Alberta Opportunity Stream (Step by Step Guide)

The Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) is a Provincial Nominee Program under the AINP or the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, which is designed to attract individuals who can meet the economic and labor market needs of Alberta. Well, the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) allows temporary foreign workers and international graduates to apply for Canadian PR or Permanent Residence in Canada.

Who is Eligible For AOS?

Well, if you’re an international student or temporary foreign worker then you can benefit from the Alberta Opportunity Stream. The stream is for those temporary foreign workers who are working full-time in the province of Alberta on a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and they even have a full-time job offer from any Alberta employer who is in the eligible occupation & which lies in the Eligible NOC Codes only.

And, if we talk about international students then, you can take advantage of the Alberta Opportunity Stream, if you have finished your higher studies at an approved Alberta Post-Secondary Institution.

Candidates who are going to apply for the Alberta Opportunity Stream must have residency that authorizes them to work in Alberta or a valid work permit. Simply because the Alberta Advantage Immigrant Program which is now formerly the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program or AINP is aligned with Alberta’s labor market needs to make use of the AOS applicants which are the student & foreign workers who are well-educated & highly skilled in their own fields of occupation & studies.

Conditions To Apply For AOS ( Alberta Opportunity Stream )

• Work Experience or Job Offer: Show a job offer or your work experience in the province, a valid job offer from an Alberta Employer in the Eligible NOC Code only with at least 12 months of full-time work experience related to your field of study.
• Minimum CLB: The candidate must meet the minimum Canadian language benchmark which is also known as CLB, a level of around 4 or 5. The language benchmark may vary depending on the occupation.
• Education: The minimum education level must be a Canadian high school diploma.
• Minimum CRS Score: Must have a minimum CRS score which is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score determined by the Alberta government only which is based on their factors.
• Funds: The candidate has to show sufficient funds to support his living and any accompanying family members.
• Legal Status & Intention: Must have a legal status in the country & a genuine intention to live & work in Alberta.

Note: It’s important for a candidate he/she has studied in any other Canadian province, they’ll not be eligible for the AAIP as a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder. However, they be considered for the stream or program if they have a different work permit type. 

“Express Entry Profile – Not required, Job Offer – Required”

Language Proficiency

When it comes to language proficiency & the requirements for AOS the candidates must be able to speak fluently in the two main languages which are English and/or French & must have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 4 as determined by a formal language assessment such as (CELPIP, IELTS, or TEF). Moreover, the test must be less than 2 years old & when your application is postmarked.

For candidates applying under NOC TEER O, 1, 2, 3 or NOC O, A, and B you’ll need a minimum CLB score of 5 in each language skill. Well, these requirements are comparatively lower than other popular than other immigration programs, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC)

Also, if you’re a candidate applying under NOC code 3413 (Nurse aids, orderlies, and patient service associates you need a minimum of CLB 7 in English or French.

Residency Status and Work Permit Requirements

You must meet the following residency requirements both at the time your application is postmarked and at the time your application is assessed:

1. When the applicant possesses a valid temporary resident status in Canada, granting eligibility for employment (e.g., temporary foreign worker). Residency statuses are considered ineligible for the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) encompass: Residency status considered ineligible under the AOS includes

• Individuals involved in federal appeal or removal processes or refuge claimants
• Temporary residents residing or working in provinces other than Alberta; or
• Residing in Canada without a valid temporary resident status like Foreign nationals

2. Must have a valid work permit (not maintained status or restoration status) for an eligible occupation which would be based on

• A positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
• An LMIA exemption applies to workers falling under international trade agreements, Intra-Company Transferees, or individuals participating in International Experience Canada, as designated by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• LMIA exemption as a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder.

The applicant must:

• Have fulfilled the graduation criteria for a credential approved by Alberta Advanced Education, granted by an accredited public or private post-secondary institution in Alberta endorsed by Alberta Advanced Education.
• currently, be in an occupation related to his or her field of study in Alberta.

Education Requirements

AOS Candidates at the time of applying for the stream must have completed high school or their higher level education. They must have completed at least a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent in their country of origin. Well, if they have a foreign education qualification then that has to be checked through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) firm which is an IRCC-recognized organization that confirms the education requirements.

What are ECA firms?

So, basically ECA firms in Canada are organizations designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to conduct these credential assessments. These firms are responsible for evaluating foreign educational credentials & qualifications of the applicants & immigrants providing an official report that summarizes how the foreign credentials or qualifications are as compared to Canadian educational standards.

Note: Educational Credential Assessment Firms ECAs are not needed when an applicant has a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate from a well-known Canadian post-secondary college or secondary institution. They are also not required if you have the work experience that qualifies you for the AAIP in a compulsory or optional trade and if you have a valid Alberta Qualification Certificate or trade certificate which would be recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

If you possess a Post-Graduation Work Permit and are seeking to apply for the AOS, you must satisfy the graduation criteria for a credential endorsed by Alberta Advanced Education, issued by an Alberta Advanced Education-approved post-secondary institution within the province.

Well, the foreign qualifications or credentials of an immigrant can be assessed through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) firm recognized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Some of these firms are:

• World Education Services (WES)
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
• Comparative Education Service (CES)
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
• Medical Council of Canada (for medical professionals)
• Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (for pharmacists)

Occupational Requirements

Candidates who are applying for the AOS also have to see that at the time of applying for the stream, they must be employed or working in an eligible occupation only in Alberta that matches their previous work experience. When their application is postmarked, AAIP assesses your application.

And, talking about the AAIP checking process they’ll see whether the applicants are being paid the provincial minimum wage as per the province as well as their occupation as set out in the Labour Market Impact Assessment.

If a candidate holds a Post-Graduation Work Permit with an approved Alberta Advanced Education post-secondary credential issued by an Advanced Education-approved Alberta public and private post-secondary institution, they’ll need to be employed in such a type of occupation or job that is related to their field of study in the province only.

Moreover, if you’ve completed any Alberta-approved one-year post-graduate certificate, then you must be employed in an occupation that is somehow related to your previous undergraduate or graduated field of study outside Canada which means your origin before immigrating.

“Most occupations under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels O, A, B, C and D are eligible under the AAIP.”

Alberta Opportunity Stream ineligible occupations

Job Offer Requirements

To apply for the AOS, the candidate must also have a valid job offer from an Alberta Employer only to work in their current occupation, also the applicant should be full-time for the employer in Alberta with the necessary licensing, registration, or certification to work in their current occupation in Alberta.

• Full-time paid work is defined as a minimum of 30 hours/week for 12 months or more for an eligible in the AOS & AAIP occupation.
• Signed by both Applicant & Alberta Employer
• Offer employment for 12 months or more
• Applicant’s current occupational offered work
• Offers in an Eligible AAIP occupation, also applicant has a work permit that meets the AAIP work permit requirements.

Work Experience Requirements

Well, a candidate who is applying for AOS must meet the following work experience requirements if they are solely interested in their application for AOS.

Work Experience Requirements

• In the past 18 months at least 1 year of full-time work experience in their existing occupation in Alberta.
• At least 2 years of full-time work experience in your existing occupation. (Combo of Experience Gained in the Province of Alberta)
• In the past 30 months can be obtained overseas or in Canada. 

Work Experience Conditions

• Well, the candidate must be currently employed in the occupation which is their ‘current occupation’ when submitting their file to the AAIP or AOS.
• Must be working in an occupation that matches their work experience at the time of applying & at the time of their AOS file processing.

AOS Stream For PGWP Students

• At least 6 months of full-time work experience in your existing occupation in Alberta in the past 18 months which is related to your education in Alberta (For PGWP holders).
• To be eligible, one must currently be employed in a profession connected to their field of study in Alberta, holding an accredited Alberta educational credential from an Advanced Education-approved post-secondary institution in Alberta. Moreover, if an individual has obtained an Advanced Education-approved one-year post-graduate certificate, their occupation must align with their prior undergraduate or graduate field of study in Canada.

Time-Frame Requirements

• The employment requirements include having engaged in full-time work, and committing to a minimum of 30 hours per week (part-time work will not be taken into consideration).
• The employment should align with the ‘current occupation’ stated in the application.
• Additionally, the work must have been authorized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, and the individual should have held valid temporary resident status if the employment was undertaken in Alberta or Canada.
• It’s crucial to note that this employment cannot have occurred concurrently with studying in Canada, specifically during co-op work placements or internships as part of a study program.

Please Read: The ‘Current occupation’ refers to the occupation an individual is working on while submitting this file for the AOS stream.

PGWP Students Eligibility Criteria & Rejection Reasons

PGWP or Post-Graduation Work Permit Students as this program allows students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit.

Eligibility For PGWP Students

• Be in Canada for the complete duration of your studies
• Attend at least 50 percent of your program in class
• Meet all other PGWP requirements

Your PGWP Can be Rejected Because of

• Have not included a transcript from your educational institute
• Morked more than 20 hours a week during your study
• Worked before School Started
• Worked while not enrolled in school

How To Apply

Applicants for the Alberta Opportunity Stream are required to submit their application through the online portal provided by the AAIP. After they will have to submit the required documents that will be accessed further.

Fee: 500 CAD

FAQs

What is the processing time of the Alberta Opportunity Stream?

Processing time for Alberta Opportunity Stream is around 3 months.

What are the requirements for the Alberta opportunity stream?

Applicants who have valid work authorization and full-time job offer in the province of Alberta are eligible to apply in this stream.

What minimum CRS score is needed for the Alberta Opportunity Stream?

If you want to qualify for AOS Alberta you will need a 300 minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.