Canada's New Pathway Program 2024

 ALBERTA ADVANTAGE IMMIGRATION PROGRAM 

Expression of Interest (EOI) PROGRAM- September 2024 

On September 23rd, 2024, the Alberta  government announced a significant change to its Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, also  known as AIP worker streams. Applicants seeking to apply under the  four key worker streams will be required to submit a Worker EOI to enter the pool for  consideration. The introduction of the EOI system replaces the previous method,  where candidates could apply directly. Candidates will self-declare information about themselves through online Worker EOI form in AAIP portal. Applicants will now be ranked using EOI points grid and selected  based on a comprehensive scoring system.

All candidates under the worker streams must submit a Worker Expression of Interest to  be considered for the provincial nomination. Applicants will be ranked against the Alberta Worker Expression of Interest EOI points grid, which assigns a score  out of 100 points based on several factors, including education, work experience, age,  language proficiency, and family ties in Alberta.

The AIP will  conduct regular draws from the Worker EOI pool, selecting applicants based on their ranking  score in Alberta's labor market needs. The first draw is expected  to take place in mid to late October 2024, with subsequent draws held periodically  based on program needs and available quotas.

To date,  Alberta has issued 7,463 nominations out of its 9,750 allocation for 2024, leaving  a smaller number of invitations to be issued for the remainder of the year. With  4,974 applications still being processed, draws may be smaller than usual  to manage the existing backlog.

The following four AIP worker streams will require a  Worker Expression of Interest EOI for submission:

1. Alberta Express Entry Stream: A pathway aligned  with the Federal Express Entry system, targeting skilled workers who meet Alberta's labor needs.

2. Alberta Opportunity Stream: A stream for candidates who have a valid job offer from an  Alberta employer in an eligible occupation.

3. Rural Renewal Stream: A stream dedicated to  attracting workers to Alberta's rural communities.

4. Tourism and Hospitality Stream: A pathway  designed to address labor shortages in Alberta's growing tourism and hospitality sectors.

Previously, applicants could apply directly for a provincial nomination under these streams.  The switch to an EOI-based system suggests that demand for these streams exceeds  the available spots, enabling Alberta to prioritize candidates with the highest ranking  and most relevance to labor market needs. Now, let's see how the Worker EOI system  works. The Worker EOI system is designed to select candidates based on Alberta's labor  market priorities.

Here’s how the process works:

• Self-declaration: Applicants will  self-declare their information through the Worker EOI form in the AIP portal.  There is no fee to submit a Worker EOI.
• Scoring system: Once submitted, each Worker EOI  will be assigned a score based on the Worker EOI points grid, which evaluates applicants across  several factors. The maximum score is 100 points.
• Rankings and draws: Candidates will be placed  in the Worker EOI pool, where they will be ranked according to their score. The AIP will  conduct regular draws to select candidates based on their EOI score rankings, Alberta's  labor market needs, the availability of AIP nominations, and current application levels.

Factors	Maximum Points
Education	22
Language Proficiency	13
Work Experience	21
Age	05
Family Connection in Alberta	08
Alberta job offer	16
Alberta Job Offer Location	05
Alberta job offer in regulate Occupation	10
Total Points	100

You are required to follow these steps to ensure a smooth submission:

• Confirm eligibility: Review the eligibility  requirements for the AIP stream you’re interested in to ensure that you qualify.
• Understand the points grid: Familiarize yourself with the Worker EOI points grid to understand  how your score will be calculated and consider areas where you can improve to boost your ranking.
• Manage existing applications: You can only have one active Worker EOI at a given time. If you have  an existing AIP application or Entrepreneur EOI, you must withdraw it before submitting a Worker  EOI. Ensure you manage any drafts or in-process applications to avoid conflicts.
• Prepare your Alberta online account: Make sure you have a valid alberta.ca account.  Either a basic or verified account will work.

To summarize, the introduction of the Worker  EOI system by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program marks a significant change in how  Alberta manages its worker streams. By adopting a points-based ranking system, the province can  better align its immigration goals with labor market needs and economic priorities.