Frequently Asked Questions

To hire/ retain skilled workers through the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), your business must first become a designated employer. To be eligible for designation, your business must:

• Operate in a priority sector. Each year, the West Kootenay RCIP sets 6 priority sectors and up to 25 eligible occupations. Your business must operate in at least one of these sectors. Learn more at: Priorities
• Have been actively operating under the same management in the West Kootenay RCIP region for at least two years (or be a new relocation that contributes significantly to the local economy).
• Be in good standing with all applicable federal and provincial laws, including employment standards, occupational health and safety (WorkSafeBC), and immigration rules.
• Offer eligible jobs that are full-time, permanent, non-seasonal, and pay fair wages based on Job Bank and/or West Kootenay RCIP wage requirements.
• Operate locally. At least 75% of the job’s work must take place within the West Kootenay RCIP boundaries.
• Support newcomers. You/ the employee’s manager must complete mandatory onboarding and intercultural competency training and commit to helping your employee and their family settle successfully in the community.

If your business meets these requirements, you can apply for designation through the West Kootenay RCIP. If not, your business or organization is ineligible.

Under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), some types of businesses are not eligible to participate. Businesses are ineligible if they fall into any of the following categories:

• Recruitment/Staffing Agencies: Businesses that exist to create a pool of workers to be transferred or contracted to other companies are not eligible.
• Consulates: Consulates are excluded from employer designation.
• Businesses Owned by Immigration Representatives: Any business owned by an immigration consultant, lawyer, or other representative as defined under IRPA is ineligible.
• Businesses Owned or Controlled by the Candidate or Their Spouse: A business where the candidate or their spouse/common-law partner holds the majority of ownership or control (directly or indirectly) is not eligible. This rule prevents candidates from recommending themselves.
• Home-Based Businesses: These may not be eligible. Businesses operating from a residential address will be evaluated by the West Kootenay RCIP, which has full discretion to approve or deny designation.
• Businesses Found Non-Compliant with Laws: Employers are ineligible or can be de-designated if they:
  • Have violated labour standards, occupational health and safety, or the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act/Regulations.
  • Are under investigation or found to have engaged in fraud, misrepresentation, or discriminatory practices.

No. To be eligible for designation under the West Kootenay RCIP, your business must operate in one of the six priority sectors selected for the current year.

Yes—if at least one of your business activities is in a priority sector, and the job offer you’re making is in that sector, you may be eligible for designation under the West Kootenay RCIP.

Note: the job must also meet all other pilot requirements.

To become designated employers must complete two trainings:

• Employer Onboarding (from IRCC): Covers how the Pilot works and your responsibilities as an employer.
• Intercultural Competency: Helps you create an inclusive workplace and support newcomer employees.

Both are required before you can become designated and hire through the pilot. Certificates of completion must be submitted with the application for employer designation. To learn more, please read through our Employer Designation process.

An owner, manager, or supervisor who is directly involved in hiring or overseeing newcomer employees should complete the required training.

If that person leaves the business or organization, then the designation will be put on pause until another person has taken the training and sent the completed certificates to West Kootenay RCIP.

Yes. While only one person needs to complete the mandatory training to meet RCIP requirements, it’s strongly encouraged that other staff—especially those who supervise or work closely with newcomers—also take the training. This helps build a more inclusive and supportive workplace, which improves employee retention and overall success.

You must submit certificates of completion for both the Employer Onboarding and Intercultural Competency trainings. These certificates are required as part of your Employer Designation Application. To learn more, please read through our Employer Designation process.

We understand that many sectors in our region face real hiring difficulties. The structure of this pilot limits West Kootenay RCIP to six priority sectors.

These six sectors must reflect a balance between:

• Immediate labour market needs (e.g. unfilled jobs),
• Strategic economic development goals (e.g. sectors expected to grow or be critical to the region), and
• Equity across communities served by the West Kootenay RCIP.

We gather this information through:

• Input from employers and industry associations,
• Local labour market data,
• Economic development strategies, and
• Community consultations.

Because of these limitations, not every high-need sector can be included every year, even if there is a genuine need.

However, we review our priority sectors annually in the fall, and your feedback plays an important role in that process. If you believe your sector should be considered in future years, we encourage you to share your input with us directly.

Each year, West Kootenay RCIP selects up to 25 priority occupations across six priority sectors. However, to stay flexible, the pilot allows some community recommendations to go to occupations not on the priority list, as long as they are still within one of the six priority sectors.

These are called secondary NOC occupations. They let the community respond to new or unexpected workforce gaps that arise during the year.

To be considered for a secondary NOC occupation:

• The job must be in a priority sector.
• The employer must be designated.
• The occupation must meet all eligibility requirements.
• West Kootenay RCIP must determine that the job meets a real and emerging need.

The West Kootenay RCIP is limited to six priority sectors and 25 priority occupations each year, based on data and consultation about local economic needs. Even if your job is hard to fill, it may not be included if:

• It’s outside the selected sectors
• It didn’t rank high enough among other local labour priorities
• There wasn’t enough evidence of a broader community need

The priority list is reviewed annually. Please contact us to share feedback or make a case for future inclusion.

No. To use the West Kootenay RCIP, your business/ organization must operate in a priority sector.

To learn more, please visit our Priorities page & Eligibility page.

The West Kootenay RCIP Steering Committee reviews the region’s priority sectors and occupations once midway through the year. Occupations may be added, removed, or updated annually based on:

• Local labour market needs
• Local employer input
• Economic development priorities

The West Kootenay RCIP Steering Committee reviews the region’s priority sectors on a yearly basis, usually in the fall, to set priorities for the upcoming year.

West Kootenay RCIP may place caps or limits on how many recommendations are approved for certain sectors, occupations, or employers to:

• Spread opportunities across multiple employers and industries
• Avoid over-concentration in one sector or occupation
• Support a balanced local economy
• Ensure the pilot meets its goal of addressing a range of labour market needs

These limits help keep the pilot fair, strategic, and responsive to changing community priorities.

This is such a common question, we’ve created a dedicated step-by-step page that explains the work experience requirements. It includes guidance on eligibility, how to calculate hours, acceptable types of work, required documents, and answers to common questions.

The West Kootenay RCIP uses a points-based system to manage high demand. This allows us to prioritize candidates who not only meet the minimum requirements but also bring additional strengths—like local connections, further education, or additional work experience.

The lock-in date is the date your complete community recommendation application is received by West Kootenay RCIP.

• This date is used by IRCC to determine the age of dependent children.

Incomplete applications do not receive a lock-in date and are not placed in the queue until all required documents are submitted.

To be eligible, your application must match the current priority sectors and occupations at the time you submit.

West Kootenay RCIP will post a notice on the website if/ when it is going to update the priorities. All applications received by the deadline will be eligible. However, if you apply after the deadline and your occupation or sector is no longer a priority, then your application may not be eligible.

To avoid surprises, we recommend checking for updates regularly on our Updates page.

An Intent to Reside statement is a short, written explanation from the candidate that shows they genuinely plan to live in the West Kootenay region if they become a permanent resident. It should include things like:

• Why they want to live in the area
• What they know about the community and job
• Any steps they’ve taken to prepare for living there (e.g. housing, schools, transportation)

This statement is a required part of the Community Recommendation Application and must be written by the candidate—not the employer.

A child’s age is “locked in” on the date a complete community recommendation application is received by the Economic Development Organization (EDO).

• If the child is under 22 and not married/common-law on that date, they can be included as a dependent.
• If they are 22 or older, they must show financial dependence on a parent and a physical or mental condition to qualify.

The candidate’s passport must be valid at the time IRCC receives the permanent residence application. It’s recommended that the passport be valid for at least 12 months to avoid issues with application processing or permit duration.

Yes. Both language test results and educational credential assessments (ECAs) have expiration dates and must be valid at the time the candidate applies for permanent residence through IRCC.

Language tests

• Must be from an IRCC-approved testing agency
• Are valid for 2 years from the date of the test
• Must still be valid on the date that IRCC receives the Candidate’s permanent residence application

ECAs (for foreign education)

• Must be from an IRCC-approved organization
• Are valid for 5 years from the date of issue
• Must still be valid on the date that IRCC receives the Candidate’s permanent residence application

If a candidate’s language test or ECA will expire soon, we recommend planning ahead or updating the documents before submitting the PR application. West Kootenay RCIP aims to recommend candidates who have the strongest chance of success with their permanent residence application. If a language test or ECA is close to expiring, this may be taken into consideration when deciding who to recommend, because expired documents may result in a refusal by IRCC.

IRCC requires that your language test and educational credential assessments (ECAs) are valid on the date IRCC receives your complete PR application, not when you receive your community recommendation. If a document expires before you apply to IRCC, you’ll need to renew or retake it.

If the passport expires, the candidate will need to renew their passport before they can apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

Under the West Kootenay RCIP, candidates must meet minimum language scores based on the TEER level (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) of the job offer. Here’s how it breaks down:

*Minimum Language Score based on Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC).

To learn more about how your language test relates to the CLB or NCLC, please visit: Take a language test

Eligible language tests are:

• English tests: IELTS (General), CELPIP (General), or PTE Core
• French tests: TEF Canada or TCF Canada

The test results must be from a designated testing agency, no more than 2 years old at the time the candidate applies for Permanent Residence with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and must meet the required score in all four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

A community recommendation is a formal letter issued by West Kootenay RCIP that allows a candidate to apply for permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

To receive a recommendation:

• The employer must be designated under the pilot
• The job offer must be in one of the current priority sectors and occupations (some exceptions apply)
• The candidate must meet federal eligibility requirements (language, education, work experience, etc.)
• The candidate must provide a signed Intent to Reside statement showing they plan to live in the West Kootenay region

No. The Community Recommendation Application must be submitted by the designated employer on behalf of the candidate.
However, the candidate is responsible for providing key documents, including:

• Language test results
• Proof of education (and Education Credential Assessment (ECA) if needed)
• Proof of work experience (unless exempt)
• A signed Intent to Reside form
• Immigration documents (if already in Canada)

Employers and candidates should work closely together, but the employer must submit the application to West Kootenay RCIP.

TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities. It is part of Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system and is used to group jobs based on their skill and education levels.

Each job under NOC 2021 is assigned a TEER level from 0 to 5. The TEER number is the second number in the NOC code, so, for example a Health Care Aide is NOC 33102 and is TEER 3.

Why TEER Matters for RCIP:

• Language Requirements: candidates must meet a minimum language score (CLB/NCLC) depending on the TEER level of the job.
• Work Experience Requirements: Federal eligibility requires at least one year of paid work experience (1,560 hours) within the last 3 years. This can be full-time or an equivalent amount of part-time work. The work experience must be in an occupation that is eligible for the TEER level of the job offer (based on the RCIP TEER rules). For TEER 5 job offers, the work experience must be in the same 5-digit NOC. Candidates must also show they meet the requirements of the job being offered, including any required training, education, or licensing (for regulated occupations).

If your candidate’s work permit is close to expiring, or has already expired, what you can do depends on where they are in the RCIP process:

If the candidate has NOT yet received a community recommendation:

They cannot apply for an RCIP work permit. An RCIP work permit is only available after:

• The candidate receives a community recommendation, and
• The candidate submits their permanent residence (PR) application to IRCC.

If their current work permit is expiring soon, they must take steps on their own to maintain valid legal status in Canada (for example, by applying for another type of work permit, if eligible).

West Kootenay RCIP does not issue community recommendations to candidates who are:

• On visitor status, or
• Out of status in Canada

Important: A community recommendation does not give a candidate the right to work in Canada. Candidates must have valid work authorization (such as a valid work permit or maintained status with work authorization) in order to work.

If a candidate’s work permit expires and they do not have another form of valid work authorization, they cannot legally continue working while waiting for an RCIP decision or permanent residence processing.

Employers are responsible for ensuring that all employees have valid authorization to work in Canada.

If the candidate has received a recommendation and submitted their permanent residence application:

One their permanent residence application has been submitted, then the candidate can apply for the 2-year RCIP work permit (LMIA-exempt, C15) to begin or continue working in the West Kootenay region.

Learn more about the work permit application process.

Important: RCIP work permits are tied to the pilot process and can’t be used to extend a stay pre-recommendation.

Yes. If the person who completed the employer training has left your business or organization, you must:

• Notify West Kootenay RCIP right away
• Identify a new staff person to act as the main contact
• Have that person complete the mandatory employer training

This ensures your business remains in good standing and can continue to participate in the pilot.

A site visit is an in-person meeting at your business location, conducted by West Kootenay RCIP, to:

• Confirm your business is active and legitimate
• Learn more about your workplace conditions and environment
• Discuss your plans for supporting a newcomer employee

Site visits may be part of your designation review or a routine annual check-in to ensure compliance with the pilot’s requirements. They’re also a chance to ask questions and strengthen your role in the pilot.

West Kootenay RCIP may request financial documentation to:

• Confirm your business is active and stable
• Confirm your business has been in operation for 2+ years in the West Kootenay RCIP region
• Verify that you have the capacity to offer long-term, full-time employment
• Support your application for employer designation or a recommendation for a candidate
• Examples of requested documents might include payroll records, tax filings, or proof of wages paid. This helps ensure the job offer is genuine and aligns with the pilot’s integrity standards.

All information is kept confidential and used only to assess eligibility.

No. Once a candidate becomes a permanent resident, their immigration process is complete and cannot be revoked, even if they leave your business or the community.

If the worker leaves before getting permanent residence, West Kootenay RCIP may consider revoking their recommendation, especially if the job offer is no longer valid.

If this happens, contact West Kootenay RCIP right away.

There are several possible reasons your candidate was not recommended by West Kootenay RCIP. Common reasons include:

• The job offer was not in a current priority sector and occupation
• The employer was not designated or did not meet designation requirements
• The candidate did not meet federal eligibility criteria, such as language, education, or work experience
• The application was incomplete or missing required documents
• There were concerns about the genuineness of the job offer or intent to reside in the community
• The recommendation cap for that sector, occupation, or employer had already been reached

If West Kootenay RCIP informed you that your application is incomplete, you’ll need to:

• Review the feedback carefully to understand what’s missing
• Gather the missing documents or information
• Submit a complete, updated application

Incomplete applications cannot be processed and will be returned without a recommendation.

Yes—employers can hire a licensed immigration consultant to support them with the RCIP process. However:

• Only the employer can sign and submit the Employer Designation and Community Recommendation applications.
• The employer must still complete the mandatory training.
• You must disclose in your application if you used a representative.
• West Kootenay RCIP may contact you directly to confirm details, even if you are working with a representative.

Authorized representatives include:

• Lawyers and paralegals (Canada): Federation of Law Societies of Canada
• Notaries in Québec: Chambre des notaires du Québec
• Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs): College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants

West Kootenay RCIP may contact you directly to confirm details, even if you’re working with a representative.

You can check the official directories to make sure your representative is active and in good standing:

• Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs): College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants
• Lawyers and paralegals (Canada): Federation of Law Societies of Canada
• Notaries in Québec: Chambre des notaires du Québec

Make sure the representative is currently active and in good standing before you hire them.

Important fraud warning
Be careful when choosing a representative. Some people may try to take advantage of employers or applicants. Remember:

• Authorized representatives cannot guarantee that your application will be approved.
• No one should ask you for money in exchange for a job offer or a community recommendation.
• Using an unauthorized or fraudulent representative could cause your application to be refused.

West Kootenay RCIP cannot work with unlicensed or unauthorized representatives.

For questions about the immigration process, work permits, and how to support your candidate, employers can contact IRCC’s Dedicated Service Channel for RCIP. To access this service, contact West Kootenay RCIP.

No.

Under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), employers and representatives are not allowed to charge a candidate money in exchange for:

• A job offer
• A community recommendation
• Support with an RCIP application

Job offers must be genuine and based on a real labour need — not on payment.

Employers must not directly or indirectly recover recruitment or immigration costs from a candidate. This includes:

• Asking for upfront payment
• Requiring “repayment agreements” tied to immigration support
• Deducting or garnishing wages
• Recovering costs through payroll deductions or other financial arrangements

If you are a candidate, you should never pay someone for a job offer under RCIP.

Paid immigration representatives must be authorized and in good standing with the appropriate regulatory body. Even authorized representatives cannot charge for a job offer or for a community recommendation.

If West Kootenay RCIP becomes aware that money has been exchanged for a job offer or recommendation, the application may be refused, and the employer may lose their designation.

If you are unsure whether something is allowed, please contact West Kootenay RCIP before proceeding.

No. Decisions made by West Kootenay RCIP are final and there is no appeal process.

However, if your situation changes—or you believe you now meet the eligibility requirements—you’re welcome to submit a new application.

For the latest updates on priority sectors, occupations, application changes, and pilot news, visit the West Kootenay RCIP Updates page.