Canada Suspends Private Sponsorship of Refugees until Dec 2025

Author: Al Parsai, LL.M, RCIC-IRB

Last Updated On: December 1, 2024

Canada has announced significant changes to its Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program. These changes include suspending new PSR applications from certain groups until December 31, 2025. Find out what this means for refugee resettlement and old applications.

Refugee Resettlement vs. in-Canada applications

Canada resettles refugees through coordinated efforts involving the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This process helps refugees outside Canada who need international protection. In contrast, in-Canada asylum claims involve different government bodies, including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), IRCC, and eventually the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Resettlement requires thorough planning between UNHCR, IRCC, and other authorities to ensure safe relocation. Meanwhile, in-Canada claims begin when individuals arrive at the border or are already in Canada. These claims involve detailed assessments by IRCC and CBSA, with final decisions made by the IRB.

Canada offers three major resettlement pathways. These include the Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) Program, the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program, and the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program:

• Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) Program:
  • Refugees receive government support during their initial year in Canada.
  • The government provides financial assistance, housing, and settlement services to help refugees integrate.
• Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program:
  • Private groups, such as community organizations or groups of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, sponsor refugees.
  • Sponsors provide financial, emotional, and social support for 12 months.
  • Sponsors can include Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs), Groups of Five, or Community Sponsors.
• Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program:
  • This program is a partnership between the government and private sponsors.
  • The government provides financial support for the first six months, while private sponsors offer support for the remaining six months.
  • Private sponsors also provide social and emotional assistance throughout the year.

The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program allows private citizens and organizations to sponsor refugees directly. Sponsors include Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs), Groups of Five, and Community Sponsors. These groups take responsibility for helping refugees settle in Canada. They provide financial and emotional assistance and help refugees access housing and essential services. Sponsors must meet specific eligibility requirements, including proving their financial capacity to support refugees for at least one year. The Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O) assesses applications for completeness. Once approved, migration officers review refugee cases abroad, conducting interviews and security screenings. The PSR Program plays a crucial role in community-driven refugee resettlement, allowing Canadians to significantly impact global humanitarian efforts.

The suspension of PSR

On November 29, 2024, Canada has paused new PSR applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors until December 31, 2025. This pause addresses the growing backlog of applications, which has overwhelmed processing capacity. IRCC will use this time to focus on the backlog, ensuring better service for existing applicants. The current application volume has exceeded the sponsorship spaces outlined in Canada’s immigration levels plan, leading to significant delays in refugee sponsorship processing times.

Only Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) can continue submitting new PSR applications during this pause. SAHs have established agreements with the government, allowing them to sponsor refugees without interruption. By limiting new applications to SAHs, IRCC hopes to manage intake more effectively and prevent further accumulating pending cases.

The pause allows IRCC to work towards more predictable and shorter processing timelines. It will enable the system to catch up on pending applications and efficiently allocate resources. Consequently, this decision ensures Canada can focus on resettling refugees already in the system and effectively meet resettlement goals. Moreover, IRCC intends to collaborate with partners and stakeholders during this pause to explore long-term program improvements and strategies for future intakes.

What about old applications that have already been submitted?

The suspension only impacts new applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors. Refugee sponsorship applications submitted before the pause will continue through the usual process. The Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O) and migration officers abroad will evaluate these existing applications. They will conduct thorough assessments, including medical checks, identity verification, and background security screenings.

Processing times may still vary significantly. Factors such as medical exams, security screenings, and logistics for exit permits from the refugee’s current location can all affect timelines. Nonetheless, IRCC remains committed to meeting its obligations for these previously submitted applications. The goal is to clear the backlog and ensure efficient processing of existing cases, thereby enabling a smoother transition for refugees.

During this period, IRCC also aims to establish more predictable and shorter processing timelines for future applications. IRCC hopes to enhance its capacity to process current commitments effectively by focusing on applications already in the system. Additionally, they plan to collaborate with stakeholders to implement long-term improvements in the sponsorship process.

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Navigating the changing landscape of refugee applications can be challenging. Consider booking a consultation session if you want personalized advice on immigration and refugee options. Expert advice can help clarify these recent changes and guide you in sponsoring refugees effectively. Alternatively, fill out the following form to contact our team.

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