AINP: U.S. Visa Holder criteria

The AINP is currently not accepting applications under the AINP U.S. Visa Holder Category. Applications postmarked after August 23, 2010 will be returned to you. Applications postmarked on or before August 23, 2010 that meet all program criteria will be accepted for processing and will be processed according to AINP Processing Times.

The criteria below will be used to assess applications submitted on or before August 23, 2010.

The criteria for the U.S. Visa Holder Category (includes but is not limited to):

• You must intend to and be able to live and work permanently in Alberta.
• You must be currently working in the United States and possess a valid visa in one of the following temporary skilled worker visa categories: H-1B, H-1B1, H-1C, E-3 at the time the AINP makes a final decision on the application.
• You must have a minimum of one year of work experience in the United States in one of the qualifying visa categories listed above.
• Your current occupation must be on the AINP Occupations Under Pressure List for the Strategic Recruitment Stream – U.S. Visa Holder Category. This list is reviewed regularly and occupations may be added or removed based on Alberta’s current labour market needs.
  • To determine whether your occupation is under pressure in Alberta, you should first go to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) website to determine the four-digit NOC code that best matches your current job description in the U.S.
  • You should then consult the AINP Occupations Under Pressure List for the Strategic Recruitment Stream – U.S. Visa Holder Category to find out if your four-digit NOC code is on the list.

If your application does not meet AINP criteria, it will be declined. If your application is not complete, it will be returned to you and you cannot reapply as the AINP is currently not accepting applications under the U.S. Visa Holder Category.

Meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.

Eligible applications under this category are processed as per our regular processing times unless the Candidate has a job offer in Alberta (see below).

Candidates with a job offer in Alberta

Eligible candidates with a valid job offer in Alberta will receive priority processing.

• Proof of a valid job offer is your employment contract or offer of employment letter from an Alberta Employer for full-time employment within the Province of Alberta. The job offer must be in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B) in a field related to your current occupation in the U.S. and to your post-secondary education. The document must be on the official letterhead of the Alberta Employer you will be working for and signed by an authorized representative of the company.
• The Alberta Employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.
• If you submit an invalid or fraudulent job offer, the AINP will decline your application.

How to submit your job offer

• If you submitted an application to the AINP on or before August 23, 2010, please mail or fax a copy of your job offer, job description, and your AINP file number to:

Strategic Recruitment Stream – U.S. Visa Holder Category
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
Suite 940, Telus Plaza North Tower
10025 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 1S6
Fax: (780) 427- 6560

Note: If you have don’t have a file number, include the date you submitted your application to AINP.

Date Updated: Aug 23, 2010
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