Immigrating to Alberta : Frequently asked questions

2008·1.8 MB·English

Immigrating to Alberta
Frequently asked questions
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1 Where can I f ind jobs available times will vary depending upon what (e.g., cabinetmakers, cooks, carpenters
in Alberta? type of application you submit and and concrete finishers).
which Canadian visa office processes
One of the best ways to search for jobs the application. Temporary foreign workers seeking
to work in a compulsory trade should
in Alberta is on the Internet. A g ood-
place to start your search is with these www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp have their foreign credentials and work
experience assessed by AIT under the
government websites which provide
Qualification Certificate Program
career information and links to j ob
4 Will my qualifications be before arriving in Alberta. Within
postings and other job websites in
Alberta. recognized in Canada? six months of arriving in Alberta,
temporary foreign workers must pass
Government of Alberta The Foreign Credentials Referral
any necessary exams and obtain their
www.albertacanada.com/jobs Office, part of Citizenship and Immi- Qualification Certificate from AIT
gration Canada, provides information,
www.alis.gov.ab.ca
For a l ist of compulsory trades and for
path-finding and referral services to
Government of Canada information about the Qualification
help foreign-trained workers succeed
www.jobbank.gc.ca Certificate Program, visit:
and put their skills to work in Canada
more quickly. For more information, www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca
2 How can I a pply for these jobs? visit:
Temporary foreign workers seeking to
www.credentials.gc.ca
You must contact the employer directly. work in an optional trade do not need
The Government of Alberta does The International Qualification a Q ualification Certificate from AIT.
not collect or forward resumes or Assessment Service compares However, many Alberta employers
applications to employers. educational qualifications from other expect that temporary foreign workers
have relevant credentials and work
countries to Alberta’s educational
standards. For more information, visit: experience and can perform the duties
3 How can I i mmigrate of a certifiable tradesperson. This
to Alberta? www.immigration.alberta.ca/iqas enables employers to assess the skills
of temporary foreign workers and pay
If y ou work in an occupation
Non-Canadians can work and live in
comparable wages.
that requires trade or professional
Alberta on a temporary or permanent
certification or licensing, you must
basis. The fastest way to come to Engineers are not permitted to practice
Alberta is as a t emporary foreign qualify to work in that trade or as engineers in Alberta without an
profession based upon the relevant Engineer in Training designation or
wToermkpeorr a runyd e rF o rtehieg n f e dWeorrakl e rg o vperrongmreantm’ s association’s requirements. See question a f ull license from the Association of
5 f or more information.
(TFWP). For more information about Professional Engineers, Geologists and
the TFWP, visit: Geophysicists of Alberta. Eor more
information, visit:
www.albertacanada.com/immigration/ 5 What type of certification Is
www.apegga.org
working/temporaryforeignworkers.html required for the trades and
Once you are in Alberta as a temporary for engineering and health Health care professionals such
foreign worker, your employer can care professionals? as physicians, nurses and health
give you a p ermanent job offer and technicians (examples: radiologists,
nominate you for permanent resident Certification and Registration Require- sonographers and physiotherapists)
status under the Alberta Provincial ments for E mployment (CERTinfo) are required to obtain a l icense to
answers common questions about
Nominee Program (PNP). If the practice in Alberta from the relevant
PNP application is approved, you can certification and registration require- professional association. For more
ments for e mployment in Alberta. Eor information, visit:
become a p ermanent resident in 6 - 1 8
months. information about certification and
registration requirements for particular Alberta College of Medical
For more information about the PNP occupations, visit: Laboratory Technologists
www.acmlt.org
and for lists of occupations eligible
www.alis.alberta.ca/certinfo
under the PNP, visit:
Alberta College of Optometrists
www.albertacanada.com/pnp Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry www.collegeofoptometrists.ab.ca
Training (AIT) regulates trade
Alberta College of Pharmacists
Applying to become a p ermanent occupations in Alberta. There are two
www.pharmacists.ab.ca
resident through Citizenship and categories of trades: compulsory trades
Immigration Canada generally takes (e.g., plumbers, welders and mechanics) Alberta Dental Association and College
between two to six years. Processing and optional trades www.abda.ab.ca
College of Physicians and Surgeons much more. For example, the average officer who assesses your application
of Alberta salary for an engineer starting out in for a work permit will make the final
www.cpsa.ab.ca Alberta is approximately $75,000 CAD decision on whether your immediate
family members may come with you to
Alberta Physician Link
Canada.
1www.ruralphysicianlink.ab.ca pFeorr yienafr.o rmation about wages and
College and Association of Registered salary levels for different jobs and Spouses and common-law partners of
Nurses of Alberta occupations, visit the Alberta Wage and skilled temporary foreign workers can
www.nurses.ab.ca Salary Survey at: work in Canada with an open work
College of Licensed Practical Nurses www.alis.alberta.ca/wageinfo
of Alberta
Spouses and common-law partners of
www.clpna.com permit.
1 9 Do I h ave to use an semi-skilled temporary foreign workers
College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses must have a j ob offer, a L abour Market
of Alberta employment agency?
Opinion and a w ork permit to work in
www.crpna.ab.ca Canada.
No, you do not have to use an
College of Physical Therapists of Alberta employment agency or a recruiter. Dependent children of skilled and
www.cpta.ab.ca However, if y ou choose to use an semi-skilled temporary foreign workers
All other professionals should contact employment agency or a recruiter to seeking to attend school in Canada
their professional associations. help you find a j ob in Alberta, it is should apply for a study permit.
important that you know these facts:
For more information, visit:
Employment agencies and recruiters
6 Which occupations are in the
must be licensed by the Government www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/faq/work/
work-faqOS.asp
greatest demand?
of Alberta. You have the right to
Occupations in demand vary over time. request an employment agency’s or www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/
Currently, some of the occupations in recruiter’s license to confirm that it is study-minors.asp

highest demand include: properly licensed.
• C onstruction and trades Employment agencies and recruiters
cannot charge you a f ee for finding
• E ngineers
you a j ob in Alberta. Employment
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foreign_workers/oup/abouplist.shtmi
or recruiter does not guarantee you employer will have to provide you with
For more information about Alberta’s employment. a L abour Market Opinion before you
labour market, visit:
can apply for a new work permit. Your
www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/
www.employment.alberta.ca/lmi 1016.cfm#anchor2 new work permit application must
reflect any changes in y our employer,
employment location and job title.
7 Which cities have the most job 10 If I c ome to Alberta as a You cannot start working for your
opportunities? temporary foreign worker, new employer until you receive your
new work permit from CIC. For more
can my spouse work and
In Alberta, all cities, and especially information, visit:
northern and rural areas, have a variety my children go to school?
of j ob opportunities. In particular, there www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/
If y ou would like your immediate
is a need for trades and professional applications/extend-worker.asp
family members (spouse or common-
people.
law partner and dependent children) to
come with you to Canada during your
8 What are the average salaries? temporary stay, you must include them
in y our application for a work permit
Alberta’s minimum wage is $ 8.40 CAD and pay any additional application
per hour, but many workers make processing fees. The Canadian visa
1 2 What does housing cost? colleges in Canada. There are four Most temporary foreign workers and
universities, 14 colleges, two technical their families are immediately eligible
Although the cost of owning or renting institutes and seven private institutes for health care under the AHCIP.
a h ome in Alberta has increased
with accredited degree programs.
Most Albertans and temporary foreign
recently, the cost of living in Alberta is
Alberta’s universities offer a w ide range workers enrolled in the AHCIP must
1still lower than in some other provinces
of undergraduate, graduate and post-
in Canada. pay monthly premiums. Currently, the
graduate programs. They also offer
monthly premium rates are $44 CAD
many professional programs such as
The average purchase price of a h ouse for single coverage and $88 CAD for
medicine, dentistry, law, engineering
in a major 5city is approximately and business. Alberta also has some of family coverage (two or more persons).
$350,000 CAD. It is common for employers to cover
the best research facilities in the world.
the entire monthly premium amount or
For more information, visit:
The average rental price for a two-
a p ortion of it. For more information,
bedroom apartment in a major city is www.albertacanada.com/immigration/living/ visit:
approximately $1,000 CAD per month.
postsecondary.html
www.heaith.aiberta.ca/ahcip/AHCIP.html
For more information, visit:
International Students:
www.albertarent.com Foreign students are encouraged to
www.mls.ca come and study in Alberta. Most
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Alberta has an excellent public school students can work for up to two years hours of sunshine each year. v\lberta has
four distinct seasons:
system and Alberta students rank at the in their field of study and may even be
top in national and international tests.
eligible for permanent resident status • A p leasant spring from March to May
The Alberta High School Diploma under the Alberta Provincial Nominee
• A h ot summer from June to August
is well-recognized throughout North Program. For more information, visit: • A c olourful autumn from September
America. Education up to Grade 12 is to November
free and dependent minor children of www.albertacanada.com/immigration/ February
immigrate/internationalgraduates.html • A s nowy winter from December to
temporary foreign workers can attend
school. For more information, visit:
Alberta’s summer months are warm
www.albertacanada.com/immigration/livlng/
and sunny with temperatures ranging
education.html
Most people living and working in from 15°C to 23°C (60°F to 73°F),
Post-Secondary Education: Alberta get universal access to hospital and highs of 30°C are not uncommon.
Alberta has some of the best and medical services under the Alberta
Winter temperatures range from -8°C
universities, technical schools and Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) . -to3 0 -°2C5 ° oCn (o1c8c°aFs i otno. -13°F), with lows of
Where can I g et more information or contact;
about immigrating 1t o Alberta? Alberta Foreign Worker Hotline
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© 2 008 Government of Alberta /diborla
Printed in Canada for free distribution. Published: March 2008
ISBN: 978-0-7785-5589-6 Canada M