What is the Alberta opportunity stream?
The Alberta Opportunity Stream is an excellent option for temporary foreign workers who are already working full-time in Alberta and have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation. To be eligible for this program, candidates must have a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or hold one of the accepted LMIA exemption work permits. This program sets out certain minimum eligibility criteria for residency and work permit type, occupation, language, education, Alberta job offer, and work experience, which all candidates must meet.
Specifically, candidates must have at least a high school education as well as specific language proficiency levels in English or French, which are required for their intended occupation. In addition, candidates must have a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience within the three years preceding their application, and such experience must have been gained while working for an employer who has been designated as an Alberta Opportunity Stream employer.
Overall, the Alberta Opportunity Stream is a great opportunity for temporary foreign workers who want to take advantage of the many benefits that Alberta has to offer. By meeting the minimum eligibility requirements, candidates can look forward to receiving faster processing times, reduced application fees, and the ability to settle and work in Alberta with their families.
The Alberta opportunity stream eligibility and requirements from india
To qualify for the opportunity stream, there are specific conditions and eligibility criteria outlined by the Alberta government. These conditions also apply to individuals of Indian descent.
Residency or Work permit requirements
if you want To apply for Canada permanent residency from India under the opportunity stream, you must meet certain conditions
- You must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that authorizes you to work in Canada. This means that you will need to obtain a temporary foreign worker permit that specifies your work authorization. It is crucial to clarify that having a valid permit is essential to legally work in Canada as a temporary resident. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure you have all the required legal documentation before pursuing any job opportunities in Canada.
You must have a valid work permit when submitting and during the assessment of your application. It is important to note that having implied status or restoration status is not sufficient. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that you have a valid work permit throughout your application process to avoid any potential issues or delays. Remember, having a valid work permit is a key factor in the successful processing of your application. So, be sure to keep it up-to-date and renew it as necessary.
Occupation requirements for the Alberta opportunity stream
To be eligible for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), you must meet specific occupation requirements.
- Firstly, at both the time of application submission and assessment, you must be employed in an eligible occupation in Alberta. These eligible occupations are categorized under the NOC TEER Categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
- The Alberta Opportunity Stream aims to attract foreign workers with the skills and experience required by Alberta employers to meet the province's economic needs.
Work experience requirements for the Alberta opportunity stream
To meet the work experience requirements for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), you must have:
- A minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months, or
- A minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months. This experience can be a combination of work in Alberta, other parts of Canada, or abroad.
- If you are a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder then you need at least 6 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.
You must meet these general requirements even if you have a full time work experience or post graduation work permit
- The work experience must be full-time, at least 30 hours per week.
- It must be in the same occupation as your current job.
- It must have been authorized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada.
- It cannot have been gained while studying in Canada through co-op work placements or internships, except for PGWP holders who completed paid, full-time co-op terms as part of their program at an Alberta post-secondary institution.
Education requirements for the Alberta opportunity stream
If you are not a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders, you must have these educational requirements
- Minimum Education: As of January 1, 2021, you must have completed at least high school education equivalent to Canadian standards at the time of your application submission.
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): You must provide a copy of an ECA issued by an IRCC-designated organization for your highest level of education. If your ECA indicates that your credential is not equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma or that your foreign institution is not recognized, you do not meet the education requirement.
- Exemptions from ECA: If you have a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate from a recognized or authorized institution listed in the Directory of Educational Institutions in Canada.
If you have a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or a trade certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT). - Additional ECA Requests: The AAIP reserves the right to request an ECA from any candidate or to seek an internal educational assessment from the International Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS) or Alberta Advanced Education to confirm that the candidate meets the minimum Canadian high school equivalent requirement.
The following individuals are not eligible under the Alberta opportunity stream:
- Part-time, casual or seasonal employees, regardless of their working hours
- Independent contractors, business owners or temporary agency workers, including individuals listed as directors, shareholders or agents of the Alberta employer on the Corporate Registry System (CORES)
- Employees who work in Alberta in a place of employment that is not zoned for commercial or industrial operations, such as a home-based business
- Employees who do not work on premises in Alberta, such as those who work in a remote location or serve the employer by telecommuting from a location outside Alberta.
Your employer in Alberta must be incorporated or registered under an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada. Furthermore, they must be operating as a business with an established production capability, plant, or place of business in Alberta.
Your employment contract must be duly signed by both you and your Alberta employer, and is required to provide the following terms:
- Continuous, paid employment
- Full-time employment, defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week
- Employment for a duration of 12 months or more
- Occupation-specific work experience
- Wages and benefits that meet or exceed provincial minimum requirements
- Must work in an eligible AAIP occupation and possess a work permit that satisfies AAIP requirements
List of ineligible occupations for Alberta opportunity stream
| NOC CODE (2021) | NOC TEER CATEGORY | OCCUPATION |
| 00010 | 0 | Legislators |
| 40021 | 0 | School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education |
| 40030 | 0 | Managers in social, community and correctional services |
| 40041 | 0 | Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers |
| 60040* | 0 | Escort agency managers, massage parlour managers |
| 41100 | 1 | Judges |
| 41220 | 1 | Secondary school teachers |
| 41221 | 1 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
| 51111 | 1 | Authors and writers (except technical) |
| 51122 | 1 | Musicians and singers |
| 42200* | 2 | Justices of the peace |
| 42202* | 2 | Early childhood educators who do not have certification through Alberta Children's Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office or who have been certified as Level 1 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Assistant) |
| 43100 | 3 | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
| 43109 | 3 | Other instructors |
| 53121 | 3 | Actors, comedians and circus performers |
| 53122 | 3 | Painters, sculptors and other visual artists |
| 53124 | 3 | Artisans and craftspersons |
| 53200 | 3 | Athletes |
| 63101 | 3 | Real estate agents and salespersons |
| 33100* | 3 | Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers |
| 44100 | 4 | Home child care providers |
| 44101 | 4 | Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations |
| 64321 | 4 | Casino occupations |
| 55109 | 5 | Other performers |
| 65109 | 5 | Other sales related occupations |
| 65211 | 5 | Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport |
| 65229 | 5 | Other support occupations in personal services |
| 65329 | 5 | Other service support occupations |
| 75200 | 5 | Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs |
| 85101 | 5 | Harvesting labourers |
| 85102 | 5 | Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers |
| 85104 | 5 | Trappers and hunters |
| 85110 | 5 | Mine labourers |
| 85121 | 5 | Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers |
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