|
Migration and Resettlement Program |
|
Contents |
(2024-02-26)
Pathway for people affected by the conflict in Sudan.
Family-based permanent residence pathway for people affected by the conflict in Sudan - Canada.ca
(2023-12-19)
Frequently Asked Questions about Named Sponsorship
Sponsoring Refugees with MCC Ontario: Questions Frequently
Asked About Named Sponsorship
Language
I am not fluent in English. Does MCC have
interpreters that speak my language, to help me through the sponsorship process?
No, we do not have
interpreters on our staff. Sponsors are responsible for arranging for family,
friends, or others to interpret, if necessary. Note that the sponsorship
process requires sponsors to communicate frequently by e-mail in English, as
well as computer literacy in Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and other platforms. It is
essential to have at least one – and ideally more – group members who are
fluent in English.
Sponsoring groups
I want to sponsor a refugee, but I don’t have a
sponsorship group. Can MCC find one for me?
No. MCC is a Sponsorship
Agreement Holder (SAH) and works with Constituent Groups (CGs) to undertake
sponsorships. It is the sponsor’s responsibility to form a sponsorship group.
MCC does not have the capacity to assist with the formation of sponsorship groups.
I want to sponsor a refugee, but I don’t have a group
of 5 people. Can I sponsor a refugee with a group of 2, 3 or 4?
No. We do require that
there be at least 5 people ready to be part of your sponsorship group. They
must be 18+ years old, live in the community of settlement, and be Canadian
citizens, permanent residents, or have status under the Indian Act.
I have a group of 5 people, but we are spread out
across 2 different cities. Can we still form a sponsorship group?
Maybe. Sponsors must live
in the expected community of settlement, where the refugees will live when they
arrive in Canada. The “community of settlement” should be small enough, that sponsors can easily access and support
the refugees in-person, after their arrival. Some cities are close enough to
form a single community of settlement: for example, Guelph and Kitchener, or
different parts of the GTA. If you need clarification, contact us at
Can
someone be in my sponsorship group even if they don’t have an income, or if
they receive social assistance?
In a Constituent Group, the financial capacity of individual
sponsors is not assessed by the government. The Sponsorship Agreement Holder
(in this case, MCC) is responsible for assessing the Constituent Group’s
financial capacity. For this reason, MCC requires that the minimum amount
required for each sponsorship be deposited into a special trust account before
the sponsorship application is submitted. Therefore, sponsors can be included
in a group if they do not have an income, or receive social assistance, as long as they are committing volunteer time to helping the
refugees settle in Canada.
Money
I
want to sponsor a refugee, but I don’t have the necessary funds. Does MCC have
funds to help me? Can MCC connect me with a church who has funds to help me, or
help me raise the funds?
Unfortunately, no. MCC cannot help sponsors to raise funds. Raising
funds is the responsibility of each individual sponsorship group.
Can
the money come from people outside my group?
Yes. The funds can be donated by relatives, friends, or co-workers
who are not part of your sponsorship group. Some groups fundraise, set up
online donation platforms, or ask for contributions from friends and relatives
in other provinces or countries to cover the sponsorship costs. As long as the funds do not come from the refugees to be
sponsored, anyone may contribute to the cost of the sponsorship.
Can
the people who donate to my sponsorship get a tax receipt from MCC?
Unfortunately, no, due to charitable tax laws. A Named Private
Refugee Sponsorship is considered “not at arm’s length” and is not eligible for
a charitable tax receipt.
Refugee
registration and ID documents
The
refugee I want to sponsor is not registered with the UNHCR or their country of
asylum. Can I still sponsor them?
For the purposes of resettlement to a third country (like Canada),
it is essential that the refugee register with either the UNHCR or country of
asylum (depending on who is responsible for refugee registration in the country
of asylum). Registration can also offer protection in the country of asylum and
make exit procedures smoother. If they are not yet registered, they should do
so as soon as possible. If, however, registration is not possible by either the
country of asylum or the UNHCR, please let us know and we will look into the matter.
The
refugee I want to sponsor was not able to get an official refugee registration
document from the UNHCR or their country of asylum. Can I still sponsor them?
In some cases, we recognize that it is not possible for refugees to
get refugee registration documents. As long as the
refugee has registered with the registering body in the country of asylum, and
has documentary proof of doing so, we should be able to proceed with the
sponsorship. Send us a copy of the document for verification at refugee@mcco.ca
if you are unsure.
Some of the most common documents that we are
able to work with include Kimliks (temporary
resident cards) from Turkiye, SHARP Case Numbers from
Pakistan, Sheefra (barcodes) from Lebanon, and asylum
seeker certificates from the UNHCR or country of asylum.
Dependents
I
want to sponsor a refugee who has fled their country but has a family (spouse
and/or children) who are living in another country (or back home). I only want
to sponsor the one refugee right now. Maybe their family will come to Canada at a later time, but I don’t know for sure. Can I do that?
Yes - as long as the spouse and/or children are included in the
application. Simply put, the Canadian government will always try to keep
nuclear families together (nuclear meaning parents and their dependent children
under age 22). If the refugee is married, and/or has children under age 22, the
spouse and children must be named as dependents on the application, and the
sponsors must factor those dependents into the minimum financial amount. We
will cover dependents in more detail in the Mandatory Orientation.
I
want to sponsor a refugee. They have a spouse and child(ren), but they do not
know where the spouse and children are, or if they are even alive. Can I
sponsor only the single refugee?
Yes. However, as long as the spouse and
children could still be alive, they must be named as dependents on the
application, and the sponsors must factor those dependents into the minimum
financial amount. The dependents are also included in the total number of
spaces you will need from MCC. We will cover dependents in more detail in
the Mandatory Orientation.
Can
I include grandparents (elderly parents) as dependents on their adult child’s
application? The elderly parents live with, and are completely dependent on,
their adult child.
No. Even though they are financially dependent on their adult
children, the Canadian government does not consider them to be dependents for
the purposes of a refugee sponsorship application. The elderly parent(s) must
have a separate application. We will cover dependents in more detail in the
Mandatory Orientation.
I
want to sponsor a refugee who was previously divorced and has children from
that marriage. Is there anything special that I need to consider in this
circumstance?
Yes. You will need a copy
of the divorce certificate. You will also need a court document granting
custody to the parent applying to come to Canada. It must be clear that the
custody granted includes the right to leave the country with the child(ren). All
documents not in English or French must be provided along with a certified
English translation, if that document is not already in English or French. If
you have specific questions, please e-mail us at refugee@mcco.ca.
The
2024 process
How
many spaces will MCC get this year?
Our allocations for 2024 have not yet been confirmed. Last year, we
received 150 spaces (for individual refugees, not applications). We anticipate
a similar number this year.
I
have many relatives that I want to sponsor. How many spaces can I get?
The demand for spaces is
extremely high. Many people in Canada have many relatives overseas who want to
be sponsored. We understand the pressure that sponsors often feel, to help as
many of their family members as possible. MCC tries to give as many people as
possible the opportunity to sponsor at least some of their relatives. For this
reason, we do not advise that sponsors submit multiple applications, in a
single year, for multiple family units unless they are linked (eg., adult children still living with their parents).
What are my chances of being accepted?
Canada’s resettlement program is a protection tool, and the chances
of acceptance will depend on the strength of the protection needs. We know that
many people here in Canada want to reunite with their relatives overseas who
are refugees. We receive limited spaces from the government, and we use those
spaces strategically to assist the most vulnerable refugees.
How
long is the application processing time?
At this time, we don’t know. Once your case has been submitted and approved, a
link will be sent to you to check on the processing time online, as well as
update the application when needed.
(2023-11-06)
Request
to flag PSR applicants facing deportation from Pakistan.
Dear SAH representatives,
As many of you may know,
the Pakistani government has started mass deportations of Afghans which may
have impacted families whose sponsorship applications under Operation Afghan
Safety (OAS) are still in process.
In case you are aware of
a family facing deportation that needs urgent assistance, kindly email Maha Siddiqui at maha@sahnavigationunit.ca
with the subject line: “Urgent
Case of Deportation - G# – PA last name, PA given name”. Please
ensure to include the following in the email body: (1) situation of deportation
that the family is facing, (2) country of asylum, (3) G number (4) PA last name
and given name. We
intend to flag these cases to IRCC's attention with a request for urgent
action.
Warm regards,
SAH Navigation Unit SAH Association - SAH Navigation Unit
IRCC
update regarding Exit Permits in Ethiopia:
Please feel free to
contact SAH Navigation Unit with any questions.
SAH
Association - SAH Navigation Unit
PO Box 61023
Eglington/Dufferin Road, Toronto, Canada, M6E 5B2
communications@sahnavigationunit.ca
(2023-09-26)
INTRODUCING
UPDATED TRANSPORTATION RATES:
Immigration, Refugees and
Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced new transportation rates that came into
effect on September 01, 2023. The Minimum
Financial Support Calculator has been
updated to reflect these changes.
CLICK
HERE TO CHECK IT OUT NOW! https://www.rstp.ca/calc/?lang=en
(2023-09-20)
GOOD
NEWS! VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY FOR NEWCOMERS:
Volunteering at an MCC Thrift
Shop can
be an incredibly beneficial experience for newcomers in more ways than one. It
provides an excellent opportunity to acquire valuable job skills. Whether it's
learning how to organize merchandise, receive and sort donations, operate a
cash register, or interact with customers, volunteers gain practical, hands-on
experience that can be a steppingstone to future employment opportunities.
These newly acquired skills not only boost their resumes but also instill a
sense of confidence and independence.
Furthermore, volunteering at an MCC Thrift
Shop exposes newcomers to a caring and inclusive community. The warmth and
support offered by fellow volunteers and staff create a nurturing environment
where individuals can form meaningful connections. This sense of belonging can
be particularly vital for newcomers who may be feeling isolated in a new
country. Additionally, regular interactions with customers from diverse
backgrounds enable volunteers to improve their language skills, helping them
overcome language barriers and fostering a greater sense of integration and
inclusion within their new community. In essence, volunteering at an MCC Thrift
Shop is a multifaceted opportunity that empowers newcomers with skills,
community, and language proficiency, facilitating their successful transition
into their new home.
(2023-07-25)
STAFF UPDATE
Greetings!
It is long overdue that we share with
you an update of the Migration and Resettlement Team as well as a brief
description of the roles of the team members.
(2023-07-27)
HOW DO I SPONSOR A REFUGEE THAT I KNOW OVERSEAS?
Greetings from MCC!
Thank you for inquiring about
refugee sponsorship. Unfortunately, we are not accepting any new sponsorship requests
for this year (2023). We will open again for inquiries from January 1-8, 2024.
Each year, the Canadian government
(IRCC) sets a limited number of spaces for the total number of refugees that
MCC and other Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) can sponsor. Therefore,
the number of sponsorships we can take on every year is limited and controlled
by the government. MCC is one of over 100 Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) in
Canada.
HOW DO I SPONSOR A REFUGEE THAT I KNOW OVERSEAS?
MCC works in relationship
with Sponsorship Groups. As a SAH, MCC is responsible to ensure
that Sponsorship Groups are equipped and have the capacity to provide refugees
with adequate support for successful settlement and integration into their new
community in Canada.
WHAT IS A SPONSORSHIP GROUP?
A Sponsorship Group is a
committed group of at least five people, all living in the community where the
newcomers will live. The Sponsorship Group members, combined, will have the
resources (financial and volunteer) to support the newcomers for 12 months
post-arrival, or until they become self supporting (whichever comes first).
MCC works with faith
communities and diverse groups of sponsors across Ontario. You must gather a
minimum of 5 people before MCC will consider your sponsorship request. Our
staff will walk you through the process.
From pre-arrival sponsor
orientations, to supporting the newcomers after they arrive. Refugees can
be sponsored by groups who are made up of any of the following:
WHO CAN BE SPONSORED?
Resettlement in Canada may not
be an option for every refugee. Sponsorship is only considered for people
fleeing their countries when they meet all 3 of these criteria:
There over 27 million refugees in the world today, and
only 1% access resettlement as a long-term solution.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS REQUIRED?
MCC does not provide the funds
for sponsorship. As private sponsors, you will need to supply or raise the
finances required for sponsorship. The Canadian government has outlined a minimum monthly amount that
the sponsors must provide to the refugee(s) on a monthly
basis during their first year in Canada. This amount is equal to the
current RAP (Refugee Assistance Program) Rates*. The
Financial Support chart and the Minimum Financial Support calculator are
available online at www.rstp.ca/calc.
*Please note that this minimum
may not meet the cost of living in your community. Realistically, more finances
may be needed.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
We open for sponsorship inquiries from January 1 8 each year.
During that week, if:
then you can send an email
to us to consider your refugee sponsorship. Please email your request to refugee@mcco.ca.
In your email (sent January
1-8) please include:
NOTE: due to the large number
of sponsorship inquiries and the limited number of spaces, we will not be
able to work with everyone who submits an inquiry.
IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO SPONSOR
A REFUGEE?
For those who want to explore
other options, consider submitting a private refugee sponsorship application
via a Group of Five or Community Sponsorship.
To sponsor through the Group of
Five or Community Sponsorship avenues, the Refugee Sponsorship and Training
Program (RSTP) will assist you with the process. For details, check out www.rstp.ca.
Alternatively, you can reach
out to other Sponsorship Agreement Holders in the area.
Here is the link to the list of
SAHs: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/help-outside-canada/private-sponsorship-program/agreement-holders/holders-list.html
We wish you the very best, as
you search for a durable solution for refugees in need of protection.
Sincerely,
MCC Ontario's Migration and
Resettlement Team