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RCIP Resources

This page is for those interested or participating in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot in the North Okanagan/Shuswap region. This information is provided for general guidance only and should not be considered legal or immigration advice. RCIP requirements and processes may change. For official information, please consult IRCC or seek advice from a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.

Whats is the role of SISS in the RCIP program?

Shuswap Immigrant Services Society (SISS) provides information and settlement support to newcomers, migrant workers and employers. SISS is not involved in the development or delivery of the RCIP program nor to we make recommendation decisions. We do assist applicants in understanding the RCIP program and the wider Canadian Immigration system, in cases of RCIP associated fraud or employer abuse, in navigating settlement in the region and much more.  A full listing of our services can be found here.

Fraud and employer abuse within the RCIP program

Unfortunately, there has been several incidents of fraud and employer abuse related to the RCIP program in the North Okanagan/Shuswap region since the pilot began in June 2025. These range from misleading job advertisements and forged documents to employers requiring payments for job offers to significant unpaid wages and retaliatory terminations.

As a result, we urge potential applicants to exercise a high degree of caution when looking for an RCIP eligible job offer.  If something seems strange, it is important to pay attention and seek further information or assistance. SISS staff are always available to have confidential discussions about your concerns and answer any questions you may have.

Immigration consultants and lawyers

It is important to note that using a representative does not change how your RCIP 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. If you use an unauthorized representative, in Canada or abroad, Community Futures may return your application or refuse it.

Employers and recruiters

Employers and recruiters are not allowed to: charge you or keep wages for recruitment services, take your passport or other official documents, threaten to deport you or take other action with no lawful cause, take action against you or threaten you for making a complaint or speaking to a government agency. They must not deliberately lie or mislead you about: the details of your job, such as position, duties, job length, wages or benefits, housing, immigration or recruitment services or the laws in B.C./Canada.

Program changes over time

Both priority sectors and NOC codes can be altered and so the sectors and NOC codes you see on the website now, may not be the same in the future. Furthermore, the Community Futures RCIP team can restrict businesses participation by installing applications caps on employers, caps on NOC codes, restricting sub-sections of industries, and banning certain NOC codes. It is in the sole discretion of the Community Futures RCIP team to implement restrictions of this nature, and they may do so at any time.

Community Futures RCIP Team Contacts:

Riley Wright
RCIP Advisor (Salmon Arm)
rcipadvisor@futureshuswap.com

Geetika Kohli
RCIP Advisor (Vernon)
geetikak@futuresbc.com

Ward Mercer
RCIP Coordinator
wardmercer@futuresbc.com

SISS Contact:

info@sissociety.ca
250-804-2726

101 – 371 Hudson Ave. NE
Salmon Arm BC

Helpful Websites

RCIP North Okanagan

IRCC RCIP

SISS Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Good question! This is something you will need to decide based on your personal circumstances and long-term goals. RCIP can be a strong pathway for individuals who meet the program requirements and want to live and work in the North Okanagan/Shuswap region. We encourage you to review the eligibility criteria found both on the Community Future’s North Okanagan website and the IRCC RCIP website. We also encourage you to speak with an immigration professional such as a registered consultant or immigration lawyer if you are unsure whether it is the right fit for you.

Eligibility depends on several factors, including your work experience, language ability, education, job offer, and ability to meet community requirements. Please review the Eligibility Checklist for more information. Another important consideration is your competitiveness within the North Okanagan/Shuswap region. To determine your score, you can use this self-scoring sheet and you can see the most recent cut-off score for a community recommendation here in the “cut-off score” column.

Yes, candidates can apply from outside of Canada.

No. A job offer, community recommendation or application for permanent residency alone does not provide immigration status in Canada. If applying from within Canada, candidates must maintain their temporary resident status throughout the application process.

RCIP is a federal pilot program. The length of the program is determined by the Government of Canada and may be subject to change.

Information about participating RCIP communities across Canada is available here and a list of communities that fall within the North Okanagan/Shuswap region can be found here. 

Eligibility & Requirements

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and submitting an application does not guarantee a recommendation. Another important consideration is your competitiveness within the North Okanagan/Shuswap region. To determine your score, you can use this self-scoring sheet, and you can see the most recent cut-off score for a community recommendation here.

Work experience must meet the requirements outlined by IRCC and the RCIP program. Please refer to the work experience guidelines available on the IRCC RCIP document checklist in the “Offer of Employment to a Foreign National” section. For the purposes of RCIP, work experience many be obtained inside or outside of Canada.

For a credential from a Canadian institution to be eligible for RCIP it must be listed as “Recognized” on CICIC’s Directory of Educational Institutions in Canada. If the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) lists your school as anything other than “recognized,” it will be ineligible for the purposes of RCIP.

However, there are some exceptions if the education was completed in British Columbia. For more details, please refer to the Post Secondary Education Checklist.

You must submit a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign education in the absence of eligible Canadian education. There are multiple different organizations that provide ECAs that are accepted by IRCC. You can find them at here. 

Yes. The community baseline wage requirement is set at $22 per hour. However, many of the prioritized job titles have higher wage requirements which are specified on the Community Future’s RCIP website here.

For the purposes of RCIP, close family members are Siblings, Parents, Grandparents, and Adult Children of either the principal applicant or their spouse who are Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents. Proof of citizenship or permanent residence will be required to receive the points.

Volunteer experience must be completed with a legitimate organization. Applicants should be prepared to provide documentation confirming their volunteer activities, including dates, hours, and the organization involved. All of the requirements can be found here. A list of some organizations accepting volunteers in the Shuswap can be found here.

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In some cases, individuals can apply for recommendation with what RCIP calls a “Secondary NOC Code.” These codes are not prioritized but can be considered on a case-by-case basis as long as the job offer is from a designated employer. There are a limited number of secondary NOC applicants that can receive community recommendations each year. The secondary NOC request form for the North Okanagan/Shuswap can be found here.

Employers & Job Offers

Finding an RCIP job offer is not always an easy thing to do. Job seekers can use local job boards such as Workforce Hub and cross referencing it with the list of prioritized job titles and the list of designated employers. It is also helpful to familiarize yourself with the criteria for prospective employers you may encounter and for secondary NOC code requests within the RCIP program. Job seekers can find further employment resources in the “employment” section of our resources page.

Employers must operate in a priority industry identified by the community and meet all designation requirements. Information about eligibility and the designation process can be found here. There is also a helpful video found here.

Designated employers are businesses that have been approved by the community to participate in RCIP. The current Designated Employer List can be found here.

Employers should review the Employer Designation requirements and application process. Once designated, employers can recommend eligible candidates through the RCIP Employer portal during intake windows.

If the employer is designated by the community, the individual can submit a recommendation application via their employer even if they are currently working for them. RCIP can be utilized to retain someone in their current position or to recruit someone for a vacancy.

Job offers should never be sold. If someone asks or has asked you to pay money in exchange for employment or an RCIP opportunity, you can reach out to SISS or Community Future’s RCIP staff for support.

If your circumstances change for the worse after receiving a recommendation, you should contact SISS or the Community Future’s RCIP team as soon as possible. You may also wish to seek support from WorkSafeBC, Employment Standards, legal services depending on your situation and SISS staff are available to assist with these efforts.

Applications & Recommendations

Both parties have a role in the process. Employers must obtain designation and submit required documents to the employer portal.  Candidates are responsible for completing and submitting their documents to the employer and then if they receive a community recommendation, applying for permanent residency and the associated RCIP work permit.

Intake windows are posted on the Community Future’s RCIP website throughout the year.  Applicants are encouraged to monitor this page regularly for the most current intake schedule as the dates do change periodically.

The time it takes to process an application depends on when the candidate applies, whether the application is complete, and where they rank in the candidate pool. The dates when successful candidates are sent their community recommendation, are posted in the “meeting” column of this page on the Community Future’s RCIP website.

The number of recommendations available each year is determined by the federal government and allocated to the community. Recommendation spaces are limited and may change annually.

Any job-specific caps or program limits are listed here on the RCIP website and applicants should reach out to the Community Future’s RCIP team directly to see if they have been filled for any given year.

Yes. Priority industries and NOCs may be reviewed and updated periodically based on local labour market needs and program objectives. Please refer to the most current information available here on the Community Future’s RCIP website.

If you do not receive a recommendation during an intake window, your application will remain in the candidate pool for up to six months. There are two exceptions: (i) if you withdraw and resubmit a new application, or (ii) if your application is recommended or declined during that six-month period.

Please note that you must continue to meet all eligibility requirements in order to remain in the candidate pool.

Work Permits & Permanent Residence

RCIP work permits are only available to individuals who have received a community recommendation and have submitted a permanent residence application to IRCC. Information can be found here.

The RCIP work permit is an employer-specific (closed) work permit that may be valid for up to two years.

Yes. The spouse of a principal applicant may be eligible for a regionally specific open work permit after the principal applicant has submitted their RCIP permanent residence application.

IRCC processing times may vary but may be quite lengthy. Applicants should refer to IRCC’s website for the most current processing information.