November 16, 2022: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 changes

Summary of changesOn November 16, 2022, the federal government updated the National Occupational Classification (NOC): The NOC 2016 skill type and skill level structure (NOC 0, A, B, C and D) has been replaced with a NOC 2021 6-category system representing the training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) needed to work in an occupation. 4-digit NOC codes are now 5-digit codes. Some occupations have been split into new NOC codes or merged into a NOC code. Some occupations have changed to a different TEER category compared to their old skill level. The eligibility cut-off for Express Entry is TEER 3 (equivalent to Skill Level B). Sixteen new occupations are now eligible for the Federal Skilled Workers Program and Canadian Experience Class and three occupations are no longer eligible. Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for information on NOC 2021.Impact on Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) candidatesCriteria changesAs of November 16, 2022, AAIP worker stream requirements reflect the NOC 2021: AAIP language requirements are now based on TEER. This means that the minimum language requirements have increased in sixteen occupations and decreased in three occupations. Ineligible and eligible occupations lists have been updated with new NOC codes. Wage requirements for religious workers have been updated with new NOC codes. Rural Renewal Stream work experience requirements are now based on TEER. General Express Entry Stream occupation eligibility has changed for 19 occupations. All other selection requirements remain unchanged.If you apply on or after November 16, 2022, you must use the NOC 2021. To understand how you may be affected by these changes: Use IRCC’s Find your NOC tool to find your occupation and TEER Category using the NOC 2021. Review the Eligibility, How to Apply and After you are nominated pages for each AAIP worker stream. If you applied on or before November 15, 2022, you will be assessed using the NOC 2016: Summaries of the NOC 2016 version of selection requirements are available on the Eligibility page for each stream. Nomination certificates, nomination extensions and 204(c) Letters of Support will be issued using the NOC 2016. For more information, review the How to Apply and After you are nominated pages for each stream. Submitting a new applicationAAIP cancelled all applications with an unpaid application fee that were not submitted in the AAIP portal as of 4 pm (Mountain Standard Time) on November 15, 2022. New applications must be completed. You can confirm the status of your AAIP application in the Check Existing Application section of the AAIP portal.Alberta Express Entry Stream candidates must update their NOC information in their Express Entry profile to remain eligible for selection and nomination by the AAIP.Accelerated Tech Pathway candidates who received an email inviting them to apply to the AAIP on or after October 15, 2022, will receive a new email by November 22, 2022, inviting them to create a new application.

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September 28, 2022: Religious workers eligible for AAIP

As of September 28, 2022, religious workers and clergy with an Alberta job offer from an Alberta-based faith organization are eligible to apply under all 3 of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program’s worker streams: the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Rural Renewal Stream and the Alberta Express Entry Stream. Candidates must meet all eligibility requirements to apply. Meal and lodging deductions that meet Employment Standards are permitted for these occupations with proof of employee authorization of deductions required, where applicable. Review the eligibility page of each stream for detailed requirements.  Read the full announcement.

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May 1, 2022: Refusal to process list removed

As of May 1, 2022, the Alberta government lifted restrictions on hiring new temporary foreign workers to help employers meet their workforce needs. The Alberta government removed all occupations on the ‘refusal to process’ list, which had been created to prioritize jobs for unemployed Albertans due to the pandemic.This supports sectors of Alberta’s economy that are experiencing labour shortages and struggling to fill available positions with Canadian workers.This change may increase the likelihood for selection and receipt of a Notification of Interest letter under the Alberta Express Entry Stream. There is no change to Alberta Opportunity Stream eligibility. The refusal to process list has not applied to Alberta Opportunity Stream eligibility criteria since October 31, 2020.AAIP has removed all references to the refusal to process list from the AAIP website.

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March 4, 2022: Responding to the crisis in Ukraine

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, temporary processing measures are now in place to assist Ukrainian nationals who apply to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). These measures will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.The following temporary processing measures apply to Ukrainians by birth and citizenship: Applications and requests for post-decision services are being priority processed. Application fees and request for post-decision service fees will be reimbursed to all candidates and nominees who apply to the program or who make a request for post-decision services on or after February 24, 2022. New candidates must continue to have valid language results and an Educational Credential Assessment (if applicable) to submit an application. Candidates who are missing any other required documents due to the conflict in the Ukraine may submit an incomplete application if they still meet all selection criteria for their AAIP stream. Candidates who submit an incomplete application must: upload a written explanation into the portal that explains why the document(s) cannot be acquired, and provide evidence that they have requested the document(s) from the individual or organization responsible for issuing the document, or evidence the issuing body is not issuing documents due to conflict in Ukraine. If a current candidate or nominee cannot provide documents due to the conflict in Ukraine, they must provide: a written explanation as to why the document(s) cannot be acquired, and provide evidence they have requested the document(s) from the individual or organization responsible for issuing the document or evidence the issuing body is not issuing documents due to conflict in Ukraine. There are no changes to AAIP criteria. Ukrainian nationals must continue to meet program criteria to qualify for the program and be issued a nomination.Ukrainian nationals must apply to the program using the application portal. Program officers will implement these measures when assessing applications.Review Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada’s website for information on federal immigration measures for those affected by the crisis in Ukraine.

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February 16, 2022: AINP renamed

On February 16, 2022, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) was renamed to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Two new streams were also launched – the Rural Renewal Stream and the Rural Entrepreneur Stream.Several other changes were made to the program: The names of 3 entrepreneur streams changed: The International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream is now the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream The Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream is now the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream. The Self-Employed Farmer Stream is now the Farm Stream. Candidates who submitted their application using our online portal and need a nomination extension must now submit the request in the portal. Program eligibility criteria did not change for existing streams and pathways. All other post-decision processes are also unchanged. The new program and stream names will be updated in the portal in the coming weeks.Review the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program for details.

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October 26, 2020: Launch of new pathways

The Government of Alberta is launching 2 new immigration pathways to encourage international graduates to open businesses here in Alberta that will create new high-paying jobs for Albertans and help diversify the economy.Starting October 26, 2020, recent international graduates from Alberta’s universities and colleges interested in launching business ventures and start-ups in Alberta can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) under to the new Graduate Entrepreneur Stream. In January, Alberta will also launch the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream to attract talented international graduates from top U.S. universities and colleges to start businesses and settle in Alberta communities.Details on the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream are available now. Information on the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream will be posted to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) website later this year.

2024-03-29 14:07:17