Updates

May 2026 RCIP Intake Update

Following the April 2026 intake and feedback from employers and applicants, the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) revised its intake process for the remainder of 2026. The updated process is designed to improve fairness, reduce pressure on employers and applicants, support merit-based assessment, and strengthen program integrity. For 2026, West Kootenay RCIP received … Read more

Updated Work Experience Guidelines

Assessing work experience can be challenging. It can be a complex parts of the RCIP application, and it is the topic we receive the most questions about. There are many details to consider, including the number of hours worked, how recent the experience is, whether it matches the job offer, and how it is documented. … Read more

2026 Updates

February 2026 West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) will reopen for community recommendation applications on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. Before reopening, we wanted to let all employers know about some important changes for 2026. Please review all 2026 program details carefully before preparing an application. 2026 Allocations Immigration, Refugees … Read more

Notice: Misuse of RCIP Job Offers: Legal Risks & Community Impact in West Kootenay

We are aware of serious concerns about employers and applicants misusing the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) in some areas of Canada. This includes situations where employers ask for money or other favours in exchange for RCIP-endorsed job offers — and where some applicants offer payment to get those jobs. These actions are illegal and … Read more

Upcoming Info Session for Employers

Are you an employer in the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot region who is hiring or planning to hire a skilled foreign worker? Curious about how the Rural Community Immigration Pilot can support your recruitment efforts? Bring your questions to our online Employer Information Session hosted by the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot … Read more

West Kootenay RCIP Update

May 27, 2025: We are working to finalize the list of priority sectors and occupations that will guide which job offers are eligible for recommendation. Once this step is complete, we will begin accepting applications from employers who wish to become designated under the pilot. After employers are designated, they will be able to submit … Read more