On January 5, the first PNP draw of Alberta was held under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), in which 250 Express Entry candidates were invited for provincial nomination.
The number of Notification of Interest (NOI) letters issued for inviting the candidates has increased this time, as compared to the last few draws. Also, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 327 in this year’s first draw, which is lower as compared to the previous cut-off set at 351.
The AINP regularly goes through the candidates’ profiles in the Express Entry pool. Based on their information and profile, the AINP selects high-ranking candidates through PNP draw and invites them to submit a complete application within 2 weeks of receiving the NOI. Provincial nomination through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) of Alberta helps to speed up the process of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence of Canada.
The Express Entry System and the Alberta Express Entry Stream
The Express Entry Stream enables the province of Alberta to select eligible candidates from the federal Express Entry pool for permanent residence. To be eligible, candidates must have a profile in one of the three Federal Economic Programs under Express Entry, namely: Canadian Experience Class (CEC); Federal Skilled Trades Program(FSTP); Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
A candidate’s profile is ranked based on the CRS score, which is awarded on various human-capital factors like age, education, work experience, etc. The highest-scoring candidates from that pool are invited for permanent residence by IRCC’s regular Express Entry draws.
Under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), a candidate is chosen from the Express Entry pool who shows interest to work and reside in a specific province (in this case, Alberta). The candidate is issued an NOI after which they are required to submit the complete application within a specified time period. Under AINP, applicants are required to submit their full application within 2 weeks of issuance of NOI.
The provincial program AINP, nominates a suitable candidate depending upon their application and profile by giving them a Provincial Nomination certification. This nomination grants an additional 600 points to their Express Entry profile. These extra points strengthen the candidate’s profile and push it higher in the pool, thereby increasing the chances of receiving an invitation in the next Express Entry draw.
There is a high volume of Alberta Express Entry submissions in the following occupations:
- Food service supervisors (NOC 6311)
- Civil engineers (NOC 2131)
- Administrative officers (NOC 1221)
- Retail sales supervisors (NOC 6211)
- Cooks (NOC 6322)
- Engineering managers (NOC 0211)
- Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 3211)
- Administrative assistants (NOC 1241)
- Transport truck drivers (NOC 7511)
- Professional occupations in advertising, marketing,and public relations (NOC 1123)
Requirements for receiving an NOI from AIPN
In order to receive an NOI from the Alberta PNP draw, a candidate should meet the basic requirements of the Provincial Nominee Program. Having an active Express Entry profile; a primary occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification; a demonstrated interest to permanently immigrate to Alberta; and a minimum CRS score of 300, would be the basic requirements.
Along with that, a candidate can also increase the possibility of receiving an NOI by having one or more of the following : a job offer in Alberta; a graduation certificate from a Canadian post-secondary institution; a close family member (parent, child, or sibling) who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta; and fluency in the French language.
You can check your eligibility for AINP through various sources including Canadian Visa News. With a free assessment form and some guidance, the immigration process becomes easier and clearer.
