Nov 25, 2017 – The slow start made by the Atlantic Immigration Pilot is supported by the federal government’s immigration plan targets.
Under the three-year plan announced at the start of November, Ottawa says it expects to welcome 1,000 immigrations under the AIP in 2018.
This is despite the initial target of the program bring to welcome 2,000 extra immigrants per year to the Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Immigration Levels Plan: Atlantic Immigration Pilot
| 2018 Target | 2019 Target | 2020 Target |
| 1,000 | 2,000 | 4,000 |
Source: IRCC
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The AIP was launched in March 2017 as an employer-driven pilot with programs for high-skilled, intermediate-skilled and international graduate immigrants. The three-year pilot aimed to welcome 2,000 immigrants across the four provinces in each of 2017, 2018 and 2019.
It is a pilot focused on retention – a key challenge for Atlantic provinces who find themselves welcoming immigrants, but losing them to other parts of Canada once they achieve permanent residence.
Candidates need a job offer (exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment), must produce a Settlement Plan, and receive an endorsement certificate before their application is processed.
The immigration levels plan released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shows the government immigration office believes the pilot has a future beyond the 2019.
The numbers include a target of 4,000 immigrants to be welcomed under the AIP in 2020.
The slow start made by the program could be down to employers getting themselves accustomed to how it works, especially in key areas such as the Settlement Plan and endorsement. These are new requirements for a Canada immigration program.
As more employers register and get used to the new system, the flow of immigrants coming in under the AIP is expected to increase.
The AIP is designed to combat the aging demographic and difficulty holding on to new immigrants in the Canadian region.
It is part of a new Atlantic Growth Strategy, aimed at boosting the economy in eastern Canada in five priority areas:
- Skilled workforce and immigration
- Innovation
- Clean growth and climate change
- Trade and investment
- Infrastructure
Atlantic Immigration Pilot: The Programs
- Atlantic High-Skilled Program
- Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
- Atlantic International Graduate Program
The work experience, education, and job offer a candidate needs depend on whether they are applying as a worker or an international student graduate. The other requirements are the same for both.
Work Experience
Workers
You must have worked for at least one year (1,560 hours total or 30 hours per week) within the last three years. It can be full-time, non-continuous, or part-time, as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours.
The work must be:
- In one occupation (but can be with different employers)
- Paid (volunteering or unpaid internships do not count)
- At skill type/level 0, A, B, or C of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- Under the Atlantic High-Skilled Program, workers need one year of experience at skill type/level 0, A, or B.
- Under the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program, workers need one year of experience to be at the skill level C.
- The experience can be gained inside or outside Canada.
International Graduates
Candidates do not need work experience.
Education
Workers
Candidates must have:
- A Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree,
OR
- A foreign degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship education credential. Candidates need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to make sure it is valid and equal to a Canadian credential. The ECA must show your education is equal to a completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree. Your ECA must be less than five years old when you apply.
International Graduates
Candidates must have:
- A minimum two-year degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship credential from a recognized publicly-funded institution in an Atlantic province.
- Been a full-time student in Canada for at least two years.
- Graduated in the 12 months prior to the application date.
- Lived in one of the Atlantic provinces for at least 16 months in the last two years before graduation.
- Had a visa or permit to work, study or train in Canada.
A candidate does not qualify if their study or training included:
- English or French second language courses for more than half of the program.
- Distance learning undertaken for more than half of the program.
A candidate cannot apply if their scholarship or fellowship required them to return to their home country after graduation.
Note: Atlantic Immigration Pilot candidates are able to apply for a temporary work permit if the job needs to be filled urgently. If an employer wants a candidate to apply for a temporary work permit first, the candidate needs to commit to applying for permanent residence within 90 days of the temporary application being submitted.
Job Offer
Under the high-skilled, intermediate-skilled and international graduate programs, candidates must have a job offer that is:
- From a designated employer in an Atlantic province.
- Non-seasonal.
- Reviewed by the province (See ‘Endorsement’ below)
Job offers for high-skilled workers must:
- Be skill type/level 0, A, or B
- Last at least one year
Job offers for intermediate-skilled workers must:
- Be skill type/level 0, A, B, or C
- Be indeterminate (permanent)
Job offers for international graduates must:
- Be skill type/level 0, A, B, or C
- Last at least one year
A candidate’s job offer does not need to be in the same occupation as past work experience. However, a candidate does need to meet employment requirements for the job, as listed in the NOC.
The employer does not need an LMIA. Each province will communicate a list of employers hiring under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.
Language
Requirements applicable to all three programs
Candidates must:
- Score at least a level 4 in the Canadian Language Benchmark exam in English or the Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens in French.
- Take an approved language test and meet the level for speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Results must be less than two years old on the date of application.
Proof of Funds
Requirements applicable to all three programs
Candidates need to show they have enough money to support themselves and their families after immigration. Amounts depend on the size of the family and includes family members a candidate supports that are not immigrating.
Proof is not required if a candidate is already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit.
Settlement Plan
A candidate must have a needs assessment before immigrating. After the assessment, a candidate will get a plan with information about the community they are moving to and where they can get help after arrival. To find out about the needs assessment, click
Endorsement
Employers must complete an Endorsement Application for each candidate able to fill an existing vacancy.
Candidates cannot apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada without an endorsement., which includes details of the job offer and settlement plan.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
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