Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP): Examination before granting permanent residence
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Approving the application
Before issuing a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR), please verify that the recommendation status of the applicant in the RCIP monthly recommendation spreadsheet is set as issued.
If the principal applicants are currently in Canada, they may be landed by confirming their permanent residence by following the virtual landing instructions, as can any in-Canada accompanying dependent family members.
If any accompanying dependent family members live outside of Canada, send the ready for visa letter, CoPR and permanent resident visa (if applicable) to the applicants’ address outside of Canada.
Approved applicants must present their CoPR and permanent resident visa counterfoil (if applicable) to an officer at a Canadian port of entry (POE) under subsection 71.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Accompanying family members of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) applicants may only become permanent residents at the same time as or after the principal applicant becomes a permanent resident. In other words, family members of principal applicants cannot become permanent residents before the principal applicant.
Examination at the POE
A permanent resident visa holder with the RCIP seeking permanent resident status at a POE must establish that they still intend to reside in the community that recommended them.
Individuals who indicate that they intend to proceed to and reside in the designated community that recommended them, and who meet the other requirements of the legislation, should be processed for permanent resident status.
Individuals who indicate that they never intended, or no longer intend, to reside in the designated community that recommended them may be denied permanent resident status at the POE and may be the subject of a written report under subsection A44(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
In the case of individuals who indicate at the POE that they no longer intend to reside in the designated community that recommended them, the subsection A44(1) report may be written for non-compliance with section 9 of the Ministerial Instructions with Respect to the Rural Community Immigration Class.
An additional allegation of misrepresentation, pursuant to paragraph A40(1)(a) and per subsection 2(1) of the Ministerial Instructions, may be included in the A44(1) report for individuals who indicate that they never intended to reside in the designated community that recommended them, if supported by the information obtained through examination at the POE.
A border services officer may also do the following if they are not satisfied that an individual intends to reside in the designated community that recommended them:
- Offer the individual the option of voluntarily withdrawing their application for permanent residence. If this option is accepted by the applicant, the border services officer should seize the CoPR document and inform the CoPR-issuing office and IRCC NHQ.
- Adjourn the examination and authorize the person to enter Canada for the purpose of further examination (A23), if the applicant does not voluntarily withdraw their application for permanent residence. Refer the examination for finalization to the appropriate IRCC inland office (Item 202, Canada Border Services Agency Delegation and Designations). Seize the applicant’s and their family members’ CoPR documents and forward them to the appropriate IRCC inland office along with relevant case information (for example, a statutory declaration from the individual stating that they do not intend to reside in the community that recommended them and/or officer’s interview notes).
For more information on inadmissibility and writing A44(1) reports.
Note: If the applicant states that a representative advised them that residence in the designated community that recommended them is not a requirement of the RCIP, the border services officer should send an email to IRCC NHQ and record a note in the Global Case Management System with information concerning the representative.
Additional information
Under the RCIP, there is no requirement for IRCC to consult with the designated community in order to refuse an application. If a border services officer sends a client’s file for further examination to an IRCC inland office for final review, the IRCC inland office is not required to contact the designated community to render a final determination.