January 13, 2022, Alberta immigration authorities announced a new immigration program for attracting tech workers to the province named the Accelerated Tech Pathway.
The eligible applicants need to have a profile in the Express Entry system and be qualified for the Alberta Express Entry Stream.
The eligible applicants can receive PR after six months if they receive a job offer from one of the tech companies in Alberta.
Tyler Shandro, Alberta’s immigration minister, stated that “the applicant’s application will be evaluated with priority, and they will receive a letter of support from the Government of Alberta in case they need a work permit.”
The increase of technology companies in Alberta has been significant since 2012 that they have reached more than 3.000 companies, according to the Alberta Enterprise Corporation. However, they have trouble finding skilled workers and technical talents.
How can you apply for the Accelerated Tech Pathway
The first requirement is that applicants need to be eligible for Alberta Express Entry Stream. It is part of the PNP and has three steps to apply:
1. Create a profile in the Express Entry system
The Express Entry program has three subcategories:
- Canadian Experience Class
- the Federal Skilled Worker Program
- the Federal Skilled Trades Program
To be eligible for Accelerated Tech Pathway, applicants need to be eligible for one of the above subcategories of Express Entry. Candidates must enter the pool and create an account there.
Then, applicants need to complete an online form for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). At the same time, you are completing the form, including the information of your Express Entry profile and the details of the tech job you have in Alberta.
Candidates also need a job offer from a tech company in Alberta, or they must be working for a company in the province at the moment. The job needs to be on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code.
2. AINP determines the applicant’s eligibility
Now the AINP determiens if you are eliigble for the prorgam or not. If yes, they will send you an email and inform you of your eligibility. The email tells you to apply for a provincial nomination.
It is not possible to apply without the sent invitation, and you may not use the nomination under a different AINP application program.
3. Applying
You complete the application by instructions and then enter a pool of eligible applications. The AINP considers the eligible applicants for a provincial nomination.
In case Alberta officials provide an applicant the nomination, he/she has 30 days to accept it and use the online Express Entry profile to do so. The applicants gets another 600 CDR score to the Express Entry score.
When the IRCC sends an applicant ITA or Invitation to Apply in an Express Entry draw, the applicant can apply for permanent Residency.
