Changes To Alberta Immigration Policy

25 Aug 2010

Thomas Lukaszuk has announced that Alberta Immigration Nominee program will no longer accept applications for two of its categories leading to change in policies.

No further Canadian visas will be given out to applicants wanting to move to Alberta under the Family Stream category, which is used by family members of people living in Alberta. In addition, the US visa holder category has also closed its doors to new applications. People holding temporary US work visas have often used this category.

The changes have been made in light of the fact that some 1,400 people obtained Canadian visas through these two categories alone, of a total of around 4,200 moving to the region from abroad.

Lukaszuk claims that the change will ensure job openings go to locals first, and then to other Canadians, before being offered to Canadian work visa holders.

Alberta has decided to no longer accept applications for two of its streams under its provincial nomination program. Effective immediately, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) will not accept new applications in the Family Stream and the U.S. Visa Holder Category. And the focus would be to nominate people who currently work in permanent jobs and those who have job offers in occupations that are in high demand in Alberta. According to the Government of Alberta, this change is temporary until further notice.

“Our focus needs to be on jobs for Albertans and Canadians first,” said Thomas Lukaszuk, Minister of Employment and Immigration. “We will continue to process applications for people who have the skills our growing economy needs.”

Initially, Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program was introduced to help build a strong workforce of skilled immigrants. The Family Stream and the U.S. Visa Holder Category were added in 2008, and are considered to have been very successful as a large number of applications were submitted under these streams.

Alberta will continue to accept immigration applications in the following areas:

• Skilled workers
• Compulsory trades
• Semi-skilled workers in certain occupations
• Self-employed farmers
• International students
• Engineering occupations