Express Entry candidates invited through the new draw in Alberta had scores as low as 322 on the Comprehensive Ratings System (CRS).
Recently the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) published information of the new provincial nominee program (PNP) draw. On April 29, a total of 200 invitations or NOIs were issued to the Express Entry candidates.
NOI recipients now have the opportunity to apply for a Provincial nomination. If the AINP accepts their application, an additional 600 points to their CRS score will be awarded towards a successive federal Express Entry draw. The extra points effectively ensure that the candidate can acquire an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada. As travel limitations were introduced in Canada on March 18th, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) organized Express Entry Draws specifically targeting PNP recipients.
Alberta currently only accepts candidates for a provincial nomination if they already live and work in the province. Typically, obtaining a NOI via the Alberta Express Entry Process doesn’t require a job offer. Alberta does, though, provide some versatility for PNP candidates who are unable to send all documents owing to service disruptions. The AINP will acknowledge copies of documents, and their file will be kept for 60 calendar days if the candidate satisfies the necessary criteria.
Eligibility criteria for Alberta Express Entry Stream
In order to be eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Process, candidates must first have a profile in the federal express entry system. They require work experience in a profession that supports the economic growth and diversification goals of the province, though the AINP does not have a list of eligible occupations.
With specific precautions for coronavirus in place, the AINP now requires candidates to fulfil the following criteria to receive a nomination:
– Be working in Alberta at the time, even though they are working from home;
– Have a work work permit in their present job;
– Have a full-time job, paid, meet the minimum provincial wage, surpass the expectations of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA); and
– Work in eligible occupation. Excluded ones include those in the province of Alberta’s high- and low-wage government occupations, and the Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations list.
Candidates who served full time before the coronavirus pandemic and those who work in a regulated occupation and are unable to fulfil licensing requirements will have their applications on hold for 60 calendar days. If candidates do not have a previous history of employment in the province, their applications will not be approved until further notice.
Alberta has issued 1,407 invites to Express Entry candidates so far this year. A total of 6,884 invitations have been issued through the Alberta Express Entry Stream in 2019. Provincial nomination allocations for Alberta for 2020 have not yet been announced.
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