Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program Update – COVID – 19

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) provided recent program updates and changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AINP will continue to accept and process applications with certain amendments to their processes and programs. While applications will still only be accepted by mail, some of the generic changes include accepting copies of all documents and copies of signatures on forms. AINP will put new and current applications on-hold for 60-calendar days, where applicants can prove that they are unable to obtain certain documents due to COVID-19 and therefore are submitting an incomplete application. This extension is not automatically granted, and there are certain conditions that must be met in order to obtain such an extension. After 45-days, if required, AINP will provide an additional 60-day hold on the application to a maximum of a 6-month period. However, after the 6-month period, AINP will render a decision on the application based on the information available at that point in time.

Under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, if a candidate is working from home due to the government’s social distancing directives, they still maybe eligible for a nomination. The caveat here is that the applicant must be able to prove that once the pandemic ends, they will be returning to their regular job duties, in addition to meeting all other program requirements. AINP is also putting these applications on hold for a 60-day period, if candidates can demonstrate that they fall under certain situations, once again created by the pandemic.

Alberta’s Express Entry Stream will now, only, be considering applicants who live and work in Alberta for nominations. It is very important to note that applications will not be processed until further notice and will be put on hold, if the Notification of Interest letter was received before or after April 29, 2020 and the candidate does not have recent employment history in Alberta.

Most importantly, any changes in an applicant or candidates employment circumstance, and other information such as family status or contact change, after nomination, must be reported to AINP immediately.

If you are looking to apply for permanent residence through AINP, have already applied for AINP and/or have any questions about the above announcement, contact pinaz@prmlaw.ca or call 416-320-1751.