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First and foremost, in order to sponsor a refugee, make sure you are a group of five or more Canadian citizens, Registered Indians, or permanent residents who are 18 years of age or older and who live (or have representatives) in the community where the refugees are expected to live. This group of people is called the Group of Five. Sponsors need to have collectively arranged necessary settlement to financially support the principal applicant (the refugee) for the full duration of the sponsorship. The sponsors are also obligated to fulfill the terms of the Sponsorship Undertaking.
Like any other sponsorships, a person who has been convicted in Canada of the offence of murder or other offences, and five years have not passed since the completion of the person’s sentence, then this person is ineligible to sponsor a refugee. A person who has been convicted of an offence outside Canada, and five years have not elapsed since the completion of the person’s sentence imposed under a foreign law, then this person is also ineligible to sponsor a refugee.
On the other hand, a person who has not paid fines ordered by a court, is in jail, is subject to a removal order, or is subject to a revocation proceeding under the Citizenship Act, fails to qualify as an eligible sponsor
In order for the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to process your application, you must submit the following. Failure to submit the required documents may result in the refusal of your application.
Proof of Canadian citizenship, Indian status or permanent residence status
You must provide your Canadian Passport, Canadian provincial or territorial birth certificate, Canadian citizenship certificate, Canadian certificate of registration of birth abroad, Record of Landing (IMM 1000), Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688), Permanent Resident Card, or your Indian status card (formerly known as a Certificate of Indian status) to prove that you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or an Indian.
Criminal Background Check
In order to prove that you are not ineligible to sponsor a refugee, due to your criminality, you will need to undergo a criminal record check. The proof you submit should be issued within 6 months prior to the submission of your application submission. If you have a criminal conviction, include applicable police and court documents which show the disposition of your charges.
Proof of funds
Like any other sponsorship applications, you will need to prove the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada that you have the financial capability to support the principal applicant (the refugee). You have three options to demonstrate that you have the necessary funds for your sponsorship.
1. Your group hold funds held in trust in a financial institution
2. Group members are contributing to the sponsorship with their personal income (at least 3 group members)
3. Your group is using a combination of both
If the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has received your application, you may expect three stages in regards to your application.
Stage 1: Intake
Mailed applications and emailed applications can expect different but similar results. For mailed applications, ROC-O will send an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) email to the individual listed as the group member #1 on the Sponsorship Undertaking to confirm receipt of the application. Please note, this email does not mean your application has been verified for completeness. The Acknowledgement of Receipt email is generally sent within 30 days of receipt of your application and includes the name of the PA.
For emailed applications, an auto-reply is sent to the email address from which the application was submitted. This email confirms the receipt of the sponsorship application. However, this email does not mean your application has been verified for completeness.
Stage 2: Completeness Check
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada will review the application to ensure that all correct forms are submitted and signed by the group members. If the application is complete, the individual listed as group member #1 will receive a second AOR via email to confirm that all of the forms are submitted and signed. At the same time, you will also receive your application number (G number), meaning that the application has been transferred to an officer for decision.
If the application is incomplete, you will not receive a second AOR. For a mailed application, the application will be returned to the individual listed as the group member #1 via mail. For an emailed application, an email will be sent to all group members and the PA explaining the reasons for return. Overall, incomplete applications will not be further processed.
Stage 3: The Sponsorship Application Decision
If you have reached stage 3, that means you are very close to getting a final decision.
If the ROC-O officer is satisfied that you meet the requirements of IRPR, the sponsorship application will be approved, and all group members plus the principal applicant will be notified by email. The entire application (sponsorship application and the refugee’s application for permanent residence) will then be electronically transferred to the appropriate IRCC office overseas.
If the ROC-O officer is not satisfied that you meet the requirements of IRPR, the application will be refused and all group members plus the principal applicant will be notified by e-mail. Please note, any refused applications will not be returned
Additionally, if you wish to re-submit your application, you may do so by submitting a new and complete application. You cannot simply include the missing documents or updated documents from the previous submission.
Should you have any further questions or feel confused or unclear about how to sponsor a refugee or apply for refugee status, it is important to talk about any questions you may have and discuss your concerns. By talking to immigration professionals about your concerns, this will ease your worries and assist with the application process. Many immigration applications are difficult to pursue on your own and it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped our clients sponsor refugees or apply for refugee status in Canada. Please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at 416-477-2545 for more information, or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.
With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!
