Refugee Sponsorship Support Program (RSSP) Monthly PSR Meeting Kingston Community Health Centre – Kingston Immigration Partnership Family Reunification

1.Overview of RSSP Process 2.Family Reunification - General 3.Family Reunification - One Year Window 4.Family Reunification - Other Avenues 5.Q&A Agenda

We are a group of lawyers and law students who have helped thousands of sponsors to complete refugee sponsorship applications in 11 cities across Canada. In Ontario so far, the RSSP has contributed to 765 sponsorship Applications at free legal clinics. What is the RSSP?

Sponsoring Group Self- Assessment Intake Application Support Meetings Lawyer File Review Expert File Review Submission & Follow- up THE RSSP PROCESS – 6 STAGES

The RSSP Intake Session INTAKE LAWYERS Provide further information on eligibility to privately sponsor refugees Suggest appropriate next steps to sponsor Groups Prioritized for Intake Meetings: Family members seeking to sponsor their loved ones, but who need assistance in understanding the Canadian private sponsorship system and the options available to them.

Family Reunification: One of the three pillars of Citizenship Immigration Canada IRCC: Every effort is made to ensure families are not separated, and if unavoidable, to facilitate reunification Family Reunification – General

Family Reunification – One Year Window Intended to reunite family members separated from each other.

Family Reunification – One Year Window General Requirements 1.Be identified on principal applicant’s IMM Meet definition of “family member” at time of application 3.Continue to be a family member at time OYW application is filed and at time final decision made (age exemption in effect) 4.Have submitted own app for permanent residence at visa office within one year of date of PA arrival in Canada

Family Reunification – One Year Window Non-accompanying family members “Family” defined: spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, and dependent children of dependent children of the principal applicant Do not need to meet eligibility requirements Must meet admissibility requirements

Principal Applicant (PA) Spouse or Common-law Partner Dependent Children Under 19 Family Reunification - One Year Window Family Defined Non- accompanying family member Include all of these people on initial forms

Family Reunification – One Year Window INCLUDE ALL FAMILY MEMBERS! (Spouse/Common-law partner, children under 19)

Has sponsor group Is outside of Canada Unable to return to country of origin No durable solution Able to establish in Canada Convention Refugee status Medical check Security check Criminal offences Eligibility Admissibility Family Reunification – One Year Window Eligibility and Admissibility defined

Important Note: If the non-accompanying family member not identified on the PA’s IMM 0008 and on the undertaking, OYW processing is complicated as sponsor can refuse to add them. CIC will contact the sponsor to amend the undertaking, re-assess the settlement plan or withdraw the sponsorship. Family Reunification - One Year Window

Family Reunification – One Year Window Private Sponsorship Sponsor must be notified of the non-accompanying family member’s application

Family Reunification – One Year Window Forms The IMM0008 Schedule 2: Refugees Outside of Canada Parts B, C, and D Interview requirement may be waived

Family Reunification – One Year Window CIC Processing CIC and visa offices are sensitive to the importance of timing to meet the eligibility requirements for the OYW program If there is a question about eligibility, then the visa office must confirm with CIC within 4 weeks

Family Reunification – One Year Window CIC Processing CIC will reject the OYW application if: The application is submitted after 1 year The person does not meet definition of “family member” The person was not listed on the PA’s original application

Family Reunification – One Year Window Loans and Transportation CIC requires: 1.The PA to sign an Immigration Loan and Undertaking to Repay and 2. The visa officer have dependent children (other than minors) sign an Immigration Loan/Contribution

Family Reunification - Other Avenues When it is not clear if person is ineligible, CIC may assess Person as refugee in own right. May be referred to the Matching Centre May be processed as a GAR

Family Reunification - De Facto Dependents Emotional/Financial Dependency Separate Sponsorship Package – Link Eligibility & Admissibility

Family Reunification - De Facto Dependents Not eligible under the OYW program At time of principal application, identify de facto dependent and submit separate sponsorship package and link applications Eligibility & Admissibility

A program to “help connect Syrian refugees abroad with private Canadian sponsors through the help of the refugee’s family in Canada.” Not accepting new refugee names for list at this time Family Reunification – Other Avenues Syrian Family Links Initiative

Building sponsorship groups (G5s) and fundraising to sponsor additional family members on their own rights as a separate application Family Reunification – Other Avenues

Q&A Family Reunification

Thank you Family Reunification Angela Fallow

Overview - Canada’s Resettlement Programs Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSR) Blended Visa Office Referred (BVOR) Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) Government Assisted Refugees (GAR) Funded ByPrivate Sponsors Government & Private Sponsors (6 months each) Government Settlement Support By: Private Sponsors Government + Private Sponsors Government Funded Organizations Referred to IRCC By: Private Sponsors UNHCR Refugees Known to Sponsor? YesNo

Overview - Who Can be a Private Sponsor? Sponsorship Agreement Holders + CG and CS Groups of Five Community Sponsors

Overview - Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) Have Agreement to Sponsor BVOR – All Refugees in Program Caps – BVOR & PSR No Refugee Status or Proof

Groups of Five & Community Sponsors Assessed Ad-Hoc BVOR – Syrians Only Financial/Settlement Capability Limit Refugee Status (Unless Syrian/Iraqi)

Overview - Application Process CPO-WVisa Office

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