CRS drops to 322 in new Alberta PNP draw

Express Entry candidates invited in Alberta’s latest draw had Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores as low as 322.

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) recently released details of the latest provincial nominee program (PNP) draw. A total of 200 invitations, also known as Notifications of Interest (NOIs), were issued to Express Entry candidates on April 29.

Recipients of the NOI now have the chance to apply for a provincial nomination. If the AINP approves their application, they will automatically be awarded an additional 600 CRS points toward a subsequent federal Express Entry draw.

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The extra points effectively guarantee that the candidate will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. Since travel restrictions were implemented in Canada on March 18, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have been holding Express Entry draws that specifically target PNP recipients.

For the time being, Alberta is only considering candidates for a provincial nomination if they are already living and working in the province. Normally it is not required to have a job offer to receive an NOI through the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

However, Alberta is offering some flexibility for PNP candidates who cannot submit all documents due to service disruptions. The AINP will accept copies of documents, and if the candidate satisfies the necessary requirements, their file will be held for 60 calendar days.

Eligibility criteria for Alberta Express Entry Stream

Candidates first need to have a profile in the federal Express Entry system in order to be eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream. They need to have work experience in an occupation that supports the province’s economic development and diversification priorities, though the AINP does not provide a list of eligible occupations.

With special coronavirus measures in place, the AINP now requires candidates to meet the following criteria in order to receive a nomination:

be currently working in Alberta, even if they are working from home;
have a work permit authorizing them to work in their current job;
have a job that is full-time, paid, meet the provincial minimum wage, exceed Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements; and they must
work in an eligible occupation. Ineligible occupations include those in the government’s high-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta, and the Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations list.

Candidates who were working full time prior to the coronavirus pandemic, and those who are working in a regulated occupation who cannot meet licensure requirements will have their applications on hold for 60 calendar days.

If candidates have no recent employment history in the province, their applications will not be processed until further notice.

So far this year, Alberta has issued 1,407 invitations to Express Entry candidates. In 2019, a total of 6,884 invitations were issued through the Alberta Express Entry Stream. Alberta’s provincial nomination allocations for 2020 have not yet been released.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs