Opportunity knocks in Canada for U.S. immigrants

Fawad Rehman can't wait to show his adoptive country his entrepreneurial streak.

Rehman, an immigrant from Pakistan, plans to start a business school, similar to the one his family runs back home, and a construction business.

A big obstacle stands in the way, though: He doesn't know which country will adopt him, the United States or Canada.

Rehman, 29, an information technology consultant who lives in Columbia, Md., is in this country on a temporary H-1B visa, the kind issued to skilled workers for up to six years. He wants to become a permanent resident.

But he isn't sure if or when that will happen. So, about a month ago, he applied to become a permanent resident in the province of Alberta, Canada, through a special program that fast-tracks applications from skilled immigrants in the United States. If he qualifies, he could be approved in less than a year.

In the United States, that could take at least three years. And it's not a sure thing, because an employer must sponsor the worker.

"I want to start these businesses," Rehman says. "But I'm not trying here yet because I don't know if I will be here permanently."

At a time when the immigration debate in the U.S. is tied to national security and tightening borders, Alberta is urging immigrants to cross over and come north.

Since the Alberta government started recruiting immigrants in the USA in April, it has aggressively courted people such as Rehman, who are here on H-1 or E-3 visas for specialized work in technology, health care and other fields. Alberta needs to fill high-demand jobs, including pharmacists, iron workers and architects.

The province, which has a population of about 3.3 million, is experiencing explosive population and economic growth, particularly in oil and natural gas production. "It's virtually full employment in Alberta," says Gary Mar, Alberta's official representative to the United States.

Skilled immigrants in the USA are attractive because they have North American work experience, know the culture, speak English and assimilate quickly, he says.

In the U.S., the federal government handles immigration. In Canada, provinces have some authority for the skilled workers they recruit, says Wendy Blackwell of Alberta's Ministry of Employment and Immigration.

On Monday, Alberta immigration officials held an information session for about 200 immigrants at the Canadian Embassy in Washington. They were at an area job fair here Tuesday and planned to attend one in Maryland today. They have traveled to Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Palo Alto, Calif., and will be in New York City next month.

So far, about 500 people have submitted initial applications for permanent residency, Blackwell says.

The program appeals to skilled immigrants who are frustrated with the U.S. immigration system, she says. Getting permanent status here can take years, and some immigrants complain because their spouses aren't allowed to work.

Alberta's program grants eligible applicants and their families permanent residency in six to 12 months and allows spouses to work. Those interested don't need to secure a job before applying.

"People say it's so difficult for them here," she says. "The people who have been coming to see us have been the well-educated, people that are concerned about the way the U.S. economy is going, people that really want to start looking at other options."

Saskatchewan, the province east of Alberta, also is growing rapidly and needs workers, says Rob Norris, the minister responsible for immigration. It, too, is considering recruiting skilled immigrants in the USA, he says.

Jeff Lande is senior vice president at the Information Technology Association of America, a trade group that lobbies for more visas for skilled workers and legal permanent residents, known as green-card holders.

He believes most immigrants aren't leaving willingly. "If they have the option of staying in America, where they have established roots and jobs and contacts, chances are they would," he says. "Because they cannot get that green card, they look at options elsewhere."

Peter Njoroge, 26, visited Alberta's booth at the job fair. He came to the USA from Kenya as a refugee in 2001 and says he's upset by the pace of the immigration process. He's not eligible for Alberta's program because he's not on a skilled-worker visa, but Blackwell says people like him might get temporary worker visas that could lead to permanent residency.

"I love the U.S.," he says, "but if it means my life's going to get better by living in Canada and getting the process taken care of, I'll definitely look into it."

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