Eligibility Requirements for Rural Entrepreneur Stream

The AAIP Rural Entrepreneur Stream is suitable for entrepreneurs and business people dedicated to using their expertise and knowledge to meet Alberta's needs and generate jobs. The Eligibility Requirements for the Rural Entrepreneur Stream are as follows.

Experience at Work:

The Candidates must have 3 years of minimum experience as an owner of an active business or manager OR four years of senior manager experience in the last ten years.

Education Qualifications:

The Candidates must hold a minimum of high school credentials to apply for the Rural Entrepreneur Stream. This is important at the time of application.

Ownership:

The candidates must hold at least 51 percent of their Canadian company (and all partners are citizens or permanent residents of Canada) OR all of the company's shares for succession.

Creation of Job:

For six months or more, establish one or more jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are not related.

Language Requirements:

The Candidates should have completed an English language test in the last 2 years and they should have scored a minimum CLB of 4 for each skill or they should have completed a French language test in the last two years and should have scored minimum NCLC level 4 for each skill.

Community Assistance:

The Candidates must have a letter of community support from a specific community to be eligible for applying for the Rural Entrepreneur stream.

Requirements of Financials:

The Applicants need to have a minimum net worth of $300,000 where all assets are the candidate’s holdings or their spouse's holdings.

Rural Entrepreneur Stream Benefits

The Rural Entrepreneur Stream provides various benefits for entrepreneurs who have an interest in starting or buying a business in rural Alberta, those advantages include:

• If the candidates qualify, then they may receive a provincial nomination in Canada, this is an important step toward applying for permanent residence in Canada.
• The Applicant may receive a Letter of Support, that allows you to apply for a two-year work permit. While pursuing a permanent residency, this work permit assists individuals in launching or running their businesses in Alberta.
• This Rural Entrepreneur Stream may nominate candidates as permanent residents in Canada.
• This stream improves in creating jobs in rural Alberta and assists with revitalizing the community.
• This stream supports entrepreneurs who want to establish or grow a business in rural areas.
• It Helps to boost the local economy by attracting new businesses and skills to rural Alberta.

How to Apply for Rural Entrepreneur Stream

The application process for the Rural Entrepreneur Stream is given below, follow every step to get selected in the stream.

1. Form for Pre-Screening to Request an Independent Visit

   If the Candidates request an independent visit with the Town of Peace River, then they need to first complete the Prescreen form. After submitting this form, The Town will get in touch with you to arrange an exploratory visit, either in person or virtually. This process will determine whether you qualify for the Rural Entrepreneur stream or not.

2. Engage in an Exploratory Visit with a Rural Alberta Community

   To offer their business idea to a rural Alberta community during an exploratory visit, the applicant must first research the area and establish connections with locals. Both sides will determine whether to move forward with setting up the visit based on this discussion. The entrepreneur must apply for the necessary visa, however, neither the community nor the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program will offer a letter of support for the visa. Once the candidates visit, they must submit a formal business plan to the community. If the community supports the business proposal then they” 'll issue a confirmation letter to assist them.

3. Expression of Interest Process

   If the Entrepreneur is eligible then they should submit an expression of interest, with a Community Support Letter, Net Worth Worksheet, and summary of business proposal; through the portal of Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. The candidates will be ranked and examined using a point grid system based on the provided details in the Expression of Interest.

4. Application in Business

   Candidates with the highest ranking points will be contacted by the Government of Alberta program, the candidates are officially invited to apply for a business visa through the website of Alberta Advantage Immigration Program website. The Rural Entrepreneur Stream will only evaluate applicants who have been asked to submit a business application.

5. Agreement on Business Performance

   The business application and supporting documents will be reviewed by a program officer, if it gets approved, then the candidate will sign a Business Performance Agreement. The candidate can then apply for a work permit after receiving a 205(a) Letter of Support and a Business Application Approval Letter from the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.

6. Establishment of Business in Alberta

   Once the candidates arrive in Alberta, then they need to submit an arrival report within 30 days. They must prove and run an eligible business, holding 100% of a succession business or 51% of a new company. The candidates should meet the requirements of the Business Performance Agreement within a year and should submit progress reports every six months.

7. The nomination procedure

   The candidates must submit a Final Report to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program After operating the business for one year, If every requirement is fulfilled, then a nomination certificate will be issued. The candidates must then continue to operate their businesses and remain in Alberta while applying for permanent residency through the IRCC.

Who is not eligible to apply

Even though this program of good fit for entrepreneurs and businessmen of several profiles and many backgrounds, there are some limitations. The candidate's business must qualify for the program and it must not be under the ineligibility list. If you have an ongoing nomination under another AAIP stream or have received a letter on a prior AAIP application stating that you are not allowed to reapply for a specific period, then you are not eligible to apply for this stream.

Then if you have a removal order issued against you by IRCC or CBSA you are not eligible to apply for this Stream. In case you are noted in a federal appeal or removal process then you can’t apply for this stream. If you are a foreign citizen living or working in Canada and do not currently hold a valid temporary residence status, you are not eligible to apply.

Factors Improving the Candidate's Opportunities

Many factors can enhance the chance of the candidates to get success in the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream, those factors are:

• If your business provides vital economic benefits to the Community then it increases your chance to get success.
• Taking of an existing business can be a positive factor for the success of your business. This may enhance the chances of the candidates.
• The chances of success are higher for candidates between the ages of 21 and 49.
• Your prospects may be improved if your spouse or common-law partner has at least one year of post-secondary education or satisfies the Canadian language standards (CLB 4 in English or French).
• If you Have a close relative like a parent or sibling in Alberta can also increase your eligibility to get success.