The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) is an immigration pathway that is run as a pilot program until November 2019. Currently, it is one of Canada's most popular immigration pathway.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program is one of the quickest ways to get permanent residency. In fact, foreign nationals can become Canadian permanent residents in about six months. Immigrants value being able to get permanent residency quickly, because they want to avoid uncertainty as much as possible by not having their immigration status tied to one specific employer. 

Another facet of the AIPP program that makes it that popular is the fact that workers can obtain a temporary work permit, so they can start working while the permanent residency is being processed. Not every employer will be able to wait six months or more for candidates to move to Canada. Having the option to come work in Canada while the process takes place is certainly appealing. 

One of the mechanisms in place to protect the Canadian labour market are Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA). When an employer is not able to hire a Canadian worker, they have to go through a complex process where they have to determine what the impact of hiring a foreigner would be on the Canadian workforce. Essentially, the process aims to verify that the position cannot be filled by a Canadian. If the LMIA is positive, the employer will be issued a confirmation that he is allowed to recruit internationally. Many employers prefer not to go through this complex process. This is waived in the AIPP program. In that program, employers become designated by an Atlantic province: New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland and Labrador. Once they are designated, they only have to advertise for positions for six weeks. If they could not find a Canadian worker, they are then allowed to hire a foreign national without getting a LMIA.

When employers use the AIPP program, they have to work with an approved third party organization to create a settlement plan for the newcomer and their families. Immigrants are fond of this, because it requires employers to be fully committed to them. They have to help in the resettlement program. This makes the relocation and integration processes a little easier. 

When immigrants apply for Express Entry, they sometimes retake their language test several times to try to score more points for language abilities. The way that AIPP is setup, candidates only need to reach CLB 4, which is lower than with most immigration pathways.

AIPP is particularly popular right now, because the pilot program is only confirm until November 2019. There is no guarantee that this opportunity will still exist after that time. Hence, many immigrants are trying to file their application as soon as possible. Working with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant could be helpful in order to ensure a prompt processing.

Canada is a huge country. Living in one region or area can be very different than living somewhere else. Atlantic Canada is home to breathtaking scenery, easy access to the ocean (in many cases great beaches), and lobster, fish and seafood are abundant and fresh. It's a popular vacation destination and it is known to be a little more laid back, filled with the friendliest people you can meet, and a safe place to raise a family. The cost of living also tends to be lower than in most major population centres, making owning a house easier. Finally, with aging population, there will be a need for more workers in the future.

Immigrating to Canada can be a long and complex process. The reality is that there are over 60 different immigration pathways to Canada and it's easy to get lost. Most programs are province specific, so it can be helpful to identify provinces that you are willing to relocate to. It can also be useful to remain open to various possibilities.

All provinces and territories accept immigrants and they all have their own unique set of programs. A simple way to look at it is to consider how many immigrants were accepted in a certain province recently and to compare that figure to the total population of that province. The higher the ratio is, the less stringent and competitive the process could be as the province has been relying on immigrants in recent years to grow and fill jobs. Of course, each submission is unique and two different individuals could have a very different outlook in their immigration process regardless of all factors. It can be incredibly useful to hire a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant to demystify the process and identify the best ways forward.

That being said, it is interesting to look at the data from the last census to determine where immigrants are the most needed to meet local needs. 

Overall, the Prairies (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta) have relied more on foreign nationals in recent years to fuel their economy and sustain their growth. Their unemployment is among the lowest in Canada and it  went down in the past three years. It can be expected that these provinces will continue to put an emphasis on recruiting top candidates from around the world to help them prosper. It can also be expected that recent immigrants can find others with similar experiences more easily given that they have the highest RIR.

The Prairies should be top of mind for skilled immigrants that have a unique skill set that can contribute to the Canadian economy. There are mechanisms in place to facilitate your transitions and the provincial nominee programs allow for a relatively important number of immigrants to come in yearly.

Ontario remains a top destination for immigrants. With a relatively low unemployment rate and a higher than average RIR, it stands out as a safe value. It is also the most populous province of Canada and includes both the biggest city and the capital of the country. There are countless opportunities to grow professionally, strongly established support services and communities, and a rich and multicultural setting.

With a decreasing unemployment rate and a strong legacy of immigration pioneering, we can expect to see the RIR increase in British Columbia and to notice more flexibility around provincial programs, including the BC PNP Tech Pilot. British Columbia remains a steady option for new immigrants with its strong and diverse economy, enjoyable weather and proximity to the American market and Asia.

Although the RIR is lower in Atlantic Canada, it does not seem that the region should be disregarded. In part, it means that immigration remains somewhat underutilized. The region has a weaker economy, which can make it harder to attract foreign nationals. That being said, there is a real need for population growth to counterbalance a significant exodus of young people and population ageing. This is one of the reason why the region launched the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, which facilitates immigration and accelerates the permanent residence process. There is also a recent focus on entrepreneurship and international student retention , particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador.