The Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. Sara Shahsiah, RSTP

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1 The Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program Sara Shahsiah, RSTP February 27, 2014

2 Overview What is refugee sponsorship? Who can be sponsored? Who can sponsor? What is the sponsorship process? What are sponsors responsibilities? UNRWA/Ala a Ghosheh

3 What is Refugee Sponsorship? It is a humanitarian program that provides protection to refugees through permanent resettlement to Canada. Canadians (individuals and groups) use their own financial and human resources to support the settlement needs of the resettled persons during their first year in Canada.

4 Convention Refugee Definition [Someone who] owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality [or country of habitual residence], and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country Convention relating to the Status of Refugees

5 Who can be sponsored as a refugee? Someone who meets the Canadian eligibility and admissibility criteria: Meets the definition of either Convention Refugee Abroad (persecution) or Country of Asylum class (civil war/armed conflict/massive human rights violations) Is outside of country of origin Is outside of Canada Has no other durable solutions (cannot return/stay) Has sponsors in Canada Passes medical, criminality and security checks Must be recognized as a refugee if applying through G5 or CS

6 What is refugee status recognition? Refugee applicants who are going to be sponsored by a Group of Five or Community Sponsor group MUST also be recognized as refugees by the UNHCR or foreign state (not required if sponsored through an Agreement Holder, e.g. a local church). Examples: UNCHR Refugee Certificate (aka Mandate Letter of Protection ) State card/certificate/letter stating that person is legally recognized as a refugee

7 Admissibility Security check Does the refugee applicant pose any security threat? Criminality check Has the refugee applicant committed a serious crime? TAJIKISTAN: Afghan refugees accepted for resettlement to Canada / Dushanbe, Tajikistan. UNHCR / J. Redden Medical Does the refugee applicant have any health issues that could threaten Canadian public health or safety?

8 Who can Sponsor? Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH): An incorporated organization that has signed a Sponsorship Agreement with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Community Sponsors: Any organization, association or corporation Group of Five A group of five Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

9 Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) 84 incorporated organizations across Canada Have signed an Agreement with the Government of Canada Can authorize its members to sponsor as Constituent Groups Uses own corporate financial resources, fund-raising, donations for settlement support Limited in number of submissions Can sponsor only out of visa offices for which have allocations Canadian visa offices in Cairo, Islamabad, Nairobi, Pretoria are capped Not able to submit for refugees in Turkey

10 Group of Five Community Sponsors 5 Canadian Citizens and/ or Permanent Residents 18 years of age + Same residential community (city) Financial capacity Cannot be in default Settlement capacity Make Commitment to provide support for 12 months Organization/Association/Corp. No Agreement (case by case) Same res. community Financial capacity Cannot be in default Settlement capacity Make Commitment to provide support for 12 months Can sponsor up to 2 families a year

11 Financial Criteria: Combined Family Size 12 Months of Income Support Start-up Costs Estimated Total Annual Settlement Cost ($) Additional member 1 9,000 2,800 11, ,500 4,300 19, ,700 5,300 23, ,000 6,000 26, ,500 7,200 29, ,500 8,000 32,500 1,550 1,000 2,500

12 In-Kind Deduction Table

13 Financial Criteria: Individual Each group member must make sure that they can afford to make a financial contribution. Consider: What was my income last year? How many people including myself do I support financially? How much income should I have for myself and my dependants? (check Sponsorship Cost Table) How much can I contribute financially?

14 What are sponsors responsibilities? Provide settlement support for the duration of the sponsorship period up to 12 months from the date of arrival *sponsored refugees should not be accessing social assistance during the sponsorship period*

15 Sponsors responsibilities Assessing the case Completing the application forms Providing assistance to refugee applicants in completing their application forms Submitting application package to CPO-W Creating a settlement plan Allocating duties to group members Researching local services and programs Honouring sponsorship commitment Providing settlement support Following-up with sponsored individuals

16 Providing Settlement Support - Welcoming and providing orientation - Temporary/permanent accommodation - Registering for Interim Federal Health - Securing provincial health care - Arranging for interpreter (if needed) - Applying for Social Insurance Number - Applying for Child Tax Benefit - Finding a doctor; dealing with trauma - Opening a bank account UNHCR K. Das Shreshta

17 Providing Settlement Support - Connecting with a settlement assistance agency - Connecting with other community resources/activities/groups - Enrolling children in school/day care - Enrolling in adult language training - Finding employment - Managing sponsorship funds - Providing moral and emotional support UNHCR Photo by Evan Schneider

18 Life of a PSR Case YOU CPO-W Sponsors collect info & gather documents Sponsors complete forms & assist refugee applicants to do the same Mail complete application package to CPO-W Screen Create file/gcms Entry Approval Mail to NHQ NHQ Transfer file with diplomatic service to visa office abroad VO Review Interview Approval Initiate medical, security, criminality checks Arrange for travel (IOM)

19 Required Forms Application for Refugee Sponsorship To be completed by sponsoring group: Undertaking/Application to Sponsor Sponsor Assessment (G5s & CSs) Financial Profile (G5s) Document Checklist Settlement Plan (G5s & CSs) Use of a Representative (optional) To be completed by refugees abroad: Application for Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian-Protected Persons Abroad: Generic Application Form for Canada Schedule A Schedule 2 Use of Representative (optional) Additional Dependant/Declaration (if more than 5 dependants) Download the forms at: > Processing > Application Forms

20 THANK YOU! Refugee Sponsorship Training Program