the Alberta Qualification Certificate exam conducted by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT). After the successful completion of the qualification exam, AIT will send a letter to the candidate inviting him/her to apply for immigration under this category. At the time of receiving the invitation from AIT and filing the application under this category of provincial immigration program, the applicant must be residing in Alberta, and must be either currently working in Alberta or has previously worked during last two years. In order to find out if you are one of the tradesperson listed in Alberta’s Compulsory Trades List, please send us your information and we will be happy to provide you free professional advice in this regard.
5. Engineering Occupations Category
This category of Alberta’s provincial immigration program also falls under the Strategic Recruitment Stream. In order to be eligible to apply in this category, the applicant must be currently residing in Alberta and must be currently working or have worked within the last two years in Alberta with a reputed Alberta Engineering, Procurement, Construction or Consulting company. At the time of filing the application, the engineering occupation must be on Alberta Immigration Nominee Program’s Strategic Recruitment-Engineering Occupations List.
6. Self Employed Farmer Stream
If a foreign national has the financial resources and relevant experience from existing farm business in a foreign country that is sufficient to develop a sustainable growth-oriented primary production farming business in Alberta then such foreign national is eligible to be nominated for permanent immigration visa through Self Employed Farmer Stream of Albert’s Provincial Immigration Programs.
In order to be eligible, the foreign national must prove to have:
• Farm management skills by providing financial documentation of existing farm business, relevant education and experience and a viable farming business plan.
• Sufficient financial resources to develop a primary production farming business in Alberta with a minimum equity threshold of CDN $500,000 supported by documents.