New Brunswick AIPP Information Session - February 2017

The Government of New Brunswick conducted eight information sessions at the AIM Conference Center in Manila on February 16 to 19, 2017 with three hundred registrants for each session. This is different from the previous Express Entry Information Session. For the benefit of those who are not able to attend the said session, I have a different post on the frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Fritz was registered for the February 16 1pm while I was registered for the February 17 2pm session. We arrived at the venue at around 12:15 and there were lots of participants already waiting outside the conference hall. Around 12:40 the door opened and the participants were admitted based on the submission ID and Fritz was the first registrant. Even though I was registered for the following day session but I was able to attend the first session because before it started, Jake went outside the conference room and let all the companions waiting at the lobby to attend also.

Fritz being the #1 or first who registered the info session on Feb. 16, 2017

It started with a short introduction by Ashraf Ghanem the Director of the Immigration, Settlement and Multiculturalism of New Brunswick but the main speaker was Jake Arbuckle the team leader of the Skilled and Repatriation Unit of Immigration, Settlement and Multiculturalism of the Government of New Brunswick. Jake talked about the province of NB and the advantage of living there but the main topic was about the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. Afterwhich, there was a question and answer portion. Also present in the session was from the Visa Office of Canada in the Philippines, I forgot his name but he looks like a Chinese Filipino Some question like the NOC was answered by him.

Ashraf emphasized that we don't need the service of any Consultancy firm to be included in the program. He was disappointed on the feedback he received that some Immigration Consultancy were collecting money inorder to attend the Information Session. He said, their service is free.

Although I already attended the first session but Fritz insisted that I should still attend the session where I was registered. After all, our purpose in travelling to Manila was to attend the Information Session.

I'm glad I was able to sit in on the first session because this time was a little bit different. I might missed some information. The fourth session where I was registered was a little bit organized. When we arrived in the venue, some of the attendees were already inside. This time, attendees entered the room as they arrived and after they signed in the attendance. Please take note that only Jake and Ashraf facilitated the registration.In this session, Ashraf didn't say any word anymore. He even didn't go inside the conference room. The staff from the Visa Office in the Philippines was not present also. This session was not as interactive as before and it only lasted for a little bit over an hour while the first session was more than two hours.

Our overall experience was a great one despite the fact that it was not the information session that was expected by most of the attendees. Since some including us were expecting before that upfront ITAs will be given during the information session. But for Fritz and I, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) is way better than the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). The drawback is if your NOC is not included on what the employers are looking for or you will not be chosen by an employer.

We hope and pray that we will be one of the lucky AIPP aspirants to be chosen. Another waiting game begins. Hope to receive an email from an employer one of these days.