How to immigrate to Canada as a refugee and asylum seeker?
Resettle in Canada as a refugee
You must be referred by certain groups or organizations from other countries if you want to be resettled in Canada. Such groups and organizations consist of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), a designated referral organization, or a private sponsorship group.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/help-outside-canada.html (Accessed in Sep 2021).
Convention refugee abroad class
How to apply? Convention refugees who live abroad can resettle in Canada in the following three ways: 1) They can be privately sponsored as Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSR). In this case, their sponsor will submit their sponsorship application to the IRCC; specifically, to the Resettlement Operations Center – Ottawa (ROC-O). 2) The government of Canada can also sponsor refugees directly, as the Government Assisted Refugees (GAR), the UNHCR or another government agency will refer them to the IRCC office abroad, and they will be guided with the next steps. 3) They can also be sponsored by a mix of private sponsors and the government, as Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR). In this case, the government of Canada will provide 6 months of financial support and the private sponsor(s) will provide financial support for the next 6 months.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Current Residence You must be outside of your country of origin. Factors You cannot return to your country due to well-founded fear of persecution based on 1) race, 2) religion, 3) political opinion, 4) nationality, or 5) membership in a particular social group such as gender, LGBTQI, etc. Sponsors Convention refugees from abroad can be sponsored by the 1) government of Canada, this type is called (Government Assisted Refugees – GAR), 2) group of 5 persons (G5), Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH), and Community Sponsors, 3) A mix of the above which is called Blended Visa Officer-Referred Refugees. not eligible You are not eligible if you have another stable option for protection (resettlement in another country), obtained another citizenship, returned to your country, or the reason behind your claim no longer exists. Settlement fund Regardless of the availability of your own settlement fund, you still need a sponsor to bring you to Canada.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/help-outside-canada.html (Accessed in Sep 2021).
Country of asylum class
Process: Country of Asylum Class persons can also be resettled in Canada as permanent residents by obtaining help from private sponsors only. As you can only be privately sponsored, your sponsor will submit your application to the IRCC specifically to the Resettlement Operations Center – Ottawa (ROC-O) and will get your PR process started.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Current Residence You must be outside of your country of origin. Factors Must seriously be affected by civil war or armed conflict OR must have been impoverished of basic human rights on a continuous basis. Sponsors Country of asylum class members can only be privately sponsored by a group of 5 persons (G5), Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH), and Community Sponsors. However, you still need all documentation from the UNHCR, and a referral organization to be eligible. not eligible You are not eligible if you have another stable option for protection (resettlement in another country), obtained another citizenship, returned to your country, the reason behind your claim no longer exists. Settlement fund Regardless of the availability of your own settlement fund, you still need a sponsor to bring you to Canada.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/help-outside-canada.html (Accessed in Sep 2021).
