Last year Canada announced AINP Program for individuals in H1B category (US visa holder category). AINP is an immigration program operated on behalf of the Government of Alberta by the Ministry of Employment and Immigration in conjunction with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to expedite the processing of an application for permanent residence.
The AINP is designed to support Alberta's economic growth by attracting labour-market-destined immigrants to the province.
Individuals nominated by the Province of Alberta, together with their spouse and dependent children, are eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa through CIC as a Provincial Nominee. CIC expedites permanent resident applications from Provincial Nominees and makes final decisions on the permanent resident applications.
US visa holder category
To be eligible in this category, you must be currently working in the United States on a valid temporary skilled worker visa in an occupation that is in demand in Alberta.
PurposeThe objective of the U.S. Visa Holder Category is to facilitate the entry of U.S. visa holders currently working temporarily in the United States, into Alberta’s permanent labour force.
U.S. visa holders in specific visa categories, working in skilled occupations in high demand in Alberta, may be eligible to apply to the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) without an application from an Alberta employer.
Criteria for AINP Candidates under the Strategic Recruitment Stream U.S. Visa Holder Category (includes but is not limited to):
- A Candidate must demonstrate a clear ability and intention to live permanently in Alberta;
- A Candidate must be currently working in the United States and possess a valid visa in one of the following temporary skilled worker visa categories: H1-B, H1-B1, H-1C, E-3 at the time the AINP makes a final decision on the application;
- A Candidate must have a minimum of one year of work experience in the United States in one of the qualifying visa categories listed above; and,
- The Candidate’s current occupation must be on the AINP Occupations Under Pressure List for the Strategic Recruitment Stream – U.S. Visa Holder Category. Please note that this list is reviewed regularly and occupations may be added or removed based on Alberta’s current labour market needs.
Important note: An updated version of the AINP Occupations Under Pressure List was posted on May 19, 2009. Any applications postmarked on or before May 19, 2009 will be assessed based on the previously posted list. All applications postmarked after May 19, 2009 will be assessed based on the list currently posted.