Difference between apply uner the Provincial Nomination Program or Regular PR

[samsili2009]

Hi

What is the difference between applying under this catagory vs regular PR through points. I have enough points for the regular route and have a current H1B, job type for either (however don't have a job offer in either case).

Thanks,

[Jasper]

AINP SRS H1-B is the fast-track process (or we used to believe it was) and we receive PR faster once we get nomination from Alberta (14 months or more in total, according to current processing time).

In FSW, we directly apply to CIC and it generally takes 2 years or more (but this process time greatly varies depending on which Visa Office you are applying to).

The detail steps for each process is well explained in Alberta website:
http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/immigrate/index.html

[samsili2009]

Well if I got AINP, are there any restrictions, that I have to stay in alberta or something?

[Jasper]

Well if I got AINP, are there any restrictions, that I have to stay in alberta or something?

Yeah, you must be in Alberta at least for the initial landing/settlement stage.

[Leon]

With the provincial nominee programs, the provinces bring in who they feel they need.  You may qualify for a PNP even when you don't qualify for FSW.  The price of the nomination is that you sign a document stating that you intend to settle in that province.

With the new rules for FSW, it's gotten a lot faster and AINP in the meantime is swamped with H1B holders so is getting slower so at this time, I would say FSW is probably faster than AINP.

[deepfreezed]

for FSW you need your occupation to be in the NOC list same as PNP. With the latest changes, lot of people cannot apply so I bet FSW processing time improve greatly in coming months.

[Jasper]

But NOC list for FSW (only 38 occupations) is different from the list for AINP. For example, my NOC 2121 is on AINP NOC list, but it is not on FSW NOC list.

[samsili2009]

Thanks! :-)

[Leon]

for FSW you need your occupation to be in the NOC list same as PNP. With the latest changes, lot of people cannot apply so I bet FSW processing time improve greatly in coming months.

It's not that simple.  Qualifying for PNP can be done in many ways same as with FSW.  The AINP H1B program goes by the AB occupations under pressure list which is not the same as FSW list of 38 most wanted.  AINP also has other programs such as for people who are already working in AB and are sponsored by employer, same with other PNP's.  An FSW can also bypass the list of 38 if they have a job offer or are already in Canada for a year.