Permanent Residence Options - PGWP Expiring

[Farazahsheikh]

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for advice on my options for permanent residence in Canada as my Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) is expiring in less than 8 months and in kind of a desperate situation right now.

My Background:

• Education: Undergraduate diploma in Business from Quebec.
• Work Experience: Working as a Business Service Representative (customer service) since late 2022 (2 years of experience). However, this is a TEER 4 job, so I don’t qualify for Express Entry.
• Current Situation: I moved to Alberta last year hoping to transition into a technical role and gain 1 year of experience for the Alberta Tech Pathway, but unfortunately, that hasn’t worked out. Still working in the same company under NOC 64409.
• Language Proficiency: IELTS General score of 8.5 overall (Bands: 9 Listening, 9 Reading, 7.5 Writing, 8.5 Speaking).

My Questions:

1. What PR pathways might be available for me given my situation?
2. Are there any provincial programs (PNP) that could work in my case? I am open to relocate again.
3. Is there a way to extend my status in Canada while I explore PR options?

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance.

 

[Naturgrl]

1. AAIP rural stream. You would need job offer in rural Alberta community and community endorsement. However you may need skilled job offer. Read the rules and requirements.
2. Not really. You don’t have skilled work experience for Express Entry nor a job offer with designated employer or employer willing to support nomination.
3. Not without a job offer with approved LMIA.

 

[Farazahsheikh]

1. AAIP rural stream. You would need job offer in rural Alberta community and community endorsement. However you may need skilled job offer. Read the rules and requirements.
2. Not really. You don’t have skilled work experience for Express Entry nor a job offer with designated employer or employer willing to support nomination.
3. Not without a job offer with approved LMIA.

Thanks for your response.

So no hope for me it seems other than AAIP?

 

[Naturgrl]

Thanks for your response.

So no hope for me it seems other than AAIP?

Not really because you don’t have skilled work experience and not eligible for CEC if only have 8 months left. Also you don’t have a job offer in another province in a field that is selected like healthcare or trades. IT really is dead. So your only option is AAIP Rural Stream because not even eligible for tech pathway because it is through EE. Not eligible for AOS either.

 

[Farazahsheikh]

Not really because you don’t have skilled work experience and not eligible for CEC if only have 8 months left. Also you don’t have a job offer in another province in a field that is selected like healthcare or trades. IT really is dead. So your only option is AAIP Rural Stream because not even eligible for tech pathway because it is through EE. Not eligible for AOS either.

Thank you.

I am considering AAIP and Rural Community Immigration Pilot. However, I am a little concerned about settlement funds as I recently had a few emergency expenses and do not have a lot of savings. Do I need to have $12,069 (since we're 3 - I will also be applying for my wife and daughter) with 6 months worth of bank statements available when I apply under this stream or can I apply with whatever I have in my bank and then update IRCC with an updated balance a few months into my PR application?

 

[Naturgrl]

Thank you.

I am considering AAIP and Rural Community Immigration Pilot. However, I am a little concerned about settlement funds as I recently had a few emergency expenses and do not have a lot of savings. Do I need to have $12,069 (since we're 3 - I will also be applying for my wife and daughter) with 6 months worth of bank statements available when I apply under this stream or can I apply with whatever I have in my bank and then update IRCC with an updated balance a few months into my PR application?

Read through the requirements again about settlement funds. Do you have a job offer? What community do you have community endorsement in? FYI - there are only 950 being approved in 2025 with over 1100 in the pool now so get your job offer and endorsement in ASAP.

https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-processing-information#jumplinks-4

 

[Farazahsheikh]

Read through the requirements again about settlement funds. Do you have a job offer? What community do you have community endorsement in? FYI - there are only 950 being approved in 2025 with over 1100 in the pool now so get your job offer and endorsement in ASAP.

https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-processing-information#jumplinks-4

I am working on that right away. Applying to several jobs as we speak in all the eligible communiities. The reason I asked about settlement funds is because that is one of my weak points, and I wouldn't want all this effort to go to waste if I do end up getting a job offer but do not meet the requirement for settlement funds right away considering we have to show past bank statements.

Also, I believe you're referring to AAIP, however I am trying more for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot.

I really do appreciate your help and guidance!

 

[Naturgrl]

I am working on that right away. Applying to several jobs as we speak in all the eligible communiities. The reason I asked about settlement funds is because that is one of my weak points, and I wouldn't want all this effort to go to waste if I do end up getting a job offer but do not meet the requirement for settlement funds right away considering we have to show past bank statements.

Also, I believe you're referring to AAIP, however I am trying more for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot.

I really do appreciate your help and guidance!

Then for RCIP you need the settlement funds. Make sure job offer is with a designated employer so employer sends it to the community for approval. Good luck.

 

[Farazahsheikh]

Then for RCIP you need the settlement funds. Make sure job offer is with a designated employer so employer sends it to the community for approval. Good luck.

Sorry, I had a follow-up question. What happens if a pool is full for an Alberta-based immigration program? Say 100 applications are received so far, total allowance is 90 and only 20 have been processed so far. Is it not worth applying anymore to that particular stream since they've reached the limit/received more than what they could process?

Thank you.

 

[forevermore76]

The rural renewal stream might be more difficult than it appears. Plus, you will have to live in rural AB during processing which may not be the least expensive option. My work requires engaging with several rural municipalities and their first preference is always hiring someone from within the community. These are very small and strong knit communities so the opportunities might be more limited than it appears and may even require specialty skills.

If I were you, I would explore AIP. There's already a list of designated employers posted for each of Atlantic provinces.

 

[Farazahsheikh]

The rural renewal stream might be more difficult than it appears. Plus, you will have to live in rural AB during processing which may not be the least expensive option. My work requires engaging with several rural municipalities and their first preference is always hiring someone from within the community. These are very small and strong knit communities so the opportunities might be more limited than it appears and may even require specialty skills.

If I were you, I would explore AIP. There's already a list of designated employers posted for each of Atlantic provinces.

Thanks for the info.

In terms of my last question about the pool, I was actually referring to AIP as Natgurl suggested it to be a good program. I am open to explore AIP but if the pool is full, is it even worth applying considering there's more applications than available slots?

 

[Farazahsheikh]

The rural renewal stream might be more difficult than it appears. Plus, you will have to live in rural AB during processing which may not be the least expensive option. My work requires engaging with several rural municipalities and their first preference is always hiring someone from within the community. These are very small and strong knit communities so the opportunities might be more limited than it appears and may even require specialty skills.

If I were you, I would explore AIP. There's already a list of designated employers posted for each of Atlantic provinces.

Oh wait, sorry. I think you're referring to Atlantic Immigration Program, not AAIP. I did look into it but I am not sure how I qualify for AIP though considering I completed my education in QC and have 2 years Teer 4 customer service experience in AB.

 

[Naturgrl]

Thanks for the info.

In terms of my last question about the pool, I was actually referring to AIP as Natgurl suggested it to be a good program. I am open to explore AIP but if the pool is full, is it even worth applying considering there's more applications than available slots?

Go on the Alberta PNP site and look at program updates and the number of people in the pools. You would need to have job offer, community endorsement etc. If you don’t even have that then maybe not an option.

 

[Farazahsheikh]

Go on the Alberta PNP site and look at program updates and the number of people in the pools. You would need to have job offer, community endorsement etc. If you don’t even have that then maybe not an option.

Yes, I did look at that but what I am trying to understand is even though there's only 950 slots available, how has the system allowed 1,194 to apply? Is it baed on the fact that some of the applications may be denied later and others will go ahead in the queue? And what happens if you apply and you're eligible but there's no more space left after all the applications are processed? This is just a general question and can apply to anything pool-related such as Accelerated Tech Pathway as I am just trying to understand the system.

 

[Naturgrl]

Yes, I did look at that but what I am trying to understand is even though there's only 950 slots available, how has the system allowed 1,194 to apply? Is it baed on the fact that some of the applications may be denied later and others will go ahead in the queue? And what happens if you apply and you're eligible but there's no more space left after all the applications are processed? This is just a general question and can apply to anything pool-related such as Accelerated Tech Pathway as I am just trying to understand the system.

Because there is a pool of people always waiting. it is just like Express Entry or Alberta AOS or Tech pathway, people submit profiles every day. There are more profiles than nominations. You need to have your profile submitted. For AOS it is based on EOI and NOC. Same for tech pathway, it is based on EOI, EE score and job offer eligibility. So first step is to have an eligible profile. Next is to have NOC and job offers that are selected.