The Strategic Recruitment Stream of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) fast-tracks the permanent residency applications of migrants who have been working for at least one year in the United States on an H1B visa* in an occupation that is in high demand in Alberta. No Canadian job offer is required for this category.

The AINP has recently announced that, as of January 2009, the application process will be streamlined.

Under the current process, an applicant first submits a basic application to the AINP officers. Upon review, the officers issue an invitation to qualified applicants to submit a full application. Once that is received and processed, the AINP officers issue a certificate of nomination to qualified applicants. These applicants submit their certificate to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for the final processing of their Permanent Resident visas.

The streamlined process will eliminate the initial invitation portion of the application, reducing the back-and-forth with the AINP officers. Applicants will now submit their full forms and documents right away.

Further simplifying and streamlining an already quick process goes to show that Alberta is motivated to welcome newcomers, especially H1B holders.

* also including H1B1, H1C, and E3.