On 18th Jan Alberta invited 350 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on January 18, its second draw of the year. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited candidates who had Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of at least 346. Invited candidates may be eligible for a provincial nomination under the Alberta Express Entry stream. If they get the nomination, they will be one step closer to Canadian permanent residence. Provincial nominees can apply for Canadian immigration to the federal government under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Express Entry candidates with provincial nominations get boosted to the top of the pool, and are primed to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Also in January, Alberta announced its new Accelerated Tech Pathway. Eligible tech workers who meet the criteria for the Alberta Express Entry stream may apply to get expedited processing.
Who is eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream?
If you want to apply for the Alberta Express Entry stream, you need to have work experience in an eligible occupation. The AINP does not provide a list of eligible occupations, rather it offers a list of occupations that are not eligible for the stream. Many who apply under this stream work as food service supervisors, transport truck drivers, and cooks among others. The provincial government website says these applications may take longer to process as there is a high volume of applications. Certain factors increase your likelihood of being nominated, like having work experience, a Canadian education, or a job offer in Alberta. It also helps to have a family member already living in Alberta, such as a parent, child, or sibling.
It goes without saying you will also need to meet the eligibility requirements for Express Entry. The minimum CRS score you need to be considered is 300. You may get an invitation, called a “Notification of Interest,” if you stated in your profile that you have an interest in moving permanently to Alberta.
What happens after I receive the NOI?
if you get the nomination, it comes with a bonus 600 points added to your base CRS score. Then when you get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from a subsequent Express Entry draw, you can apply for Canadian immigration.