EMPLOYERS GUIDE

Looking to hire a skilled foreign worker?

If you're an employer looking to recruit, hire, and retain skilled foreign workers—including immigrants, temporary residents, or overseas candidates seeking permanent residency—this page will guide you through the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot and how it can support your hiring needs.

What is the Rural Community Immigration Pilot?

The West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) makes it easier for employers to hire skilled foreign workers.

Candidates for the West Kootenay RCIP must be planning to work and live long term in the West Kootenay region and meet federal criteria.

Participating Communities

Central Kootenay Regional District:

Creston, Yahk, East Shore of Kootenay Lake, Kaslo, North Kootenay Lake, Ainsworth, Balfour, Nelson, Ymir, Salmo, Castlegar, Slocan Valley, Silverton, New Denver, Nakusp, Burton, Fauquier, Edgewood and surrounding areas.

[Most of] Kootenay Boundary Regional District:

Fruitvale, Trail, Warfield, Rossland, Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, and Rock Creek and surrounding areas.

See Map

Who can I hire through the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot?

Temporary resident

Hire a visitor, student, or worker living in the West Kootenay RCIP region.

International student

Hire an international student who completed their studies in the West Kootenay RCIP region in the last 16 months

Overseas applicant

Hire an overseas and out-of-region candidates are no longer eligible.

How to hire with the Rural Community Immigration Pilot

As an employer, there are five steps to hiring a skilled foreign worker through the Rural Community Immigration Pilot.

Note: the pilot does not facilitate hiring, it is up to the West Kootenay employers to find qualified candidates for the job(s).

BECOME A DESIGNATED EMPLOYER

Before you can hire a skilled worker through the pilot, you complete the required training and apply to West Kootenay RCIP to get designated (coming soon)

FIND A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE

Once designated, you can hire qualified international candidates for jobs you haven’t been able to fill locally.

ENSURE ELIGIBILITY

Review the eligibility requirements for the job at RCIP Job Offer Requirements. Ensure your candidate meets RCIP Candidate Requirements.

MAKE A JOB OFFER

Once you confirm that both your candidate and job meet the eligibility requirements: Complete and sign the form: Offer of Employment – Rural Community Immigration Pilot (IMM 0247). Also give the candidate a copy to sign and submit with their permanent residence application.

SUBMIT RECOMMENDATION

Once you’ve offered the job to the candidate, you need to complete a recommendation application and send it to the community.

The Process

RCIP Committee reviews application

The RCIP application is presented at the monthly Community Recommendation Meeting. Note: application are presented to the committee in the order that they are received, i.e. first in, first out.

Results from Community Recommendation Meeting emailed to candidates

After the application is reviewed at the Community Recommendation Meeting, the candidate will be sent an email notifying them if they did or did not receive a community recommendation to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency.

Community Recommendation for Permanent Residency

If the candidate is successful, then they will be eligible to apply for Permanent Residency with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

If needed, the candidate can also apply for a two-year work permit specific to the employer while their permanent residency application is being processed. (Only necessary if they do not have a work permit or their existing work permit is about to expire).

How to apply for the two-year Rural Community Immigration Pilot work permit

Candidates who qualify for permanent residence may also be able to get a two-year work permit so they can start working while their application is processed.

Before your candidate can apply for their optional work permit, you need to submit an offer of employment. Learn more: work permit for candidates

Employers: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use RCIP for a person that already works for me?

Yes, you can use RCIP for current employees, as long as the following eligibility requirements are met:

How do I hire someone from overseas?

To hire an overseas candidate through the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP):

  1. Find a candidate and make sure they meet all candidate requirements.
  2. Ensure your job offer meets RCIP job offer requirements.
  3. Check that the candidate has their required documents ready.
  4. If this is your first time using RCIP, you must become a designated employer.

Once these steps are complete, you can make a job offer and begin the RCIP application process.

Can I hire an international student?

Yes, you can hire international students, as long as the following eligibility requirements are met:

What wage am I required to pay?

West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot sets wage requirements to ensure that the candidates are able to support themselves in the region:

  • [wage to be determined by committee] per hour or more and
  • The wage meets or exceeds the Job Bank’s minimum wage for your job offer’s National Occupational Classification (NOC), based on the West Kootenay region.

Immigration Representatives

The West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot is not affiliated with any Immigration Representative, nor do we give preferential treatment to applications from an Immigration Representative.

If employers and candidates choose to have their paperwork completed by an Immigration Representative, we suggest they read Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s guidelines for using an immigration and citizenship representative.

Employers and candidates may use a representative to act on their behalf or to assist them with finding a qualifying job offer, completing their RCIP application for recommendation, and/or completing their Permanent Resident application.

There are different types of representatives: paid and unpaid and authorized and unauthorized. The West Kootenay RCIP will not communicate with, or allow for, unauthorized representatives to assist with an RCIP application. If an applicant uses an unauthorized representative, in Canada or abroad, we may return your application or refuse it.

Immigration 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 College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants

Please note: using an Immigration Representative does not change how the application will be reviewed or whether it will be approved or rejected. All applications are handled the same. Immigration Representatives cannot and should not guarantee Community Recommendation, Permanent Residence, or a more expedient processing of an application.

I have questions about the pilot, is there someone I can talk to?

Find out about the additional support you can get from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada as a designated employer.

What else do I need to know?

Incomplete Documents:

Applications WILL NOT be considered if the following documents are incomplete and do not meet minimum qualifications:

  • A valid job offer from a designated West Kootenay employer
  • Valid English or French language test results that meet the requirements of the job offer. Learn more.
  • Canadian educational credential or the foreign equivalent. Learn more.
  • Proof of related work experience (one year/ 1,560 hours) in the last three years, unless they are exempt
  • Proof that the candidate has enough money to support themselves and their family

Fraud and Misrepresentation

Fraud and misrepresentation are taken very seriously by the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot and by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Any business and/or individuals 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 West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot

Rural Community Immigration Pilot decision making

It is important to note the following:

  • All decisions made by the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot are final and are not subject to appeal.
  • Receiving a recommendation from the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot does not guarantee permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has sole authority to approve or refuse all applications for permanent residency.

International Student Exemption

International students are exempt from the work experience criteria if they obtained an eligible program credential from a post-secondary program from a publicly funded post-secondary institution located within the community, provided that:

  • they were enrolled as a full time student during the entire 2 year or more post-secondary program while obtaining the credential

and were;

  1. within the 18 months prior to the application for permanent residence to IRCC; and\
  2. they were physically present in the rural and northern community for at least 16 months during the 24 months immediately prior to obtaining the eligible credential,

OR

  • they were enrolled as a fulltime student for the duration of a master’s or doctoral degree less than two years; and were
  1. within the 18 months prior to the application for permanent residence to IRCC; and
  2. physically present in the rural and northern community for the duration of their entire period of studies; and
  3. physically present in the rural and northern community for the duration of their entire period of studies.

International Student Exemption

International students are exempt from the work experience criteria if they obtained an eligible program credential from a post-secondary program from a publicly funded post-secondary institution located within the community, provided that:

  • they were enrolled as a full time student during the entire 2 year or more post-secondary program while obtaining the credential

and were;

  1. within the 18 months prior to the application for permanent residence to IRCC; and\
  2. they were physically present in the rural and northern community for at least 16 months during the 24 months immediately prior to obtaining the eligible credential,

OR

  • they were enrolled as a fulltime student for the duration of a master’s or doctoral degree less than two years; and were
  1. within the 18 months prior to the application for permanent residence to IRCC; and
  2. physically present in the rural and northern community for the duration of their entire period of studies; and
  3. physically present in the rural and northern community for the duration of their entire period of studies.