Frequently Asked Questions

The September intake is open from September 2 to September 7, 2026. Applications must be submitted by a designated employer through the West Kootenay RCIP application process during the intake period.

No. If your application remains in the pool from the previous intake, it will be considered in the September selection process and you do not need to submit it again. If your circumstances have changed and you believe you can submit a stronger application, you may withdraw the existing application and submit a new, complete application during the September intake.

No. Information cannot be added to an existing pool application. To have new language results, additional eligible work experience, updated education or other score-changing information considered, withdraw the existing application and submit a new, complete application during the September intake. If there is a material change that you are required to report, contact the West Kootenay RCIP team promptly.

Email rcip@futures.bc.ca with the subject line “Withdraw.” Include the candidate’s full name and the designated employer’s name. Wait for confirmation that the existing application has been withdrawn before submitting the replacement application when the intake opens.

No, provided the existing pool application is withdrawn so that the same employer and the same candidate can submit an updated application during the September intake. This replacement does not create an additional use of the employer’s annual cap. The employer must still remain within its applicable 2026 cap.

The preliminary score appears at the top of the application form PDF generated after the application is submitted. It is preliminary and remains subject to verification.

A particular score does not guarantee a community recommendation. West Kootenay RCIP receives more eligible applications than the number of recommendations available. Scores help prioritize applications, but the information and documents must be verified and applications are subject to the community’s selection and Steering Committee decision-making process. A cut-off from a previous intake is not a guaranteed threshold for a future intake.

There is no predetermined September cut-off. The score required will depend on the applications considered, the number of recommendations available, and the September assessment and selection process. Employers and candidates should submit the strongest complete application possible rather than aim for a score based on a previous intake.

No. West Kootenay RCIP will not maintain an application pool after the September 2026 intake because changes to the Pilot are expected for 2027. Information about the 2027 process will be shared when it becomes available.

To participate, an employer must operate in a current West Kootenay priority sector; have been actively operating under the same management in the West Kootenay RCIP region for at least two years, unless an eligible relocation is accepted; be in good standing with applicable federal and provincial laws; offer eligible full-time, permanent, non-seasonal employment at the required wage; and show that at least 75% of the job’s duties will be performed within the region. The employer must also complete the required training and commit to supporting the newcomer and their family. Meeting the basic criteria allows an employer to apply for designation; designation is granted only after review.

Ineligible employers include consulates; businesses that recruit and hire workers to establish a pool that is transferred or contracted to other businesses; and businesses owned by an immigration representative. A business in which the candidate or the candidate’s spouse or common-law partner holds a majority ownership or controlling interest is also ineligible. Home-based businesses are assessed individually and may be refused. Employers that are non-compliant with employment, occupational health and safety, immigration or other applicable laws, or that are involved in fraud, misrepresentation or discriminatory practices, may be refused or de-designated.

Generally, yes. The employer must demonstrate continuous, active operation under the same management in the West Kootenay RCIP region for at least two years. A relocating employer may be considered only where it can demonstrate continuous active operations elsewhere and that the relocation will make a substantial contribution to the local economy. Evidence will be required and eligibility is assessed by West Kootenay RCIP.

At least 75% of the employee’s job duties must be performed within the West Kootenay RCIP boundaries. The requirement applies to the work attached to the job offer, not simply to the employer’s registered address. West Kootenay RCIP may request schedules, contracts, service records or other evidence showing where the work is performed.

No. An employer must operate in one of the six priority sectors selected for the current year. A difficult-to-fill position does not make an employer eligible if the business itself is outside those sectors.

Potentially. At least one genuine business activity must fall within a current priority sector and the job offer must be connected to that priority-sector activity. The employer, job offer and candidate must also meet all other requirements.

Two trainings are required: IRCC Employer Onboarding, which covers how the Pilot works and employer responsibilities; and intercultural competency training, which supports an inclusive and welcoming workplace. Certificates of completion must be included with the designation application.

An owner, manager or supervisor who is directly involved in hiring or supervising the newcomer employee should complete it. If that person leaves, the employer must notify West Kootenay RCIP and have another appropriate person complete the training. The designation may be paused until new certificates are provided.

Yes. Only one appropriate person is required to meet the designation condition, but employers are encouraged to have other supervisors and staff who work closely with newcomers complete the training as well.

No. Designation permits an eligible employer to participate in the Pilot. It does not guarantee a particular number of recommendations or that every eligible candidate submitted by the employer will be recommended.

The Pilot permits West Kootenay RCIP to select six priority sectors. The selection balances immediate labour shortages, regional economic-development goals, local data, employer and industry input, community consultation and equity across participating communities. Not every sector with hiring challenges can be selected. Priorities are reviewed for each program year.

Potentially. A limited share of recommendations may be issued to secondary NOC occupations that are not on the priority occupation list but are within one of the six priority sectors. The employer must be designated, the job and candidate must meet all eligibility requirements, and West Kootenay RCIP must determine that the occupation addresses a genuine community labour need. Consideration is not guaranteed.

No. Both the employer’s business activity and the job offer must align with a current priority sector, subject to all other eligibility requirements.

Priority sectors and occupations are reviewed for each program year using labour-market information, employer input, community needs and economic-development priorities. Any changes are published by West Kootenay RCIP.

Caps help distribute opportunities across employers and industries, avoid over-concentration in one occupation or sector, support a balanced local economy, and manage the limited number of recommendations available.

No. The cap applies to the employer or company as a whole, regardless of the number of business locations. Multiple locations do not receive separate caps.

For Business, Finance and Administration; Education, Law and Social, Community and Government Services (excluding child care); Trades and Transport; and Manufacturing and Utilities, employers with fewer than 50 employees may receive up to three recommendations and employers with 50 or more employees may receive up to six. In Sales and Service, employers with fewer than 50 employees may receive up to two and employers with 50 or more may receive up to four. Health care and eligible child care occupations (NOC 33102 and NOC 42202) are exempt from these employer caps. Other occupation-specific limits may still apply.

A withdrawal and replacement for the same employer and same candidate during the September intake does not create another use of the annual cap. Other replacements depend on whether a recommendation was issued, whether it was revoked and the employer’s applicable cap. Contact West Kootenay RCIP if the circumstances are unclear.

Unless an exemption applies, the candidate must demonstrate at least 1,560 hours of eligible paid work experience acquired over at least one year within the three years before applying. Full-time or part-time experience may qualify, but no more than 30 hours per week can be counted. The experience must meet the applicable NOC and TEER relationship rules and the candidate must have performed the lead statement and a substantial number of the main duties. Refer to the Work Experience Requirements page and the Recommendation Application Worksheet for the complete rules.

Yes, if it otherwise meets the RCIP requirements and the candidate can document the required eligible hours and period. Reference or employment letters should clearly show the employer, job title, duties, dates and hours worked. T4 slips and pay stubs may also support the claim.

Paid work gained while studying may count if the candidate was authorized to work, the work meets the applicable NOC and TEER requirements, and it can be documented. All other federal and community requirements still apply. Hours are capped at 30 per week, including during school breaks.

Potentially. Eligible full-time and part-time experience may be combined to reach 1,560 hours, provided each period meets the applicable RCIP requirements and is supported by adequate evidence. The total must span at least one year, and a maximum of 30 hours can be counted in any week.

For a TEER 0 or 1 job offer, qualifying experience may be in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. For a TEER 2 or 3 job offer, it may be in TEER 1, 2, 3 or 4. For a TEER 4 job offer, it may be in TEER 2, 3 or 4. For a TEER 5 job offer, the experience must be in the same five-digit NOC. A specific health-care pathway applies where the qualifying experience is NOC 31301.

Report the actual periods worked and any relevant gaps. Employment dates must be consistent across the application, letters, pay records and other supporting documents. Time not worked cannot be counted toward the required hours.

Yes, if you have eligible previous work experience and provide the required supporting evidence. The international-graduate exemption determines whether you must meet the federal minimum work-experience requirement; it does not prevent eligible experience from being assessed under the West Kootenay scoring grid.

No. The candidate must meet the applicable Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) requirement in each of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Use the lowest of the four converted benchmark results when determining the level met.

For a TEER 0 or 1 job offer, the minimum is CLB/NCLC 6 in each ability. For TEER 2 or 3, the minimum is CLB/NCLC 5. For TEER 4 or 5, the minimum is CLB/NCLC 4. Accepted tests are IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada.

Yes. Language results are valid for two years and educational credential assessments are generally valid for five years. They must be valid when IRCC receives the complete permanent residence application. If a document will expire before the candidate can apply to IRCC, it must be renewed or retaken.

It is the candidate’s written explanation of their genuine plan to live in the West Kootenay region. It should describe why the candidate wants to remain in the region, their knowledge of the community and job, their established connections, and practical plans involving matters such as housing, transportation, schools and family life. The candidate, not the employer, must complete it.

Evidence may include living or working in the region; previous local education; family and daily life in the community; a spouse or common-law partner’s work or study; housing, school or transportation arrangements; community participation; and other established connections or realistic future plans. Submit evidence that is relevant to the points claimed.

For the current West Kootenay application, close family includes adult children or adult stepchildren, parents or stepparents, siblings and grandparents who currently live in the region. Cousins, aunts and uncles are generally not close family for these points, although significant extended-family connections may still be described in the Intent to Reside form.

West Kootenay RCIP uses eligibility screening and a points-based system to manage demand. A complete application must first meet all eligibility requirements. Scores then help prioritize applications for the limited recommendations available. All claims remain subject to document verification and the community selection process.

The lock-in date is the date a complete community recommendation application is received by West Kootenay RCIP. IRCC uses it to assess the age of dependent children. An incomplete application does not receive a lock-in date.

A dependent child’s age is locked in on the date the EDO receives the complete community recommendation application. A child under 22 who is not married or in a common-law relationship can generally be included. A child aged 22 or older must meet IRCC’s requirements relating to financial dependence and a physical or mental condition.

The passport must be valid when IRCC receives the permanent residence application. A longer validity period is recommended because passport expiry can affect processing and the duration of immigration documents. Renew an expiring passport before submitting to IRCC where necessary.

The employer, job and candidate must meet the priorities and requirements in effect when the application is submitted. Check the Priorities and Updates pages before applying and follow any transition notice or deadline published by West Kootenay RCIP.

No. The designated employer must submit it on the candidate’s behalf. The candidate must provide the necessary language, education, work-experience, immigration and Intent to Reside documents and work closely with the employer to ensure the application is complete and accurate.

It is the formal certificate or letter issued by West Kootenay RCIP that allows an eligible candidate to apply to IRCC for permanent residence under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot. It is not permanent residence and does not itself authorize the candidate to work in Canada.

Review the notice, gather the missing or corrected information, and submit a new complete application during an open intake if eligible. Incomplete applications cannot be processed and are not placed in the pool.

Before submitting, employers and candidates should confirm that:

• All required documents are included.
• Names, dates, positions, hours and other information are consistent across forms and evidence.
• Language results and any required ECA are valid.
• CLB/NCLC results, work-experience hours, NOC and TEER are calculated correctly.
• Work experience and Intent to Reside claims are supported by evidence.
• Immigration status documents are current.
• The job offer, wage and recruitment evidence meet the requirements.
• All recruiter, representative or other assistance is disclosed.
• Every required form and declaration is complete and correctly signed.

No. Candidates on visitor status in Canada are not eligible under the current West Kootenay application process.

Yes. Applications from candidates living outside Canada are accepted, provided the employer, job offer and candidate meet all applicable West Kootenay RCIP and federal eligibility requirements.

Potentially. A candidate with maintained status may be eligible, depending on their circumstances and continuing authorization. Submit documents showing the application that created maintained status, the previous permit and the candidate’s legal status and work authorization.

A community recommendation application or a place in the pool does not extend temporary status or work authorization. The candidate is responsible for maintaining legal status and may work only while authorized. A candidate who has not yet received a recommendation cannot use an RCIP work permit to bridge the pre-recommendation period.

After receiving a community recommendation and submitting the permanent residence application to IRCC, an eligible candidate may apply for the two-year, employer-specific, LMIA-exempt RCIP work permit. The candidate must follow IRCC’s requirements. A recommendation alone does not authorize work.

The employer and candidate must notify West Kootenay RCIP promptly of any material change. A designated employer must immediately report in writing if an RCIP candidate quits, is terminated or is laid off. A recommendation may be reviewed or revoked if the qualifying job offer is no longer genuine or available.

No. Once the person becomes a permanent resident, the immigration process is complete and the employer cannot revoke that status. If the worker leaves before permanent residence is granted, notify West Kootenay RCIP immediately because the recommendation may need to be reviewed or revoked.

Notify West Kootenay RCIP immediately, identify a new appropriate contact, and have that person complete the required employer onboarding and intercultural competency training. The designation may be paused until the new certificates are provided.

It is an in-person visit used to confirm that the employer is active and legitimate, understand workplace conditions, discuss newcomer supports and verify ongoing compliance. A visit may occur during designation review or as part of ongoing monitoring.

West Kootenay RCIP may request payroll records, tax filings, financial statements, WorkSafeBC documentation, proof of wages or other records to confirm active operation, the two-year operating history, financial capacity, the genuineness of the job and compliance with program requirements. Information is used for assessment and integrity purposes.

Yes, but all paid or unpaid assistance connected with recruitment, communication or preparation of the RCIP application must be declared. A paid immigration representative must be authorized and in good standing. Only the employer may sign and submit employer designation and community recommendation applications, and the employer must still complete the mandatory training.

Check the representative’s status with the appropriate regulator: the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants for RCICs; the relevant provincial or territorial law society for Canadian lawyers and paralegals; or the Chambre des notaires du Québec for Quebec notaries. Confirm that the person is currently active and in good standing.

No. No one may charge a candidate for a job offer or community recommendation, or recover recruitment or immigration costs through wage deductions, repayment agreements or another arrangement. Job offers must be genuine and based on a real labour need. A paid authorized representative may charge for legitimate immigration advice or representation, but not for the job offer or community recommendation itself.

For questions about immigration processing, work permits and supporting a candidate, designated employers may ask West Kootenay RCIP about access to IRCC’s Dedicated Service Channel. For individual legal advice, consult an authorized immigration representative.

No. Community decisions are final and there is no appeal process. If circumstances change or the employer or candidate later meets the requirements, a new application may be submitted during an eligible intake, subject to the rules then in effect.

Use the West Kootenay RCIP Updates page for current information about priorities, occupations, application periods and program changes: https://westkootenayimmigration.ca/updates/.