US H1B holders have a new and exciting opportunity to benefit from a new Canadian Permanent Residency Program.

Alberta Canada officially announced, in Jan 2009, that it had approved a Fast Track Program designed for U.S H1B workers to gain Landed Immigrant Status to Canada. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) allows H1B workers who are currently employed in a H1B position that is listed as an occupation of high pressure can qualify for the Permanent residency with NO job offer or employer requirement.

Qualification Requirements for this program, an H1B worker must meet the following basic criteria:

1. Applicant must demonstrate a clear ability and intention to live permanently in Alberta

2. Applicant must be currently working in the United States and possess a valid visa in one of the following temporary skilled worker visa categories: H1-B, H1-B1, H-1C, E-3 at the time the AINP makes a final decision on the application

3. Applicant must have a minimum of one year of work experience in the United States in one of the qualifying visa categories listed above

4. Applicant must have an occupation on the AINP Occupations Under pressure List. (Download AINP List)

The Application Process consists of two independent applications. Initially, the application for the AINP will be filed with the Province of Alberta. The processing time is currently approx 6 months. Upon approval from Alberta, the application will be filed Federally with an approval of the Landed Immigrant Status currently takes approx 6 months. The entire process form commencement until Permanent Residency under this "Fast Track" program is taking less than one year.

Temporary Business (Long Stay) - Standard Business Sponsorship (Subclass 457) | The Australian Government has announced fast-track processing of "Sub Class 457 Visa Eligible Occupations" applications specifically for reconstruction jobs in flood-affected areas, providing quick access to skilled overseas labour where local supply is insufficient. The subclass 457 visa provides a fast and flexible route for the entry of skilled workers to Australia. Under the program, a wide variety of skilled construction and engineering occupations are available for sponsorship, and employers can sponsor skilled workers for up to four years with no limit on the number of workers they sponsor.

The government is offering personalised assistance with visa applications to employers involved in reconstruction work so that they provide assistance to the reconstruction effort. Processing time by Government for eligible and completed applications by Government is 7 days.The 457 program is available to businesses of any size – in fact, the vast majority of sponsors approved for the 457 program are small to medium enterprises and allows approved applicant to stay upto 4 years without restrictions.