Private sponsorship of refugees

Convention refugee A Convention refugee is a person who, by reason of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, (a) is outside each of their countries of nationality and is unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of each of those countries; or (b) not having a country of nationality, is outside the country of their former habitual residence and is unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to return to that country. 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; for whom there is no possibility of finding 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. When a family unit is applying, the settlement potential of all family members is assessed as a single determination. 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.

The role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) leads and coordinates international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its main purpose is to protect the rights and well-being of refugees. As part of its activities, the UNHCR refers refugees to Canada when resettlement is the best solution. A Canadian visa officer then decides whether they meet the requirements of Canada's Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program, and are admissible to Canada. Like all immigrants, refugees selected for resettlement must pass medical, security and criminal screenings

Sponsorship Blended Visa Office- Referred Program

Sponsorship Agreement Holders Sponsorship Agreement Holders are religious, ethnic, community or service organizations, which have signed an agreement with the Minister, and are already approved to sponsor refugees Eligibility To be eligible to become a sponsorship agreement holder (SAH), an organization must be incorporated (a legally created organization). The organization must sign a sponsorship agreement with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. A SAH can be a local, regional or national organization. It assumes full responsibility for managing sponsorships under its agreement. A SAH can authorize other groups in the community to sponsor refugees under its agreement. These groups are known as “constituent groups.” Co-sponsors A SAH can also form a partnership with an individual or another organization. These are known as co-sponsors. The co-sponsor must agree to help deliver settlement assistance and share the responsibility for supporting the sponsored refugees. Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) are incorporated organizations that have signed a formal sponsorship agreement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Most current SAHs are religious organizations, ethnocultural groups or humanitarian organizations. SAHs, which may be local, regional or national, assume overall responsibility for the management of sponsorships under their agreement. Organizations entering into a sponsorship agreement with CIC generally submit several refugee sponsorships a year.   · Constituent Groups (CGs): A SAH can authorize CGs to sponsor under its agreement and provide support to the refugees. Each SAH sets its own criteria for recognizing CGs. CGs are based in the sponsored refugee’s expected community of settlement and must have their sponsorship application and settlement plan approved by their SAH before the undertaking is submitted to the Centralized Processing Office in Winnipeg (CPO-W).

Sponsorship Agreement Holders What are the steps? Determine your eligibility Apply to become a sponsorship agreement holder Apply to sponsor a refugee SAHs must be incorporated organizations. Generally, new SAH applicants have sponsorship experience and expect to sponsor more than two refugee cases each year. Applicant organizations must have personnel and finances available to ensure the settlement needs of the sponsored refugees are in place before their arrival. Constituent Groups (CG) are usually members of the organization holding the sponsorship agreement. However, each SAH sets its own criteria for recognizing CGs.

Apply to become a Sponsorship Agreement Holder 1. Get the application package Request an application by writing to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program or emailing PSR-PPPR@cic.gc.ca 2. Submit your application Submit a completed application form and all the required documentation (articles of incorporation, audited financial statements, etc.) to: Refugee Resettlement Program Delivery Unit Integration Program Management Branch Citizenship and Immigration Canada 180 Kent Street, 6th Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1

Blended Visa Office-Referred Program Launched in 2013, the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program matches refugees identified for resettlement by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) with private sponsors in Canada. The goal is to engage in a three-way partnership among the Government of Canada, the UNHCR, and private sponsors who are Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs). The Government of Canada will provide up to six months of income support through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), while private sponsors will provide another six months of financial support and up to a year of social and emotional support. Refugees are also covered under the Interim Federal Health Program for the duration of the sponsorship (one year), in addition to provincial health coverage. The goal is to match up to 1,000 refugees with sponsors each year through this program. To be eligible to sponsor a refugee under this program, you must be: a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH), or a constituent group authorized to sponsor refugees under the agreement held by a SAH

Groups of five A Group of five (G5) is five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have arranged to sponsor a refugee living abroad to come to Canada. All of the group members must be at least 18 years of age and live or have representatives in the area where the refugee will settle. The group must agree to give emotional and financial support to the refugee(s) for the full sponsorship period-usually one year. *Effective October 19, 2012, a G5 may only sponsor applicants who are recognized as refugees by either the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or a foreign state Foreign state recognizes them as refugees but they do not have the capacity to offer a permanent solution

A community sponsor can be: Community sponsors A community sponsor can be: an organization an association or a corporation The organization, association or corporation does not have to be incorporated under federal or provincial law. A community sponsor must be located in the community where the refugees are expected to settle. Co-sponsors A community sponsor can form a partnership with an individual or another organization. These are known as co-sponsors. The co-sponsor must agree to help deliver settlement assistance and share the responsibility for supporting the sponsored refugee. A Community Sponsor (CS) is an organization that decides to participate in refugee sponsorship and provides statements demonstrating the ability to meet the required financial obligations Cosponsor: Interested individuals should contact a SAH, a CG or a CS in their area to inquire about partnering in the private sponsorship of a refugee. Each SAH, CG or CS has its own procedures for screening and approving a cosponsor as well as for establishing the division of responsibilities in the settlement plan. The decision to accept an individual or organization as a cosponsor is the choice of the SAH, CG or CS who submits the undertaking. A community sponsor must make an emotional and financial commitment to support the refugees for the duration of the sponsorship. Sponsorships generally last for one year. The amount of money needed varies, depending on the number of refugees sponsored.

Joint Assistance Sponsorship Program Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) sometimes partners with organizations to resettle refugees with special needs. Refugees with special needs may need more support than other refugees in order to settle in Canada. Special needs may arise due to: trauma from violence or torture, medical disabilities, the effects of systemic discrimination, or a large number of family members Under the JAS program, refugees receive support from the government and a private sponsor for up to 24 months, depending on the case. In a few cases, the private sponsor may provide support for up to 36 months. These refugees get income support from the Government of Canada for food, shelter, clothing and basic household goods. They are also matched with a private sponsorship group. The sponsorship group helps refugees adjust to life in Canada by providing settlement help and emotional support.

The application process Applicants for resettlement to Canada must meet eligibility and admissibility criteria: Phase: Completion check Once you have submitted your application, CIC will check to determine that: all required application forms and supporting documentation have been submitted When CIC begins processing a completed application, a case file number will be assigned and a Letter of Confirmation will inform you of your case file number. Phase: Eligibility criteria You are eligible when you meet the definition of a Convention Refugee Abroad or qualify as a member of the Country of Asylum In addition to deciding if you meet the refugee definitions, CIC may assess your ability to resettle successfully in Canada. Phase: Admissibility criteria You are admissible when you pass: medical exam, security checks and criminality checks If you are selected for possible immigration to Canada, you, your spouse or common-law partner, and each of your dependent children will be required to have a medical exam by a doctor chosen by the visa office. The doctor will advise you of the tests required. Before an immigrant visa is issued, the Canadian government conducts background and security checks for all applicants who wish to immigrate to Canada. This includes checks into any past criminal behaviour. Background checks are conducted in all countries where an applicant has lived. However, we will not contact organizations or individuals if it puts you or your family in danger. In making the assessment, CIC will consider, for you and your family members included in your application: whether you have relatives or a sponsor in the community where you intend to live in Canada your ability to speak or learn to speak English and/or French your potential for employment based on your education, skills and work experience and your resourcefulness and other similar characteristics that will help you adapt to life in Canada.

The application process Interview CIC will review the application and decide if an interview is necessary. If so, you will be informed of the time and place. You, your spouse or common-law partner and any dependent children may be asked to attend. At the interview, you will likely be asked questions about: why you consider yourself to be a refugee and the circumstances that caused you to fear persecution relationship to your family member past or current difficulties with the law your work experience, education financial situation spoken languages Bring to the interview any documentation that may assist us in establishing your identity, the relationship of your family members, and your refugee claim. If needed, the visa office may provide an interpreter to help you during the interview. If the visa office does not have an interpreter available who can speak your language, you will be asked to bring an interpreter with you to the interview.

What documents are required? 1 - Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status 2 - Proof of funds 3 - Proof of refugee status recognition (For G5 and Community Sponsors only) 4 - Application for Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian-Protected Person Abroad (IMM 6000) Who may not be sponsored? The following persons do not qualify for private sponsorship: People already in Canada. Such persons seeking Canada's protection as refugees should contact a local Citizenship and Immigration Centre for information on how to make a refugee claim. People who were the subject of a previous sponsorship application and were refused, unless: their circumstances have changed; new information, which 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 can now integrate into the country where they are residing or can return home safely.

Required forms Undertaking/Application to Sponsor (IMM 5373) Sponsor Assessment (IMM 5492) All forms listed in the Application for Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian-Protected Persons Abroad (IMM 6000) As part of the application package, the sponsoring group will need to include proof that each applicant has been recognized as a refugee by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or by a foreign state. Only a photocopy of the original document is required. If the document is in a language other than English or French, then a certified translation (in either official language) must be submitted along with the photocopy of the original document.

12 months of income support Estimated Total Annual Settlement Cost ($) Cost of sponsorship Family size 12 months of income support Start-up costs Estimated Total Annual Settlement Cost ($) 1 9,800 2,800 12,600 2 16,800 4,400 21,200 3 17,700 5,300 23,000 4 20,000 7,000 27,000 5 22,500 7,200 29,700 6 24,500 8,000 32,500 Additional member 1,550 1,000 2,550 Although the cost of living varies from one region to another, the following table can assist the sponsoring group in estimating the cost involved in sponsoring a refugee family for 12 months. The required financial resources indicated in the Sponsorship Cost Table are roughly equivalent to local social assistance rate figures Income Support can vary depending on ages of various dependants which play a role in determining monthly income support for shelter, food, transportation and incidentals. Start-up costs include: one time payment for household items, furniture, linens, food staples, clothing & winter clothing, deposit for utilities, phone installation and first month’s rent. These are approximate rates only and should be used as a guideline. Contact your local Citizenship and Immigration Centre (CIC) should you be interested in your local Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) income support rates which are in line with local social assistance rates. For details on how to contact your local CIC, refer to the Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. This is roughly equivalent to Social Assistance payments. Start up money is used to buy household items, such as beds and pots and pans, and other items that the refugees might not have, such as winter clothing. Start-up costs – housing deposits, furniture, utilities, clothing etc. – are required at the beginning of a sponsorship, while housing, food and transportation will be ongoing expenses.

In-Kind Deduction Table ($) Family size Shelter Clothing Furniture Start-up Costs (Household Needs) Food Staples School Start-up Costs 1 6,000 500 1,500 325 175 2 7,100 1,000 2,000 350 250 3 7,800 1,375 2,500 375 4 8,400 1,750 3,000 400 5 9,600 2,125 3,500 425 475 6 4,000 450 550 For additional member, add 900 25 75 150 per child between ages 4-21

Financial guidelines Sponsoring groups will not accept the payment of funds from the refugees for the submission of a sponsorship, either before or after their arrival in Canada. Refugees have no legal obligation, and cannot be made to enter into a legal or informal obligation, to prepay or repay their sponsoring groups for lodging, care, and settlement assistance and support. Sponsorship Groups are expected to provide the refugees with both financial and settlement support for a period of up to 12 months including the opportunity to attend English language training and acquire skills necessary to access employment in Canada. The refugee’s relatives in Canada may contribute funds to the resettlement. If a refugee becomes financially self-sufficient during the 12-month sponsorship period, the sponsors are not obligated to provide income support for the remainder of the sponsorship. But they must be prepared to resume assistance if the refugee ceases to be self-sufficient during their first year in Canada.

Financial guidelines Refugees resettled in Canada are responsible for paying for their overseas medical examination, travel documents and transportation costs to Canada. They may receive a repayable loan from the government to cover these costs Sponsoring groups are not responsible, unless they have co-signed loans, for any debt that a refugee incurs in Canada. Formal sponsorship commitments end after the first twelve months There are no application or processing fees for people applying to immigrate to Canada in a refugee class

Commitments Specifically as a sponsoring group you will do the following during the first 12 months: Meet the family at the airport and escort them to accommodation Assist the family in finding housing and ensuring the costs for housing are covered; Make sure that the family’s needs are covered for clothing, furnishings, and food; Make the necessary health connections; Make sure the family is given a general orientation to the city and its transportation system; Make sure that, most likely with the assistance of settlement service organizations, children register in school and parents in English as a Second Language classes; Help to fill in the knowledge gaps that everyone experiences when they move to a new city or country. Help members of the family find appropriate training or employment The first month will likely be the most demanding as the family deals with the shock of coming to an entirely new place and starting a new life, but over time as their comfort level in Canada increases, the need for your support will be reduced. There are also many supports that already exist for people who arrive and ISGW will help you make these connections

After they arrive At Immigrant Services Guelph Wellington we support the newcomers with a comprehensive orientation and referral service to help them start their new life in Canada. We will: -Welcome and assess their needs - Develop with them a settlement plan to meet immediate and long term goals (i.e. language assessment and training, apply for benefits, referrals to schools and job search programs, etc.) -Support them along the way with the integration in the community Bring to the interview any documentation that may assist us in establishing your identity, the relationship of your family members, and your refugee claim. If needed, the visa office may provide an interpreter to help you during the interview. If the visa office does not have an interpreter available who can speak your language, you will be asked to bring an interpreter with you to the interview.

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