This is one of the most exciting proposed programs that truly has the capability to position Alberta as a world leader in IT and Technology Startups. The proposed Foreign Graduate Startup Visa Program is designed to offer a fast track pathway to Canadian Permanent Residency for foreign graduates of top American universities who wish to launch their startup in Alberta. There are countless, highly educated, brilliant foreign graduates of top universities in the United States, from some of the most elite schools in the world, that unfortunately have no realistic pathway to permanently resettle and start a business in the USA. American immigration policy presents time-based barriers dependent upon one’s place of birth; Indian nationals, for example, are experiencing 25+ year waiting periods for residency in the USA.  

This upcoming program allows Alberta to capitalize on restrictive American immigration policy to encourage these skilled, brilliant, eager, start-up entrepreneurs to consider Alberta as the place to work, live and grow their startup company. Alberta has the potential to bring in many future tech giants with this policy and transform the Calgary-Edmonton corridor into Silicon Valley North. Even in the circumstance of COVID-19, Calgary has still managed to set a record for attracting venture capital in 2020. *Over $200 million in venture capital financing has already entered this city, the largest capital amount of any year on record.  From a business perspective, the substantial supply of premium office space available in Calgary and Edmonton have led to lower commercial rents. With a lower overhead for these new founded startup companies they will have a greater chance to flourish with a lower capital burn rate. 

 In short, if these foreign graduates of top universities in the U.S. can commit to launch a start–up business in Alberta, a bridge to permanent residency through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program will be available. A provincial nomination offers a fast track to permanent residency in Canada. We are looking forward to assisting the resettlement of some of the best foreign graduate startup entrepreneurs through this new pathway. 

 We believe that every province in Canada and Western nations in the world will soon want to model their economic immigration policy after Alberta’s brilliant upcoming provincial immigration programs. We wish to thank the powerful team in the Alberta government that is committed to working for the success of the people of Alberta and for newcomers to this great province.

  • The Honourable Muhammad Yaseen – Parliamentary Secretary of Immigration  
  • The Honourable Jason Copping – Minister of Labour and Immigration  
  • Shawn Mcleod – Deputy Minister Labour and Immigration 
  • Janet McEachern – Chief of Staff of Minister of Labour and Immigration 
  • Percy Cummins – Executive Director, Evidence, Polic and Governance 
  • Lori Zaparniuk – Director, Labour Market Evidence 
  • Simrat Slade – Senior Economist, Government of Alberta 
  • Piotr Weclaw – Director, Department of Labour 
  • Lenore Neudorf – Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Labour, Alberta 
  • The Honourable Jason Kenney – Premier and Champion of Alberta 

*References: Calgary Herald

Contact Us

For more information on Foreign Graduate Startup Visa,contact us.

Sean G McKinsley, Managing Partner & Founder
RCIC & ICCRC Member R529731
Office: +1-587-400-3350
Fax: +1-587-400-4515
WhatsApp: +1-587-703-9805
Email: sean.mckinsley@civs.ca

Nikola Misina, Partner
RCIC & ICCRC Member R524218
Office: +1-587-400-3350
Fax: +1-587-400-4515
WhatsApp: +1-587-893-7427
Email: nikola.misina@civs.ca

Steve Paolasini, Senior  National Vice-President, B. Eng
Office: +1-587-400-3350
Fax: +1-587-400-4515
WhatsApp: +1-587-703-9805
Email: steve.paolasini@civs.ca