Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) contributions

The Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) sets aside funds to provide contributions to offset the costs associated with the transportation loan or assistance loan for exceptionally higher-needs government-assisted refugee and joint assistance sponsorship (JAS) cases of people who reside in any province other than Quebec.

On this page

• About requesting contributions
• Pre-arrival requests for contributions for a transportation loan
• Post-arrival requests for contributions for a transportation and assistance loans
• Procedures for all loans

About requesting contributions

Contributions can be requested in either of the following circumstances:

• pre-arrival by migration offices or the Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O)
• post-arrival by the RAP service provider organization (SPO) or local IRCC officer

Authority to provide contributions is subject to available budget and approval from the Resettlement and Asylum Strategic Operations Branch, Refugee Resettlement Division (RASO-RRD) Sponsor Engagement Unit. The contribution fund is based on funding availability under the RAP. Decisions on which cases are granted contributions are made based on individual assessments of each identified case and in consideration of available contribution dollars.

Contributions may also be approved to cover an assistance loan if it has been issued to cover non-returnable expenses, such as household items and labour market entry expenses.

Pre-arrival requests for contributions for a transportation loan

1. A migration officer may request a contribution by sending an email to the ROC-O with a short rationale that explains why the client would benefit from a contribution instead of issuance of an immigration loan.

   Example of short rationale
   The principal applicant is a woman at risk with a history of experiencing domestic abuse, accompanied by her 4 children, ages 1 to 13. The principal applicant has a medical condition that will likely require significant interventions in Canada, which will hinder the family’s settlement and ability to become self-sufficient. The children also have medical and psychological needs as a result of domestic abuse. The applicant’s psychological state is very fragile, and the family does not have friends or relatives in Canada to offer support.

2. The ROC-O acknowledges the request, completes the Contribution Request Form and sends the recommendation to the Resettlement and Asylum Strategic Operations Branch, Refugee Resettlement Division (RASO-RRD) Sponsor Engagement Unit Immigration Loans Program (ILP) mailbox.
3. The Sponsor Engagement Unit reviews all requests and approves or refuses them, based on the case information and available budget.
   • If a contribution is approved
     1. The assistant director of the Sponsor Engagement Unit initials the appropriate section of the form.
     2. The Sponsor Engagement Unit sends a confirmation of approval to the ROC-O by email and enters a note to this effect in the Global Case Management System (GCMS), copying the local IRCC office of final destination.
     3. The ROC-O notifies the migration office that the contribution has been approved.
     4. The Sponsor Engagement Unit notifies IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable.
     5. IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable processes the transportation loan as a contribution, rather than as a repayable loan under the ILP.
     6. IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable sends a final statement of account to the client.
   • If the contribution is refused
     1. The assistant director of the Sponsor Engagement Unit initials the appropriate section of the form.
     2. Sponsor Engagement Unit sends a confirmation of refusal to the ROC-O by email and enters a note to this effect in GCMS.
     3. The ROC-O notifies the migration office that the contribution has not been approved.
     4. The migration office continues with the application, per the usual process, and issues a loan.
     5. IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable sends a statement of account to the client, indicating the total amount owing on the loan and the repayment terms.

Notwithstanding requests originating from a migration office abroad, the ROC-O may also recommend a contribution in circumstances where it is felt that such a contribution is warranted by following the instructions indicated above.

Post-arrival requests for contributions for transportation and assistance loans

1. The RAP SPO or local IRCC officer must complete the Post-Arrival Contribution Request Form, providing details of the medical needs and resettlement barriers identified post-arrival, along with a rationale and any supporting documents, to support a contribution being approved.

   Note: This form must be submitted to the local IRCC office by the end of the government-assisted refugee’s or joint assistance sponsorship (JAS) applicant’s second month in Canada.

2. With concurrence from the local IRCC RAP supervisor, the IRCC local office sends the request form to the IN-ROD at the Resettlement and Asylum Strategic Operations Branch, Refugee Resettlement Division (RASO-RRD) Sponsor Engagement Unit Immigration Loans Program (ILP) mailbox.
3. The Sponsor Engagement Unit reviews all requests and approves or refuses them, based on the case information and available budget.
   • If the contribution is approved
     1. The assistant director of the Sponsor Engagement Unit initials the appropriate section of the form.
     2. The Sponsor Engagement Unit sends a confirmation of approval to the local IRCC office by email and enters a note to this effect in GCMS.
     3. The local IRCC office notifies the RAP SPO that the contribution has been approved.
     4. The Sponsor Engagement Unit notifies IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable, who processes the transportation loan, assistance loan or both as a contribution, rather than a repayable loan under the ILP.
     5. IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable sends a final statement of account to the client.
   • If the contribution is refused
     1. The assistant director of the Sponsor Engagement Unit initials the appropriate section of the form.
     2. The Sponsor Engagement Unit sends a confirmation of refusal to the local IRCC office by email and enters a note to this effect in GCMS.
     3. The local IRCC office notifies the RAP SPO that the contribution has not been approved.
     4. IRCC Loans and Accounts Receivable sends a statement of account to the client, indicating the total amount owing on the loan and the repayment terms.

Procedures for all loans

• Eligibility for an immigration loan
• Determining the need for and assessing the ability to repay an immigration loan
• Signing and approval authority for an immigration loan
• Counselling immigration loan applicants
• Payment and collection of immigration loans