Alberta Introduces New Appeal Process for AINP Refusals

The province of Alberta has introduced a new appeal process for immigration candidates whose applications have been refused.

The new process allows candidates to submit a request for reconsideration if the grounds for their appeal are:

• a. Directly related to the reason(s) stated in the decision letter; and
• b. They can demonstrate that an error was made in applying program criteria to the application.

A request for reconsideration must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date the decision letter was issued. Only the applicant named in the letter can submit a request and it must be the only request submitted on their application.

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) says a response will be issued within 30 calendar days of the date the reconsideration request was received.

If you have had an AINP application rejected and feel that you have caused for appeal, get in touch with us at Prudent Immigration. We can help. (403) 402-7900.

Increased AINP Intake in 2018; New Streams Coming Soon

Alberta Announces Increased AINP Intake for 2018

Alberta has announced an increase in its Provincial Nominee Program allotment for 2018, up to 5,600 nominations. Alberta is receiving a slightly higher allotment in 2018 as a result of the federal government’s multi-year immigration plan announced in November of 2017. The federal plan includes an increased Provincial Nominee Program target of 55,000 for 2018, up eight per cent over 2017’s target of 51,000.

New streams coming in 2018

The AINP is currently divided into three immigration streams, the Strategic Recruitment Stream, Employer-Driven Stream and the Self-Employed Farmer Stream. In 2018, the Strategic Recruitment Stream and the Employer-Driven Stream and their sub-categories are due to be merged into one stream, called the Alberta Opportunity Stream. This change was originally expected to come into effect on Jan 2, but has been postponed while details of the program continue to be ironed out. The current streams shall continue to be in effect until the opening of the Alberta Opportunity Stream is announced.

Alberta is also expected to introduce a second stream aligned with the federal Express Entry pool in 2018, but the criteria for this stream have yet to be made public. The Alberta Express Entry Stream will allow the AINP to nominate a limited number of candidates in Express Entry pool, which includes candidates from the federal government’s three economic immigration classes — the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

According to the AINP, the following National Occupational Classification codes make up more than half of applications for provincial nomination certificates.

• 6311 – Food Service Supervisors
• 6211 – Retail Sales Supervisors
• 7511 – Transport Truck Drivers
• 6315 – Cleaning Supervisors
• 7284 – Plasterers, Drywall Installers and Finishers and Lathers
• 1241 – Administrative assistants
• 0631 – Restaurant and Food Services Managers
• 0621 – Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers
• 6421 – Retail Salespersons
• 1221 – Administrative Officers

www.prudentimmigration.ca