Permanent residency options in Canada for H1B holder in USA

[canimi]

Hi All,
I have joined this forum recently. I am looking for advice from members of this group who have already started or had completed their Canada Permanent residency application.

I am on H1B visa in USA for around 5 years. I have expertise in Software development and Business analysis field.
I am planning to apply for Permanent residency in Canada. As, I don't have much time left for 6 years period of H1B and green card processing times are very long.
Can you please suggest which will be the best program Canada immigration program I should apply where I can get my residency quickly in Canada?

- Should I apply for Permanent Residency for Federal Skilled Worker program through which I can work in whole Canada?
- Should I apply for Alberta migration plan for H1B applicants.
- What is the main difference between above 2 programs? What are their Advantages and disadvantages?
- Are there any other quick immigration programs for Skilled labor?
- Do I need to go through some immigration consulting company for filing my application. based on your experience if you found lots of issues while filing the application?

Thanks all for your time.

 

[Leon]

I don't think you realize what a PNP is. A PNP is a provincial nominee program. The Alberta program is a PNP. With a provincial nominee program, a province is supporting your application to immigrate to Canada. They ask you to sign a document stating that you plan to settle in that particular province but there actually is no fixed time limit for how long you need to stay there. It is advicable to at least attempt to settle in the PNP province to avoid trouble later but if it doesn't work out for you there, nobody will blame you for leaving.

The AINP program is good for H1B holders because unlike other PNP's, it offers H1B holders in certain professions to immigrate without having a job offer. Other PNP's would require you to have a job offer in that province.

You also have the option of applying for the Federal skilled worker program, that is for all of Canada except Quebec and you would have to be in a certain profession or have a job offer. If you speak French, you might qualify for the Quebec skilled worker program which is a provincial program for Quebec.

You could also go the route of trying to find a job and get a temporary work permit with the intention of getting residency later. It's easy to do that in Canada.

You should really read up on things at the Canada immigration website at http://www.cic.gc.ca/

You do not need a consultant or a lawyer.

 

[canimi]

Thanks for replying. It clarifies my query.
However, for Alberta I have heard that weather conditions are not so great. It is very cold all the times? Is it true?

Also with AINP do I get into process of Canada Citizenship like Federal immigration program where after staying in Canada for 3 years you get Canada Citizenship.

 

[Leon]

In Alberta, summers are warm and sunny and winters are cold and snowy. You may see +35 in the summer and -35 in the winter. When it's that cold, you mostly stay inside. You run from your house to your car and from your car to the work and you shop in the mall where it's always nice and warm.

With any PNP or federal program that will give you permanent residency, you are a permanent resident, equal to any other permanent resident and you have the right to apply for citizenship after 3 years.

 

[cchabert]

Not bad in Calgary now is 0 C

 

[Leon]

Yeah, it's already spring

For AB bound persons, you can also look up weather averages at http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=CA&s=AB&refer=

 

[BCguy]

Here its still Winter 3 C yesterday Regards from BC