Opportunity knocks in Canada for U.S. immigrants
| September 17, 2008 |  View for printing |
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.
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.
By Emily Bazar, USA TODAY
Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2 ... rants_N.htm
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Economic Development Alliance of Southeast Alberta http://www.EDAlliance.ca 
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