Syed Khan – December 10, 2021
Alberta Immigration has announced changes to its Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program and eased the requirements needed to qualify for the Foreign Graduate Start Up Visa Stream and International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream. These changes were announced on 7 December and came into effect immediately.
About the Foreign Graduate Start Up Visa Stream:
The Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream is an economic immigration program that nominates talented and qualified foreign educated graduates from outside Canada for permanent residence upon launching start-up enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta.
Changes in requirements for the Foreign Graduate Start Up Visa Stream
- Reduction in level of CLB from 7 to 5 for English or French or both.
- Completion of degree time in years increased from the last two years to the last ten years.
- International graduates or entrepreneurs who currently own and, or operate a business can qualify for permanent residence.
About the International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream:
The International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream (IGEIS) allows Alberta to nominate qualified international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to establish or operate a business in Alberta to apply for permanent residence.
Changes in requirements for the International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream:
- Removing the requirement of mandatory 6 months’ work experience.
- Removing the requirement to hold a valid Post Graduation Work permit in the last two years. Now candidates can qualify even if they have a PGWP regardless of the time period it has been valid for.
- International graduates or entrepreneurs who currently own and, or operate a business can qualify for permanent residence.
Steps to apply for the streams:
- The candidate should make an Express Entry profile on the website
- They should receive an NOI from Alberta Immigration when they apply via an Express Entry profile.
- The candidate checks their criteria and submits an application.
- Complete applications go into a pool of eligible applications for consideration for processing
The candidate receives a Notification of Interest if they:
- have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool
- have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta
- are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification
- have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 350
Adaptability Factors that increase chances of a candidate receiving an NOI:
- Has an Alberta job offer and/or work experience
- Is a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution
- Has had a parent, child, brother, and/or sister who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta
Factors that decrease candidate’s likelihood of receiving an NOI:
- Candidate’s Express Entry profile expires in 5 months or less
- Candidate works in an occupation on the list of high-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta set out on the online Government of Canada Refusal to Process a Labor Market Impact Assessment list on the Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations list
- The candidate has a high volume of submissions across all AINP streams
For more information, candidates can visit AINP ( https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx ) or contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultation
If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need