Alberta doubled the number of invitations to apply (ITAs) issued to skilled migration candidates to Canada and lowered the CRS threshold score for Canadian migration in the latest round of its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw.
In the draw held on January 28, 100 skilled migration candidates to Canada were invited to apply for a provincial nomination to Alberta under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score – which usually has a cutoff at 400 points – dropped to 360 points in this round of the draw.
The invitations to apply for Canadian skilled migration were issued to candidates enlisted in Canada’s Express Entry pool, which is Canada’s application management system for skilled migration to Canada via three immigration pathways – the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Eligible immigration candidates are given points on their profiles based on a number of factors which the Canadian government deems necessary for a prospective immigrant to succeed in Canada after immigration.
These factors include education, age, work experience in an eligible occupation and proficiency in English or French, among others.
Canada’s immigration authority – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds an invitation round roughly twice every month in which candidates are invited to apply for permanent Canadian immigration.
The highest-scoring candidates in each round of the draw are invited to apply for skilled migration to Canada with permanent residence.
Candidates who successfully obtain a provincial nomination for Canadian migration are awarded an additional 600 points on their CRS score, which virtually guarantees them an ITA issued by the Canadian government.
Once the selected candidates apply for immigration and their applications are approved, they can travel to the country as Canadian permanent residents.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Alberta reduced its PNP nomination certificate allocations to 4,000 places in 2020, but the province has restarted its invitation rounds for inviting skilled applicants to make hay and apply for permanent residency in Canada in the new year.
