ICS is a private immigration service provider for individuals wishing to immigrate to Canada. Our services include but are not limited to application review, document preparation and submission, and immigration consultation.
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Overview of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship
Refugees who fear persecution or face the risk of torture, death, or cruel treatment can feel assured of end-to-end protection in Canada. This means they will be safe from harm and not be forced to leave Canada.
Refugees are of two types:
Convention refugees
Persons needing protection
Convention refugees refer to people outside their homeland/country or the country they have lived in for an extensive period. Now, they are unwilling to return because of a long-lived fear of persecution based on the following:
Race
Religion
A person in need of protection determines a Canadian (Temporary/permanent) whose removal to their homeland or country they were living in would subject them personally to:
Refugee Visa Canada Eligibility:
The process of obtaining a Canada refugee immigration visa can be lengthy and arduous, but it has the potential to change someone’s life positively. If you have faced persecution in your country, exploring the option of applying for a refugee visa in Canada may be worthwhile.
To be eligible for a Canada refugee visa, you must meet the following criteria:
You must be outside of your homeland/country.
If you have a genuine fear of being victimized based on your religion, race, nationality, or membership in a specific NGO, social group, or political opinion, and you cannot or do not want to head back to your home country, then you may be eligible for assistance.
You must either be unable or unwilling to receive protection from your home country or any other country.
In case you wish to register for a Canada refugee visa, you have to meet certain requirements and undergo a lengthy and complex refugee application Canada process. You are advised to seek legal help to navigate this process smoothly. Once everything falls in line, you can submit your application at a Canadian embassy or consultation in your origin country.
You should consider these essential factors while Claiming Refugee Status in Canada:
You must bring proof of your persecution, including police reports, court records, or witness letters.
You must present evidence of being victimized and genuinely fearing returning to your country of origin.
To live in Canada, you must showcase your financial stability and ability to take care of your family. This asks for providing evidence of income, assets, or support from a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
If your refugee visa application is approved, you will be granted permanent residency status in Canada. It allows you to stay, study, and do a job/work in the country without any time limit. You will also receive government benefits, including healthcare and social assistance.
How Canada's Refugee System Works:
The Canadian refugee system comprises two primary parts:
Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program
In-Canada Asylum Program
Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program:
The Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program is for individuals seeking protection outside Canada. They cannot apply for resettlement directly. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and private-based sponsors identify refugees for resettlement. Once identified, they start the process, which generally takes time.
In-Canada Asylum Program:
The asylum program is designed to offer refugee protection to people in Canada who:
have lived in fear of persecution
are at risk of cruelty, torture, or unwanted punishment in their home countries
Only some people are eligible to seek asylum. F.e., people are not eligible to claim if they have:
been convicted of practical criminal offenses or
had previously denied refugee claims by Canada.
Refugee Sponsorship:
Every year, millions of individuals worldwide are compelled to leave their homeland due to persecution, war, or severe human rights violations. Sadly, many of these individuals find it challenging to return to their homeland.
Individuals and groups can sponsor eligible refugees from other countries to settle in Canada.
Once refugees arrive in Canada, sponsors are responsible for providing financial settlement assistance, except for Joint Assistance Sponsorship cases.
During the sponsorship period, sponsors are required to offer emotional and substantial support for the settlement.
Sponsorships typically last for a year, although certain refugees might qualify for extended support from their sponsors.
Private Sponsorship:
There are many ways for Canadian individuals, permanent residents, and organizations to assist refugees in building a new life in Canada.
Sponsorship agreement holders and their constituent groups:
The Government of Canada has signed sponsorship agreements with several organizations nationwide to assist refugees from other countries who are resettling in Canada.
These are organizations that are commonly referred to as sponsorship agreement holders.
People can either sponsor refugees independently or collaborate with other community members to sponsor refugees.
Typically, sponsorship agreement holders are organizations related to religion, ethnicity, community, or service.
Groups of five:
To sponsor refugees and assist them in settling in Canada, a group of a minimum of five Canadian citizens or permanent residents over 18 years old can join forces.
To sponsor a refugee, the group must commit to providing emotional and financial support throughout the entire sponsorship period, which typically lasts for one year.
Community Sponsors:
In Canada, specific community organizations can sponsor refugees. By doing so, they agree to provide emotional and financial support for the entire duration of the sponsorship, which typically lasts one year.
Joint Assistance Sponsorship:
The JAS program allows organizations to collaborate with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to provide resettlement assistance to refugees with specific requirements.
The groups that work with sponsorship agreement holders are known as constituent groups. Sponsorship agreement holders are organizations that have signed an agreement with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and are incorporated.
Individuals seeking refuge under the JAS program are granted financial assistance by the Canadian government and are paired with a private sponsorship group.
CIC offers financial aid to refugees for essential needs like food, shelter, clothing, and household items. Private sponsors provide additional support for settlement and emotional adjustment to life in Canada.
Sponsors in Quebec:
If you are a sponsor residing in Quebec and would like to sponsor a refugee, it is essential to contact the Quebec Ministry responsible for handling immigration. They have their unique process for refugee sponsorship within the province.
Refugee Claims in Canada:
In Canada, you can apply for refugee protection in two ways:
First:
Upon your arrival in Canada, you can make a refugee claim on the spot. It could be at an airport, seaport, or Canada-United States border crossing. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers are responsible for receiving the claims at these ports of entry.
Second:
You can also make your claim from a Citizenship and Immigration Canada office located within Canada.
It is uncertain whether you qualify for refugee protection in Canada or not. The officers who receive your claim will determine if it meets the requirements for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
The IRB is an unbiased tribunal that makes decisions on immigration and refugee issues, including who is considered a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection.
How to Apply for Refugee in Canada from Outside?
If you arrive at a land border, you are ineligible to make a refugee claim because of a special agreement between the USA and Canada, renowned as the Safe Third Country Agreement.
Resettlement is the term used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada(CIC) to describe the legal process of bringing a refugee to Canada to live as a permanent resident.
CIC partners with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR), various referral organizations, and privately sponsored groups to identify and refer refugees for resettlement in Canada.
Private sponsoring groups are groups or corporations that have signed an agreement with Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. In this agreement, they promise to provide funds and carry out certain duties to sponsor refugees who come to Canada.
How to Apply for Refugee in Canada from Inside?
You could stay in Canada under the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada program. But this is only possible when you justify the persecution of fear or danger of living once you leave Canada.
To make a refugee claim while staying in Canada, you must:
Won’t be subject to a removal order
To apply for refugee in Canada while staying, you must:
Apply online by using your registered online accounts (Canada Labour Disruption)
Forward your application to IRCC.
Once you finish applying, leave the decision to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers to review your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Can a refugee bring his family to Canada?
Yes, a refugee can bring their family to Canada. Refugees with permanent residency in Canada can bring their family members, including their spouse, dependent children, partner, and dependent children of dependent children.
Can I work in Canada as a refugee?
Yes, you can work in Canada as a refugee. However, there are certain prospects you need to do to be eligible to work.
First, comprise a valid work permit. You can apply for it from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It could be done online or by mail.
Where do refugees in Canada live?
Refugees in Canada live in all parts of the country. Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia are central provinces where most refugees will be found. However, it is crucial to note that the location of refugees in Canada is constantly changing. As the refugee resettlement program evolves and new refugees arrive in Canada, the distribution of refugees will continue to change.
How long can a refugee stay in Canada?
Refugees can stay in Canada indefinitely unless they receive an enforceable removal order. If a refugee is granted protected person status, they can apply for permanent residency post a year. Once they have permanent residency, they can permanently live and work in Canada.
Can a refugee in Canada go back to their country?
Refugees in Canada can return to their country if they choose to do so. However, they must confirm that the situation has been better than their time.
Does refugee status expire in Canada?
No, refugee status does not expire in Canada. Once a refugee is granted protected person status, they are eligible to live, study and perform jobs/work in Canada indefinitely.
Can a refugee apply for citizenship in Canada?
Yes, a refugee can apply for citizenship in Canada. Refugees granted permanent residency in Canada can apply for citizenship after three years. They must also meet other requirements, such as passing language and citizenship tests.