Regional Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (Regional EMPP): Amounts issued to applicants to be used as settlement funds
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
This section is about processing amounts issued to Regional Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (Regional EMPP) applicants to be used as settlement funds.
Regional EMPP applicants immigrate to Canada as economic migrants, and as such they are required to demonstrate they have sufficient funds to economically establish in Canada.
To help Regional EMPP applicants and their family members demonstrate they can economically establish in Canada, the public policy allows for the use of loans in circumstances where there is a job offer and the applicant is applying under either the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) or the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
IRCC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Windmill Microlending, a registered charity that helps newcomers to Canada with affordable microloans. Windmill Microlending will assess loan applications and, if eligible, provide EMPP applicants with loan pre-approval letters. EMPP applicants must include a copy of the loan pre-approval letter when they submit their permanent residence application to IRCC.
If a pre-approval loan letter issued by Windmill Microlending is submitted as a supporting document to meet the settlement fund requirement, the officer must
- verify that the amount of the loan is sufficient to meet the settlement fund requirement for the program
- verify the expiry date. The loan pre-approval letter is valid for a period of up to 12 months after the date of issuance. When finalizing the decision, the officer must proceed as follows:
- if the loan pre-approval letter is not expired, the officer may finalize the application. Upon approval of the PR application, the approval loan letter will remain valid until
- the EMPP applicant arrives in Canada
- approval of their PR status has been confirmed
- the loan has been disbursed
- wait for the Windmill Microlending decision before finalizing the case if IRCC has been informed that a reassessment is ongoing
- A process is in place for Windmill Microlending to inform IRCC 60 days prior to the end of the 12-month period that the loan pre-approval letter is expiring. At that time, the recipient will need to re-apply. Windmill Microlending will expedite the reassessment and copy IRCC on the decision.
- if the loan pre-approval letter is not expired, the officer may finalize the application. Upon approval of the PR application, the approval loan letter will remain valid until
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