Alberta (Canada) offers fast-track permanent residency

[Asim Raja]

I don't have any more information beyond what is already posted here.

This may be a life-saver for someone on an H-visa who loses his/her job.

http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/campaigns/h1b.html
Temporary skilled worker visa holders: Alberta, Canada welcomes you and your family

Even if you haven't yet secured a permanent or full-time position in your field. With your fast-track Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program you could be granted permanent residency and you'll never have to worry about your visa expiring again. And, you can move here right away. Alberta has the strongest and fastest growing economy in Canada, giving you the security and stability you've been searching for. The air is clean, the sky is blue and the people are as friendly as you've heard.

*Are you currently working in the United States in a temporary skilled worker visa category?*

You may be eligible to qualify for Canadian Permanent Residency through the Strategic Recruitment Stream pilot program recently introduced by the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).

To qualify for this pilot program, you must meet the following basic
criteria:

1. You must be currently working in the United States in one of the
following temporary skilled worker visa categories: H-1B, H1-B1, H-1C, E-3

2. You must have a minimum of one year of work experience in the United
States in one of the qualifying visa categories listed above.

3. Your current occupation must be on the AINP Occupations Under Pressure
List for the Strategic Recruitment Stream - U.S. Visa Holder Category
.

Prior to January 1, 2009, prospective candidates were asked to email or fax their applications for pre-assessment. If approved during the pre-assessment phase, successful candidates were sent an invitation by mail, inviting them to apply for the Strategic Recruitment Stream of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).

Under the new application process, candidates are no longer required to apply for pre-assessment. Candidates are now required to mail a complete application package - including the AINP and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) forms listed below - to the following address:

Strategic Recruitment Stream - U.S. Visa Holder Category Alberta Employment and Immigration 4th Floor, Commerce Place
10155 - 102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 4L6

If you submitted a *complete* application for pre-assessment by email or fax before December 31, 2008, your application will be pre-assessed according to the process that was in place prior to January 1, 2009. If your application for pre-assessment is approved, you will receive an invitation package by mail, inviting you to apply for Strategic Recruitment Stream of the AINP.

If you submitted an incomplete application for pre-assessment in 2008 by email or fax, you will receive a notice asking to re-submit an application as per the new application process.

It may take up *to 2 months before* you are notified whether or not your application has been accepted for processing. A decision on your application will be made *approximately 40-60 working days* from the time your application was accepted for processing by the AINP.