The AIPP Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project is a creative approach to responding to changes in the labor market. As part of the four Atlantic provinces, the NS Province also participated in the pilot project.

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AIPP Atlantic Province Immigration Pilot Program Application Requirements

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Applicants must meet the following requirements:

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1. Applicants must meet the following requirements:
   
   • The job offer must be issued using the Foreign Employee Job Offer Form :[IMM5650表]
     
   • The employer has become the designated employer of Nova Scotia to participate in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, and has received confirmation of Designation from the province;
     
   • The job must be full-time, i.e. at least 30 hours per week;
     
   • The work must not be seasonal, which means that the applicant has a continuous and regular salary throughout the year;
     
   • The job position meets the following requirements:
     • High-skilled category: The position needs to be in NOC 0, A or B category and can be in a different field than the previous job;
     • Intermediate Skills Category and Study Abroad Graduate Category: The position must belong to NOC 0, A, B or C category, which can be different from the previous job;
       
   • The time limit of the job offer provided by the employer must meet the following requirements:
     • High-skilled category and study abroad graduate category: at least one year from the date of obtaining permanent residence;
     • Medium Skill Category: Must be permanent;
       
2. Work experience requirements:
   
   • At least one year (minimum 1560 hours) of work experience in the past three years and meet the following criteria:
     • Both full-time and part-time jobs are recognized;
     • Can be different employers but must be in the same occupation;
     • The work must be paid and does not recognize volunteer or unpaid internships;
     • not be self-employed;
     • Work in and outside Canada;
       
   • High-skilled category work experience positions require NOC 0, A or B, and medium-skilled category must be NOC C;
     
   • There is no work experience requirement for the study abroad graduate category;
     
3. Academic requirements:
   
   • The high-skilled and medium-skilled categories are subject to the following requirements:
     • Canadian high school or post-secondary education, diploma or degree;
     • Foreign education degrees, diplomas or academic qualifications equivalent to Canadian qualifications must be certified by ECA, and the certification report must be within five years of validity when submitting the application;
       
   • Study abroad graduate category must meet the following requirements:
     • Completion of at least 2 years of study at an accredited public educational institution in the Atlantic provinces and a degree, diploma, diploma, trade or apprenticeship certificate;
     • Apply for a permanent residence visa no more than 12 months after graduation;
     • Completed at least 2 years of full-time study in Canada;
     • resided in an Atlantic province for at least 16 months in the 2 years preceding the degree, diploma or education certificate;
     • The study or training course must meet the following requirements:
       • English or French as a second language for no more than half of the course;
       • Distance learning does not exceed half of the course;
     • Those who hold a national scholarship and are required to return to China after completing their studies cannot apply;
       
4. Language requirements: English or French have reached the language level of CLB 4. The recognized language tests include: CELPIP-General, IELTS-G and French TEF. The language scores must be valid for two years;
   
5. Financial ability requirements: Prove that you have sufficient financial ability to support the applicant and his family in Canada, unless the applicant is currently living and working in Canada with a valid work permit, and different amounts of financial proof are required depending on the number of households.
   

Employers must meet the following requirements:

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1. To be a Designated Employer, meet the following requirements:
   • The employer’s business is in good condition, and the employer has continuously and actively operated the current business in the Atlantic region for at least 2 years;
   • be able to provide information on labor needs;
   • Commitment to work with settlement service providers to help applicants settle and stay;
     
2. To be an approved employer, meet the following requirements:
   • Evidence that recruitment efforts were unable to recruit local workforces to fill vacancies;
   • Recruit foreign workers, provide valid, full-time, non-seasonal job offers, and sign with foreign workers;
   • Offers a personalised settlement plan, co-signed with the foreign worker.

AIPP Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Application Procedure

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1. The applicant confirms that they meet the eligibility requirements for a category of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program;
   
2. Find a Designated Employer:
   • Employers interested in participating in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP) contact the provincial immigration office to express interest;
   • Employers liaise with participating settlement service provider organisations and commit to preparing workplaces to welcome new arrivals;
   • The employer applies to the province where he is located to become a designated employer;
   • Atlantic Province Designated Employers;
     
3. Obtaining a job offer from a designated employer: The employer, based on an initial assessment, finds applicants who are eligible for the immigration program and offers them a job;
   
4. Get a settlement plan:
   • Employers connect candidates with participating settlement service provider organizations, evaluate and develop a settlement plan;
   • The candidate sends a copy of the settlement plan to the employer;
     
5. Recognized by Maritime Provinces:
   • The employer fills in the provincial approval application, determines the appropriate plan based on the applicant’s work experience, including job offer and settlement plan, and sends it to the province where it is located;
   • In the event of an urgent need to fill the vacancy, the candidate may obtain a temporary work permit, certain conditions apply, such as a valid job offer, a reference letter from the province, and a commitment to apply for permanent residence;
   • The province reviews and approves the accreditation application, and sends an accreditation letter to the applicant;
     
6. Immigration application:
   • The applicant fills in the permanent residence visa application and sends it to IRCC together with the letter of approval and other required materials;
   • IRCC processes applications – mostly in 6 months or less;
   • Approve candidates and their families to come to Canada’s four maritime provinces;
   • Employers work with settlement service providers to help applicants and their families settle and integrate in the workplace and the community.