Alberta to Introduce New EOI System Next Month

Alberta is set to introduce a major change to its immigration process starting September 30. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will replace its current system with a new expression of interest (EOI) system. This update means that the program will not accept any more applications for 2024 under the old system.

Here’s how the new EOI system will work: When workers submit their expressions of interest, they will enter a selection pool. From this pool, Alberta will invite candidates to apply based on their ranking and the province’s labour market needs.

The new system, according to the AAIP website, will allow for ongoing acceptance of expressions of interest, making it easier for applicants to enter the process.

As of July 25, 2024, the application numbers for Alberta’s immigration streams are notable. For the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Rural Renewal Stream, and Tourism and Hospitality Stream, the application acceptance numbers were as follows:

• June 11, 2024: Alberta Opportunity Stream had 430 applications, Rural Renewal Stream had 142, and Tourism and Hospitality Stream had 134.
• July 9, 2024: Rural Renewal Stream saw 154 new applications, and Tourism and Hospitality Stream had 143.
• July 11, 2024: Alberta Opportunity Stream received 441 applications.

In total, there are 446 web form submissions from the period between May 23 and June 11, 2024, in the pool. Invitations for the Accelerated Tech Pathway will continue to be issued from this existing pool.

The AAIP is also rolling out a new permanent residency program for foreign nationals aiming to work in Alberta as police officers. This program is designed to help the province’s police services address crime and meet their recruitment needs. Applicants must have a job offer from a member of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police and meet all other Express Entry criteria.

Eligible occupations under this new program include both commissioned and non-commissioned police officers, investigators, and other specialized law enforcement roles. Employers must also be members of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police.

In 2023, Alberta welcomed 57,585 new permanent residents, marking a 16.3% increase from the previous year’s 49,520. The province also saw 59,995 temporary foreign workers through the International Mobility Program (IMP) and 20,415 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Additionally, Alberta issued 41,950 study permits to international students.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program offers several pathways for gaining permanent residency, including the Alberta Opportunity Stream, the Express Entry system with the Accelerated Tech Pathway, and the Rural Renewal Stream. The program includes a two-step process: applying for a provincial nomination and, if nominated, applying for permanent residence with the federal government.

Other streams under the AAIP include the Farm Stream, which targets applicants with farm management skills, and the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, aimed at foreign-educated graduates wanting to start businesses in Alberta. The Graduate Entrepreneur and Rural Entrepreneur Streams focus on graduates from Alberta institutions and those interested in starting businesses in rural communities, respectively.