Provincial Nominee Program Canada

Strategic Recruitment Stream

Compulsory and Optional Trades Category

This category of sponsorship is open to supervisors, foremen and tradespersons who are working in a compulsory or optional trade in the province of Alberta.

Compulsory or optional trades are listed in the below link.

Eligibility

Trade Workers/Applicants may be eligible if they meet the following requirements
1. Intend to live and work in Alberta permanently
2. Have one of the following
a An Alberta Qualification Certificate in a compulsory or optional trade, or
b An Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Recognized Trade Certificate in a compulsory or optional trade.
1. Be residing in Alberta at the time of application on a valid work permit
2. Show, at time of application, that they are either
a Currently working in their trade for an Alberta employer, or
b Have been working in their trade for an Alberta employer for minimum 6 months in past 3 years.

Engineering Occupations Category

This category is open to professional engineers, designers, and drafters in a variety of fields. In order to apply, an individual’s occupation must among the following
• NOC 0211 (Engineering Managers)
• NOC 2131 (Civil Engineers)
• NOC 2132 (Mechanical Engineers)
• NOC 2133 (Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
• NOC 2134 (Chemical Engineers)
• NOC 2141 (Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers)
• NOC 2143 (Mining Engineers)
• NOC 2144 (Geological Engineers)
• NOC 2145 (Petroleum Engineers)
• NOC 2231 (Civil Engineering Technologists/Technicians)
• NOC 2232 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists/Technicians)
• NOC 2241 (Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technologists/Technicians)
• NOC 2253 (Drafting Technologists/Technicians)

Minimum Requirements

Applicants may be eligible if they meet the following requirements
1. Intend to live and work in Alberta permanently
2. Be currently residing in Alberta
3. Have evidence of education/training and experience as an engineer, designer or drafter and
4. Currently be working or have worked in last two years in Alberta for an Alberta employer.

Applicants with credentials who are employed in one of the following occupations mentioned below must provide a ‘Letter of No Objection’ from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), or prove they are registered with APEGA.

• NOCs : 0211, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2141, 2143, 2144, and 2145

Please not that Professionals working in the following occupations mentioned below do not need a ‘Letter of No Objection’

• NOCs 2231, 2232, 2241, and 2253

Engineers whose occupation is not on the list may be eligible to submit an application through the AINP Skilled Worker Category.

Post-Graduate Worker Category
Overseas Students who graduated from an eligible post-secondary educational institution in Alberta, and who are residing in the province on a Post-Graduation Work Permit, may apply to this program.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants may be eligible if they meet the following requirements
o Intend to live and work in Alberta permanently
o Be working full-time in Alberta for an Alberta employer at the time of application
o Applicant must have obtained a certificate, diploma, degree or graduate level program from an approved institution.
o The completed program length of study in Alberta must be at least one year or more and
o Hold a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit.

Skilled Worker in Manitoba Category

Under this Skilled Worker category applications are accepted from qualified temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who are currently working in Manitoba and have been offered a permanent job with their Manitoba employer.

Applicants under this category are not subject to a points-based assessment to determine their eligibility.

Candidates must meet the minimum requirements listed below to be entered into the Expression of Interest pool where they will be ranked according to a number of factors.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible under the Skilled Workers in Manitoba category of the MPNP, candidates must
• Be either a qualified temporary foreign worker OR an international student graduate
o International student graduates must have attended an authorized education or training program at a public, or registered private vocational, post-secondary institution in Manitoba. (Language programs are specifically excluded.)
o The academic/vocational program must have been full-time and at least one academic year in length.
o The candidate must have successfully completed the program and have been awarded a diploma, degree, or certificate.
• Have a permanent, full-time job offer from their current Manitoba employer
• Have worked for their current Manitoba employer continuously for at least six months
o Any periods of self-employment, unauthorized work, or periods of employment during which candidates were engaged in full-time study (e.g. work experience gained on a co-op permit) will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience in Manitoba.
• Hold a valid work permit or post-grad work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• Have all qualifications for the position including training/education and any required licence or certification
• Have job-ready English; specifically, candidates must demonstrate the English or French proficiency to fulfill the duties of their job description
• Have a connection to Manitoba through employment that is stronger than ties they may have to another province
• Demonstrate in a Settlement Plan intention and ability to live, work and establish their work and family life in Manitoba as a permanent resident and
• Sufficient settlement funds.

NOTE : A candidate who has graduated from a post-secondary program in a Canadian province other than Manitoba and who wants to apply to the MPNP under this category because he or she has been offered a job in Manitoba must first have been working for that Manitoba employer for at least one year in order to be eligible.

Skilled Worker Overseas Category

The Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas category is for qualified skilled workers who may be outside of Canada but who can demonstrate a strong connection to the province.

This program uses a points-based system to assess candidates according to factors such as age, language proficiency, work experience, education and adaptability.

Minimum Requirements

To be eligible under this category, candidates must
• Obtain a minimum score of 60 out of 100 points on the points assessment grid and
• Demonstrate an established connection to Manitoba through the support of friends or family, previous work experience or education in the province, or an Invitation to Apply issued by the MPNP,

Each form of connection to the province has specific requirements.

Manitoba Support

In order to be a Manitoba Supporter, an individual must be
• Able to provide documents proving that he or she has been living in Manitoba continuously for a minimum of one year
• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Able to demonstrate sufficiently close ties to the applicant and the province
o For close relatives, both the applicant and the supporter must provide documents proving their familial relationship.
o Close relatives are considered to be those related to the applicant (or the applicant’s spouse) in one of the following ways
► Sister or brother,
► Niece or nephew,
► Aunt or uncle,
► First cousin,
► Mother or father,
► Grandmother or grandfather.
• Able to demonstrate that any applications they previously supported resulted in successful, permanent economic establishment in Manitoba
• Able to support the applicant’s

Manitoba Experience

In order to apply with the connection of Manitoba Experience, candidates must have lived in the province in the past as either a temporary foreign worker or as an international student.

To be eligible, those with previous work experience in Manitoba must
• Have worked full-time for a Manitoba employer for a minimum of six consecutive months
• Submit a signed employer letter of reference on company letterhead and
• Submit a copy of their work permit proving they worked in the province.

Those with previous educational experience in Manitoba must
• Have attended and completed an authorized education or training program at a public, or registered private vocational, post-secondary institution in Manitoba and
• Submit their study permit(s), academic transcripts and certificate, diploma or degree they received upon completion of the program.

Manitoba Invitation

Invitations to apply for permanent residence are issued regularly by the MPNP to qualified candidates identified as part of one of its Strategic Recruitment initiatives.

Invitations to Apply are issued at the discretion of the MPNP, therefore applicants may not choose to use this connection to Manitoba on their own.

Candidates are required to submit the Letter of Invitation they received from the MPNP following their interview during a recruitment mission or exploratory visit.

The MPNP conducts overseas recruitment missions regularly, often in partnership with Manitoba employers, during which they search for prospective immigrants.

During set periods, the MPNP accepts requests to make an exploratory visit to Manitoba.

This visit enables potential MPNP applicants to research communities and employment opportunities in order to decide whether they have the genuine intention and ability to settle in Manitoba as permanent residents.

Exploratory visits must be approved by and arranged through the MPNP only by invitation The MPNP provides instructions on what to do during the visit and what documents candidates are required to bring with them.

In order to be eligible for an exploratory visit candidates must

• Be between the ages of 21 and 45
• Be able to demonstrate the employability and adaptability required of all MPNP applicants
• Have completed, at minimum, a one-year, post-secondary education or training program for which they Received a diploma, degree or certificate
• Have at least two years of full-time work experience in the past five years
• Demonstrate their ability to find a job in Manitoba in the same occupation in which they have two years of Experience
o This includes plans to achieve the appropriate licence or certification required in the case of regulated Occupations.
• Submit a Settlement Plan that demonstrates their genuine intention and ability to economically establish and settle in Manitoba as a permanent resident and
• Submit official results of an approved language test taken within the past two years showing they achieved Scores equivalent to at least CLB 6 in each component as well as overall.

Points Assessment

In addition to the above requirement of demonstrating a connection to Manitoba, candidates must score at least 60 out of 100 points on the points assessment criteria.

About Saskatchewan PNP

Through this nomination program, the SINP nominate skilled workers who wish to live and work in Saskatchewan. Eligible candidates need to meet the SINP criteria as mentioned below and not limited to
1. Education
2. Skilled work experience and
3. English or French Language ability.

There are three sub-categories
• International Skilled Worker – Employment Offer – This sub-category is for skilled workers with a job offer from a Saskatchewan based employer.

Eligibility

Skilled worker may qualify for this sub-category if he/she has live outside Canada or have proof of legal status in Canada.

• Applicant must score a minimum of 60 points out of 100 on the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) points criteria.

• Applicant must have at least one-year of professional work experience in the past ten years in the nominated occupation

• Applicant must have cleared the applicable language test and have scored at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.

o Some employers and regulatory bodies may set a different language scores that are higher than CLB 4

• Applicant must show proof of eligibility for Saskatchewan licensure, if have been working in a regulated profession or compulsory apprenticeship trade

• Applicant need to meet this requirement as part of their SINP application.

• Applicant must have an offer of permanent and full-time employment in Saskatchewan.

The job offer must be in an occupation in the National Occupational Classification

(NOC) Matrix level “A”, “B” or “0”, or in a designated trade in Saskatchewan.

The program criteria can change without prior notice.

• International Skilled Worker – Occupations In-Demand – This category is for highly-skilled workers with professional experience in an occupation that is in demand in Saskatchewan.

The applicant need have a job offer to be eligible for this program.

Eligibility

Applicant may qualify for this category if the applicant has lived outside Canada or have proof of legal status in Canada.

• Eligible Applicant must core a minimum of 60 points out of 100 on the SINP point assessment criteria.

• Applicant must have a obtained language score of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.

o Employers and regulatory bodies may set a higher language scores that are above than CLB 4

• Applicant must have completed post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship that is comparable to the Canadian education system of at least one year program/study.

You should have earned a diploma, certificate or degree with this.

• Applicant must have at least one year relevant work experience in the past 10 years

o In a relevant field of education or training occupation, and

o In a high skilled occupation in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Matrix level “A”, “B” or “0” that’s in-demand in Saskatchewan.

• Applicant must show proof of eligibility for Saskatchewan licensure, if they happened to be in a regulated profession or compulsory apprenticeship trade

o Applicant will need to satisfy this requirement as part of your SINP application.

• Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.

The program criteria can change without prior notice
• International Skilled Worker – Saskatchewan Express Entry – This category is for skilled workers with experience in an in-demand occupation in Saskatchewan and who are already in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) ’s Express Entry Pool.

Eligibility
Applicant may qualify for this category if he/she has lived outside Canada or have proof of legal status in Canada.

• Applicant must have an Express Entry profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code.

• Applicant must score a minimum of 60 points out of 100 on the SINP point assessment criteria

• Applicant must provide valid and applicable language test results from a designated testing agency.

• Applicant must have completed post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship that is comparable to the Canadian education system of at least one year in length. Applicant should have earned a diploma, certificate or degree with this.

• Have at least one of the following in your field of education or training occupation

o One year work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades)

o Two years work experience in a skilled trade in the past five years or

o Twelve months work experience in Canada in the past three years (trades and non-trades).

• Applicant work experience in a high skilled occupation in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Matrix level “A”, “B” or “0” that’s in-demand in Saskatchewan.

• Applicant must show proof of eligibility for Saskatchewan licensure, if their intended occupation is in a regulated profession or compulsory apprenticeship trade. If in a skilled trade, you’ll need a certificate of qualification (also called a letter of invitation) from the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship & Trade Certification Commission.

• Applicant will need this as part of your SINP application.

• Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.

The program criteria can change without prior notice

The federal government sets the amount of nominations the SINP can make every year. The SINP also has a maximum number of application thresholds for each year. No application is guaranteed to be accepted and/or nominated.

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
The Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program accepts prospective immigrants with the skills and experience required by the province.

The NSNP accepts applications under the following immigration streams

• Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry

• Nova Scotia Experience Express Entry

• Skilled Worker Stream

Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry
Nova Scotia has placed a temporarily halt taking new applications for its Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream.
Nova Scotia uses the federal government’s Express Entry immigration selection system in order to select candidates for Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry. This stream was introduced on January 1, 2015, is for highly-skilled professionals who have post-secondary education and qualifications that will help them successfully settle in Nova Scotia. There is a list of 29 eligible occupations for this stream.

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
Nova Scotia uses the federal government’s Express Entry immigration selection system in order to select candidates for this stream.

The programs offers permanent residency pathway to applicants who have been employed in Nova Scotia for at least an year.

To learn more about eligibility requirements for Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry, Read Below.

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry provides a pathway to permanent residence for highly skilled Professionals who have been employed by a Nova Scotia Employer for an year.
Eligible candidates must have already entered the federal Express Entry pool through one of the federal economic immigration programs Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, or Canadian Experience Class.

Nova Scotia offers two application routes through Express Entry stream. Eligible skilled workers may either apply directly to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI), or they may be selected from the Express Entry pool by the NSOI. In either case, the main applicant is required to create an Express Entry profile and submit a complete application to the NSOI.

Eligibility
In order to be eligible for Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry, candidates must

• Applicant must be between the ages of 21 and 55

• Have at least 12 months full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) paid skilled work experience in Nova Scotia in the three years before the application is made

o The work experience cannot have been gained through self-employment or while studying full-time.

o Volunteer work, unpaid internships, co-op terms, etc. do not count.

o The work experience must be in a NOC Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B occupation.

• Have gained their experience in the province of Nova Scotia with the proper authorization (work permit, etc.)

• Have completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary educational credential OR

• Have completed a foreign educational credential from a recognized institution/authority AND have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report issued by an organization designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

• Demonstrate sufficient language ability in all four components (speaking, reading, writing, and listening)

o These levels are CLB 7 for NOC 0 and A and CLB 5 for NOC B.

o Language test results must come from one of the following designated testing agencies

 IELTS (General Training Test only) for english

 CELPIP (General test only) for english or

 TEF for french

• Have a profile registered in the Express Entry pool and

• Demonstrate that they will become economically established in Nova Scotia and that they intend to live in the province permanently.

Who are ineligible
• Applicants working in an occupational level C or D are not eligible

• Applicants who have a grandparent, parent, spouse, or common-law partner of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada

• An applicant under humanitarian and compassionate grounds, a refugee claimant or a failed refugee claimant

• Living in Canada illegally, under a removal order, or are prohibited from entering or being in Canada

• Not a legal residence in any other country

• An individual who does not have status

• An international student who is currently studying at a Canadian post-secondary institution

• An international graduate who has studied in Canada, whose studies have been sponsored by an agency or Government and who is contractually Obligated to return to their country of origin

• On a valid federal post-graduation work permit whose occupation falls under NOC skill level C or D

• The spouse of an international student at a Canadian post-secondary institution who is not in his/her last Academic year of studies

• An individual with unresolved custody or child support disputes affecting any dependent

• In a sales position that is based solely on commission for compensation

• An individual whose 12 months full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) skilled work experience in the three Years prior to their Application is not based in Nova Scotia

• An individual in Canada who is in the Caregiver Program

• Intending to start a business and/or be self-employed in Nova Scotia or

• A passive investor (an individual who intend to invest in a Nova Scotia business with very limited or no involvement in the day-to-day management of the business)

Skilled Worker Stream
The NSNP accepts applications under this stream from skilled professionals who have received a job offer from a Nova Scotia employer.

Nova Scotia Skilled Worker Stream
The Skilled Worker stream helps Nova Scotia employers recruit and hire foreign workers and international graduates whose skills are in limited supply in the province
Skilled Workers
This category is for skilled workers with experience in an occupation classified as NOC level 0, A or B, also known as skilled occupations. Priority is given to these highly skilled applicants.

Semi-Skilled Workers
This category is for workers whose occupations are classified as NOC level C, also known as semi-skilled occupations. Applications in this category will only be considered if all eligibility criteria are

met and the applicant has worked for at least six months with a Nova Scotia employer that is supporting his or her application for permanent residence.

Priority is given to semi-skilled workers whose employers

• Have made an effort to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents for the position and

• Can demonstrate that they will provide support to assist newcomers with settlement needs.

See below for further eligibility criteria.

Low-Skilled Workers
This category is for individuals whose occupations are classified as NOC level D, also known as unskilled occupations. Applications in this category will only be considered if all eligibility criteria are met and the applicant has worked for at least six months with a Nova Scotia employer that is supporting his or her application for permanent residence.

Priority is given to low-skilled workers whose employers

• Have made an effort to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents for the position and

• Can demonstrate that they will provide support to assist newcomers with settlement needs.

General Eligibility Criteria
Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In addition to the general eligibility outlined above, all applicants, regardless of their work experience, must meet the following eligibility requirements

• If living in Canada, provide proof of legal status

• If applying from outside Canada, provide proof of legal status in their current country of residence.

• Be between the ages of 21 and 55 at the time of application

• Receive a full time, permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer

• Have completed at least a high school level of education (12 years of study)

• Have the education, training, and licensing/certification needed to perform the job in Canada, if applicablev

• Have at least 12 months of relevant work experience in the past five years

• Meet language requirements for the program

o For NOC levels 0, A or B – CLB level 5 in English or French.

o For NOC levels C or D – CLB level 4 in English or French.

• Demonstrate the intent and ability to settle in the Province of Nova Scotia and

• Demonstrate sufficient settlement supports and financial resources to cover immigration costs and travel expenses (if applicable) and to successfully establish yourself in the province.

Minimum Requirements for Employers
Employers sponsoring applicants through this program must meet the following requirements

• Be permanently established in Nova Scotia

• Have operated in Nova Scotia, under current management, for at least two years

• Issue a full time, permanent job offer to the individual applicant; the job must

o Be located in Nova Scotia.

o Have salary and benefits that meet provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates.

o Be in a position for which there is a shortage of qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

o Not contravene any existing bargaining unit agreements, labour agreements/standards, or be involved in any employment disputes.

o Job offers made to NOC level C or D occupations will be considered based on local labour market requirements and conditions.

• Demonstrate recruitment efforts to fill the position with a qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident and

• Have a history of good workplace and business practices, and must be compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.

About New Brunswick PNP
The NBPNP is only accepting expression of interest (EOI) forms from applicants who fall under the below mentioned criteria.

1. a connection to New Brunswick as described below

2. Applicant have attended a NBPNP information session in person in the past two years prior to the submission of an EOI

3. Open Category

1. Connection to New Brunswick
1. The NBPNP will accept EOI forms continuously from qualified skilled workers who demonstrate at least one connection to New Brunswick, mentioned below.

2. Candidates who are working in New Brunswick must write “Connection to New Brunswick”

3. Candidates who have received post-secondary education diplomas from a recognized New Brunswick institution

4. Candidates who have relatives who have been living in New Brunswick as permanent residents or Canadian Citizens for at least one year; please include “relatives” in your email subject

5. Candidates who have worked full-time in New Brunswick for at least one year in the past five years.

6. Candidates who have a full-time, permanent offer of employment from a New Brunswick company.

7. Candidates who have French as their first language. Applicant must provide their Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) certificate.

2. Applicants who have attended a New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) Information Session in the Past 2 years.
The NBPNP accepts EOI forms continuously (any day of the week) from individuals who have attended a NBPNP information session or have met with NBPNP staff at a domestic or international recruitment event in the past two years.

• Candidate must demonstrate that they have attended an information sessionThey must provide evidence of their registration date and event or name of the NBPNP staff they have met and state the place and date.

• Priority will be given to occupations mentioned below.

Occupations
Information technology: programmers; analysts; and technical customer support
Business and financial analysts
Retail trade managers
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
Restaurant and hospitality managers; cooks; and chefs
Translators (English-French)
Manufacturing managers
Bilingual administrative assistants (French-English)
All individuals who fall under one or both of the above categories MUST also meet the minimum eligibility criteria of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) ― Express Entry Labour Market Stream (EELMS).

3. Open Category
• Open Category: (2171; 2172; 2174; 2175; 2281)

• Potential applicants who fall under the above mentioned NOC Codes may receive an invitation to apply from the Province based on identified demand in the IT sector.

About British Coloumbia PNP
General Requirements

The BC PNP Skills Immigration stream is intended for people with the skills, experience and qualifications needed by B.C. employers.

This stream is designed for skilled workers who are committed to live and work in B.C. and become permanent residents of Canada. To be eligible for the program, applicant will need to satisfy the criteria in one of the following categories

Skilled Worker
Managers, Professionals and Skilled Tradespersons

Health Care Professional – physicians, registered nurses and other health care workers employed with provincial health authorities

International Graduate – with a degree or diploma from a Canadian college or university

International Post-Graduate – with a master’s or doctoral degree in the natural, applied or health sciences from a B.C. university. Please note only the applicants under this category does not require a job offer.

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (including employment in the Northeast Development Region of B.C.) – workers in tourism/hospitality, food processing and long-haul trucking, OR entry level and semi-skilled workers who are living in the Northeast Development Region of the province.

Except where otherwise stated, the following are requirements in all categories of both the Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration streams
1. Applicant’s employer has offered, and the applicant has accepted, indeterminate, full-time employment in an eligible occupation

2. Applicant must be qualified for the offered position. The BC PNP may verify information with the National Occupational Classification (NOC), Work BC or industry standards to determine the minimum qualifications for an occupation.

3. The wage offered to the applicant must be competitive with B.C. wage rates for the occupation.

4. For occupations classified under National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Levels B, C, and D occupations, applicant must demonstrate English or French language proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark level.

5. Applicants with a job offer in a National Occupational Classification Skill Level 0 or A occupation are not required to submit valid language test results. However, at its discretion, the BC PNP may require valid language test results to demonstrate that you have the language proficiency to perform the duties of the position.

6. Applicant must demonstrate that they meet minimum income requirements.

7. You must not have an ownership/equity stake of more than 10 percent in the B.C. company that has offered you employment.

8. Applicant’s employment must provide economic benefit to B.C. For example, applicant’s employment will contribute to: maintaining or creating jobs for Canadians transferring knowledge and skills to Canadians supporting the development of proprietary new products building the workforce for a major project

9. Applicant’s employment must not adversely affect the settlement of a labor dispute, or the employment of anyone involved in any such dispute, or adversely impact training or employment opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

10. If invited to apply, applicant must submit the $550 application fee with the application.

11. The BC PNP will not nominate an applicant if the applicant is prohibited from entering Canada have not been lawfully admitted in the country of current residence are in Canada and are out of status or if the status has expired, and the applicant cannot demonstrate that he/she has applied for restoration of status within the 90-day eligibility period.