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Frequently Asked Questions

Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program

1. Who is eligible for sponsorship under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program?
2. Who makes the final decision on whether a refugee is eligible for resettlement or not?
3. Who is not eligible for sponsorship under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program?
4. Who can sponsor a refugee?
5. What are the responsibilities of a sponsoring group?
6. How is a refugee identified for sponsorship?
7. What does the overseas processing involve?
8. What is the Joint Assistance Sponsorship?
9. How do I know which visa office will process the application for permanent residence for privately sponsored refugees?
10. What information does the visa office require?
11. How long does it take before the refugee can come to Canada?
12. How can I get an update on what is happening with a case?
13. The refugee our group wished to sponsor was refused after the interview. Can our group appeal?
14. How does a group or an individual get more information about applying to sponsor a refugee?
15. I know someone who claimed refugee status here in Canada and who has now been refused. Can we sponsor them, to give them another chance?
16. I want to sponsor my mother who is still in my home country, but I can’t afford to sponsor her. What should I do?
17. My relatives have been accepted as refugees by the UNHCR, and I know they have a UNHCR card. Does that mean they will be resettled?
18. Are there any application fees?
19. Will the refugee have to pay any costs?
20. How many refugees are resettled in Canada each year?
21. Are sponsored refugee families with children eligible for a child tax benefit upon arrival? What is the average waiting period for clients to receive their first child tax benefit payment?
22. Are resettled refugees allowed to go to university? Can they get student loans?
23. Do any Canadian universities offer credit courses in refugee studies?

Q1. Who is eligible for sponsorship under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program?

The Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program is strictly for sponsoring refugees in need of protection. Private sponsoring groups may sponsor any individuals or any family member of individuals who have already come to Canada as long as these people are overseas and they meet the eligibility criteria described in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

This applies to three classes of people:

1. A Convention Refugee Abroad is any person who:
   • is a Convention Refugee;
   • is outside Canada;
   • is seeking resettlement to Canada;
   • does not have a prospect of another durable solution, which means he or she
     • cannot return to his or her country of nationality or residence;
     • cannot integrate in the country of refuge or the country of first asylum; and
     • does not have another offer of resettlement from a country other than Canada;
   • will be privately sponsored or assisted by the government or has adequate financial resources to support himself or herself and any dependants.
2. A member of the Country of Asylum Class is a person:
   • who is outside his or her country of citizenship or habitual residence;
   • who has been, and continues to be, seriously and personally affected by civil war or armed conflict or who has suffered massive violations of human rights;
   • who cannot find an adequate solution to his or her situation within a reasonable period of time; and
   • who will be privately sponsored or who has adequate financial resources to support himself or herself and any dependants.
3. A member of the Source Country Class is a person:
   • who resides in a country that has been designated as a source country;
   • who resides in his or her country of citizenship or habitual residence;
   • who has been and continues to be seriously and personally affected by civil war or armed conflict;
   • who has suffered serious deprivation of his or her right of freedom of expression, right of dissent or right to engage in trade union activity and who has been detained or imprisoned as a consequence;
   • who fears persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion;
   • who cannot find an adequate solution to his or her situation within a reasonable period of time; and
   • who will be privately sponsored or assisted by the government or who has adequate financial resources to support himself or herself and any dependants.

Q2. Who makes the final decision on whether a refugee is eligible for resettlement or not?

An officer at a Canadian visa office makes the final decision on whether someone fits one of these definitions and is eligible for resettlement. The decision is based on an interview with the applicant, supporting documentation submitted by the applicant and the sponsoring group, and additional information available to the officer (such as country condition updates).

To be accepted for resettlement in Canada, the refugee must also pass medical and security checks. In addition, refugees will be assessed on their ability to establish successfully in Canada. In making this assessment, the visa officer will consider whether the refugee has relatives or a sponsor in Canada, is able to learn to speak English or French, and has the potential for employment. When a family unit is applying, the settlement potential of all family members is assessed as a whole. Refugees deemed by the visa officer to be in urgent need of protection or in vulnerable circumstances are not assessed on their ability to establish.

Q3. Who is not eligible for sponsorship under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program?

The following people do not qualify for private sponsorship:

• People already in Canada. Such people seeking Canada’s protection as refugees should contact the Citizenship and Immigration Call Centre for information on how to make a refugee claim.
• People who were the subject of a previous sponsorship application and who were refused, unless
  • their circumstances have changed;
  • new information that was not presented in the previous application has come to light; or
  • Canadian laws affecting the case have changed.
• People deemed to be Convention refugees by another country and allowed to live there permanently.
• People who fled persecution or civil war some time ago but who can now integrate into the country where they are residing or can return home safely.

Q4. Who can sponsor a refugee?

Sponsorship agreement holders (SAHs) and their constituent groups (CGs) or cosponsors.

• An SAH is an organization that has a formal sponsorship agreement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and that may sponsor refugees under that agreement.
• A CG is a group authorized in writing by the SAH to act on its behalf in sponsoring refugees.
• A cosponsor is an individual or an organization authorized in writing by the SAH to partner with an SAH to share responsibility for sponsoring refugees.

Groups of five
This is a group of five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are at least 18 years of age and who live in the community where the refugees are expected to settle.

Community sponsor
A community sponsor is an organization, an association or a corporation based in the community where the refugees are expected to settle.

For more information, consult the Guide to Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

Q5. What are the responsibilities of a sponsoring group?

A sponsoring group must:

• Complete a settlement plan that outlines the arrangements to be put in place for the sponsored refugees. This includes helping them find suitable housing, learn English or French, get a job, make friends, and learn about Canadian culture and values as well as the services available in the community.
• Provide for the reception, care, lodging and settlement assistance for the sponsored refugees in the expected community of settlement for a period of 12 months (or longer in exceptional circumstances, if agreed to by the sponsoring group) from the date of arrival of the refugee or until the refugee becomes self-supporting and no longer requires settlement assistance, whichever is less.
• Live in the expected community of settlement.

At the time of application, information must be provided on the financial resources available for the sponsorship period. For more information, consult the Guide to Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program and the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program handbooks.

Q6. How is a refugee identified for sponsorship?

A sponsor-referred refugee is identified by the sponsoring group. Sponsor-referred refugees are interviewed for eligibility after the application is submitted.

A visa office-referred refugee is identified for sponsorship by the visa office. Visa office-referred refugees have already been interviewed and found eligible by the visa office by the time they make a request for sponsorship.

Both sponsor-referred and visa office-referred refugees must meet the medical requirements and obtain criminal and security clearance before being approved.

Q7. What does the overseas processing involve?

The local Citizenship and Immigration Centre is responsible for processing and accepting private sponsorship undertakings. The refugee applicants must complete the Application for Permanent Residence in Canada-Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian Protected Persons Abroad.

A sponsoring group can choose to send this application directly to the individual or family sponsored. For more information on this option, consult the Guide to Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

At visa offices abroad, visa officers will review the refugee application and arrange for an interview to determine if the applicant for private sponsorship is a member of the Convention Refugee Abroad Class or a member of one of the Humanitarian Protected Persons Abroad classes. The visa officer will also assess if the applicant meets other requirements, such as medical and security checks, and his or her ability to establish in Canada.

Q8. What is the Joint Assistance Sponsorship?

The Joint Assistance Sponsorship Program enables the sponsorship agreement holders and their constituent groups and cosponsors to facilitate, with CIC, the admission and resettlement in Canada of special needs refugees. These people are unlikely to re establish successfully within 12 months without additional emotional support and settlement assistance. However, with additional attention, they can be reasonably expected to re-establish over an extended period of time.

Under the Joint Assistance Sponsorship Program, CIC will provide financial assistance to meet the refugee’s basic needs, such as the cost of food, shelter, clothing and essential household goods. The sponsoring group’s role is to provide emotional support and settlement assistance, such as ensuring that special needs are met through appropriate referral and support services, orientation to the community, help with learning English or French, assistance with finding employment, and extending ongoing friendship, encouragement, general assistance and support.

Q9. How do I know which visa office will process the application for permanent residence for privately sponsored refugees?

Consult the list of visa offices overseas to see which offices process privately sponsored refugee applications.

Q10. What information does the visa office require?

The application for permanent residence in Canada for Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian Protected Persons Abroad is a standard application kit used at all visa offices. Refugee applicants should consult the document checklist to ensure they submit all required documents. Sponsoring groups are encouraged to work with the refugee applicant whenever possible to ensure that all necessary documents are available and supplied.

Sometimes, visa offices require specific forms or documents.

Q11. How long does it take before the refugee can come to Canada?

Generally, processing times vary from 12 to 36 months. In exceptional cases, it can take longer depending on whether the person is a sponsor referred or a visa office referred refugee, which country the person is coming from, and the complexity of his or her immigration application.

To facilitate the smooth processing of sponsor-referred applications, sponsoring groups are encouraged, whenever possible, to confirm the availability of all necessary supporting documents and the accuracy of the contact information before submitting forms to CIC for processing. Check out processing times.

Q12. How can I get an update on what is happening with a case?

With the consent of the applicant, sponsoring groups can check on the status of the refugee’s application through the e-Client Application Status site. The site will only provide information on the status of the application and not all the details of the case.

After verifying with the site, the group’s main contact person can also request an update from your local CIC office. This is to be done as a last resort, however. Updates are available only at certain stages of the process.

Q13. The refugee our group wished to sponsor was refused after the interview. Can our group appeal?

There is no formal appeal process. However, in cases where you believe an error was made by the visa officer in the refusal of a specific case, you may forward the details to Case Management, CIC, at the following address: Jean Edmonds North Tower, 300 Slater Street, 9th Floor, Ottawa, ON  K1A 1L1.

You may also seek leave for judicial review before the Federal Court of Canada (Trial Division). A judicial review of a decision is not an appeal on the merits of the case, but an examination of the process that led to the decision to determine if the process was fair and reasonable.

Q14. How does a group or an individual get more information about applying to sponsor a refugee?

For more information, consult the Guide to Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. You may also contact the CIC Call Centre.

Constituent groups should also contact the coordinator of sponsorship agreement holders for their organization.

For detailed information on the entire sponsorship process, consult the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program’s sponsoring handbooks.

Q15. I know someone who claimed refugee status here in Canada and who has now been refused. Can we sponsor them, to give them another chance?

No. Private sponsorships are intended for refugees outside Canada who meet the criteria of either the Convention Refugees Abroad Class or the Humanitarian Protected Persons Abroad class.

Q16. I want to sponsor my mother who is still in my home country, but I can’t afford to sponsor her. What should I do?

Private refugee sponsorship is only available for refugees overseas, which means the person must meet the criteria of either the Convention Refugees Abroad Class or the Humanitarian Protected Persons Abroad Class. In this case, a Family Class Sponsorship is required.

Q17. My relatives have been accepted as refugees by the UNHCR, and I know they have a UNHCR card. Does that mean they will be resettled?

No, it does not mean they will be resettled. The UNHCR determines the refugees who meet its requirements and refers those refugees to be resettled in Canada. Canada then conducts its own screening process to make sure that the individuals meet the criteria under the Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program and the medical, security and criminality screening requirements. Not all individuals referred by the UNHCR will be accepted for resettlement to Canada.

Q18. Are there any application fees?

There is no charge for the application forms, and there are no processing fees for submitting private sponsorship undertakings.

If you choose to involve legal counsel in filling out forms, you should ensure that they are lawyers in good standing with their law society, or immigration consultants who are members of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. However, it is wise to ask around and find out what is a reasonable fee. Refer to the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) for more information. Do NOT consult with or pay someone who claims to be a legal counselor or an immigration consultant and who cannot show that they are in good standing or a member of the CSIC.

Q19. Will the refugee have to pay any costs?

Refugees are usually given a loan by the Government of Canada to pay for their medical examinations overseas and their transportation to Canada. For more information on the loans program, refer to the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program handbooks.

Q20. How many refugees are resettled in Canada each year?

See the Annual Report to Parliament submitted by the minister of CIC, which contains statistics on resettlement.

Q21. Are sponsored refugee families with children eligible for a child tax benefit upon arrival? What is the average waiting period for clients to receive their first child tax benefit payment?

Yes, sponsored refugee families with children are eligible for a child tax benefit upon arrival. However, after submitting the child tax benefit application, the processing time can take up to two months. Do not delay in applying because the Canada Revenue Agency can only make retroactive payments for up to 11 months from the month it receives the application. In addition, if you apply for the benefit after the child is one year old, you have to attach proof of birth.

Q22. Are resettled refugees allowed to go to university? Can they get student loans?

Resettled refugees are permanent residents on arrival and have all the rights of other permanent residents. They may attend university and apply for student loans.

Sponsoring groups are not obliged to cover tuition costs during the sponsorship year.

Q23. Do any Canadian universities offer credit courses in refugee studies?

The Centre for Refugee Studies at York University in Toronto offers an Undergraduate Certificate in Refugee and Migration Studies. This is taken within their BA program. A Graduate Diploma in Refugee and Migration Studies is offered to candidates within their MA and PhD programs. A week-long summer course is also offered on refugee issues. For more information, call York University at (416) 736-5837.

Other schools across Canada offer courses in migration or have research centres to study this question. See the Centre for Excellence in Research on Immigration and Settlement, the University of British Columbia’s Liu Institute for Global Issues or the Université du Québec à Montréal.