Applicants

Welcome and thank you for your interest in coming to the West Kootenay region. Please review the information below and follow the steps carefully. 

For all community-based questions, please direct them to contact us. For all other questions regarding the pilot, please go to IRCC’s website.

If you are having difficulty opening any government forms please use this guide:

Help Centre – I can’t open my application form in PDF format. What can I do?

Application Process

1. Ensure that you meet the federal eligibility requirements

Ensure that you meet the federal eligibility requirements

Required total hours are 1560 and cannot be accumulated in less than 1 year.

2. Find Full time employment in the Community

To search for a job in the region:

For full time employment requirements please visit: IRCC website

You must have the RNIP Offer of Employment Form filled out and signed by your employer. It is your responsibility to upload this form as part of your application. PLEASE NOTE The West Kootenay RNIP team will not assist candidates with their job search or placement.

These 2 forms below must be filled out and sent to erooney@futures.bc.ca before you can apply to the West Kootenay RNIP.

Offer of Employment Form (IMM 5984)
Employment Declaration Form

NEW PUBLIC POLICY ANNOUCED ABOUT WORK EXPERIENCE: this public policy will allow candidates to meet the work experience requirement where they have accumulated one full year of work experience in the three years preceding their application for permanent residence, regardless of whether this work experience was continuous or not. Required total hours are 1560 and cannot be accumulated in less than 1 year.

3. Ensure that you and your employer meet the Community Based Criteria

The Community Recommendation Committee will be assessing candidates’ ties to the community to ensure you and your family are prepared to reside in the West Kootenay region after you receive your permanent residency.

NOTE: OUR COMMUNITY CRITERIA PRIORITY RANKING POINTS HAVE CHANGED. PLEASE SEE OUR COMMUNITY CRITERIA TAB BELOW TO SCORE YOUR POINTS. THERE IS A MINIMUM SCORE REQUIRED.

Community Criteria

4. HOW to APPLY: West Kootenay RNIP – Application Form

Intake periods: The West Kootenay RNIP will prioritize priority NOCs and the highest Community Criteria scores per intake.  If the applicant does not get chosen on the first intake period after applying, they are put into a cue and held for 2 more intake periods.  If they do not get reviewed by the selection committee within those 3 intake periods, their application is withdrawn from the cue and they are welcome to reapply.

Due to administrative capacity some intake periods may close earlier than others. Please refer back to our Community Criteria frequently as our prioritization factors are a fluid document and can change at any time.

Once you have completed Steps 1 – 3, complete the online application form and include all required information and attachments. Use the application portal below to submit your complete application.

The WK-RNIP will not accept applications, documents or forms unless they come through this application portal.
RNIP Document Checklist

Apply Here

If you are having difficulty opening any government forms please use this guide:

Help Centre – I can’t open my application form in PDF format. What can I do?

5. Apply to IRCC for Permanent Residency

If you have received a community recommendation use these steps to apply to IRCC

  • If you need a RNIP employer LMIA exempt work permit go to: work permit

Please note applications WILL NOT be considered if they are incomplete and do not meet minimum qualifications:
  • Job offer from a West Kootenay Employer
  • English (and possibly French) language credentials
  • Educational credential requirements
Nelson, BC

Document Guide, Required Forms & Checklist to Apply to IRCC

Immigration Representatives

You may choose to use a representative to act on your behalf or to assist you with finding a qualifying job offer, completing your RNIP application for recommendation or completing your Permanent Resident application. There are different types of representatives: paid and unpaid and authorized and unauthorized. Representatives are authorized if they are:

  • lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society
  • notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and
  • citizenship or immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council

The Community will not communicate with, or allow for, unauthorized representatives to assist with your RNIP application. If you use an unauthorized representative, in Canada or abroad, we may return your application or refuse it.

It is important to note that using a representative does not change how your application will be reviewed or whether it will be approved or rejected. All applications are handled the same regardless of whether a representative is used or not. Immigration representatives cannot guarantee Community Recommendation, Permanent Residence, or a more expedient processing of an application.

Fraud and Misrepresentation

Fraud and misrepresentation are taken very seriously by the Community and by IRCC. Any business and individulas found to be misrepresenting themselves or committing fraud will be banned from applying for recommendation for the duration of the pilot, along with any associated parties.  

Misrepresentation and fraud can take many forms including but not limited to:

  • Submission of fraudulent documents
  • Accepting or offering money for a job offer
  • Intentionally misleading the Community

It is important to note the following:

  • All decisions made by the Community are final and are not subject to appeal.
  • Receiving a recommendation from the Community does not guarantee permanent residence; IRCC has sole authority to approve or refuse all applications for permanent residency.