Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program Sponsor Engagement Meetings Resettlement Operations Division Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada February – March 2020
ͯ Outline and Objectives Objectives: • Information sharing from IRCC to sponsors • Forum for sponsor feedback about the PSR program • Find a way forward to work together and alleviate challenges Outline: 1. IRCC key messages 2. Open forum What we will not cover: Case specific enquires 2
PSR Program Updates: 2019 Year in Review • Growth in PSR Program: • PSR arrivals • Higher SAH cap and space usage • Number of SAHs • Ongoing and new program assurance activities undertaken • Reported cases • Organization monitors • Proactive monitoring • Engagement with sponsors • Direct emails, webinars, tools developed 3
SAH Annual Reports - 2019 • SAHs are required, as per their Agreement, to submit an Annual Report to IRCC • 122/124 SAHs submitted their 2019 Annual Report • Expressions of Interest were used as the basis to advance cap spaces for use in early 2020 • Consolidated results to be shared with SAH Council 4
2020 Expressions of Interest by Area Overview AREA 2020 SPACES (Cities) REQUESTED Latin America and the Caribbean 198 (Mexico) North Asia and Oceania 0 (Beijing, Canberra, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo) South Asia 255 (Colombo, New Delhi) South-East Asia 622 (Manila, Singapore) North Europe 155 (London, Moscow, Vienna, Warsaw) Southern Europe and the Magreb 1155 (Paris, Rabat, Rome) Sub-Saharan Africa 5743 (Accra, Abuja, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Pretoria) Middle East 7369 (Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Islamabad, Tel Aviv) Not specified 627 Grand T otal 16124 5
2019 Expressions of Interest by Migration Offices Overview 3000 2834 2500 2000 1776 1661 1633 1496 1500 1138 1105 917 1000 760 627 622 549 500 198 152 125 132 91 103 104 50 33 18 0 6
2020 Expressions of Interest by Area 2018-2020 Overview 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 Middle East Africa Asia Other 2018 10626 5911 1205 2099 2019 8256 4525 1050 1601 2020 7369 5743 877 2135 TOTAL 2018 - 19841 2019 - 15432 2020 - 16124 7
2020 Interest in BVOR and JAS Programs • 22 out of 122 SAHs (18%) expressed potential interest to sponsor 66 JAS cases • 53 out of 122 SAHs (43%) expressed potential interest to sponsor 314 BVOR cases 8
2019 Sponsorship Activity - SAH reported withdrawals • 36 SAHs reported withdrawals in 2019. • 103 PSR cases withdrawn: Withdrawal Reason Cases Applicant(s) no longer in need of resettlement* 57 Sponsorship issues (lack of finances to add 13 dependents, concerns with CGs, misrepresentation from refugees) Loss of contact with applicant(s) 4 Other** 29 TOT AL 103 *Most common reason is durable solution in another country (commonly Australia, Germany, USA) and voluntary repatriation (commonly to Syria) ** Reasons including changes in refugee personal circumstances 9
2019 Sponsorship Activity - SAH reported Breakdowns • 31 SAHs reported breakdowns in 2019. • 65 PSR cases broken down: Breakdown Reason Cases Secondary migration 39 IRCC-declared breakdown 10 Family separation 7 Other* 9 Total 65 * Misrepresentation 10
SAH Training • 110 SAHs participated in training and/or webinars in 2019 Training Interest in 2020 Navigating the Case Review Process 62 What to do for Secondary Migrations 58 Understanding PSR Financial Guidelines 57 How to better oversee co-sponsors and CGs 56 How to Use the Minimum Financial Support Calculator Tool 35 Completing Forms and Electronic Submission of Applications 33 Calculating Start-up support 30 Other (e.g. add dep/OYW, in-kind donations, mental health, 13 LGBTQ, after 12 month support) 11
2019 SAH Annual Report - Additional Comments 75 SAHs provided additional comments Primary Comments – IRCC-SAH relations # Positive comments about PSR program and stakeholder relations 29 (e.g. great program, enhanced process, personal contact at SAH conference and roadshows) Concerns related to PSR assurance activities and changes to SAH 21 agreement (e.g., suggestion to relax rules, enhance respectful/positive communication, concerns about the perceived administrative burden, imposing fear on refugees) Positive comments on application processing at ROC-O and 16 Migration Offices (e.g. improved communications, faster processing and electronic application submission) Migration Office related requests (e.g. decreased processing time, 12 continuity across Migration Offices, cc SAHs on all correspondence) 12
2019 SAH Annual Report - Additional Comments Primary Comments – Caps and Allocations # Not enough spaces to meet demand 6 BVOR program related concerns 4 Concerns related to increase in paperwork, change of forms and 3 application of RAP rates Benefits of RSTP training 3 13
Sponsorship Agreement reminders • Sponsors should not profit financially from the sponsorship of refugees • The SAH and/or CG and Co-sponsor must reside in the community of settlement or have at least 2 representatives to meet residency requirements • The SAH will ensure that a Settlement Plan is developed for each Sponsorship Undertaking • The SAH will encourage the refugees to access settlement and other support services prior to seeking employment • Where the CG or Co-sponsor is no longer able to support, the SAH will be held solely responsible for making all alternative arrangements or assume full liability • The SAH must ensure that it’s CGs and Co-sponsors have adequate resources and arrangements to fulfil sponsorship responsibilities • The SAH will provide its CGs and Co-sponsors with organizational assistance, advice, information and support throughout the sponsorship process • The SAH is responsible for monitoring its CGs or Co-sponsors and the refugees to ensure adequate support is provided and integration is successful 14
PSR Program Updates: 2020 look-ahead • Caps and allocations • Advancement of cap space • Application submission and use of cap space • New SAH assessment process is under development and will be shared soon • Ongoing Program Assurance activities (i.e., reported cases, organizational monitors, proactive monitoring) 15
Application Intake • IRCC does not want to return applications: we recognize a high return rate is a reflection of a lack of information or clarity around the application process • Top reasons for returns: • Missing or invalid email addresses • Missing or invalid forms • Information does not match across forms • Unsigned or signature of forms is outdated (e.g. Undertaking more than 90 days) • Other reasons for returns: • Incorrect application category • Unanswered questions on the forms • Family member does not meet the definition of a family member as per the IRPR • Handwritten forms 16
Sponsorship Application: group & settlement plan • Creating a sponsorship group: • Everyone who signed the Sponsorship Undertaking remains equally responsible – sponsors are assessed individually and as a whole. • Include everyone who will be contributing to the sponsorship. • Representatives are not a party to the sponsorship nor are they liable to fulfill the sponsorship obligations—this responsibility still rests with the sponsorship group. • Writing your settlement plan: • Each settlement plan must address the unique needs of the refugees in each sponsorship application. Your answers should not be copied from other settlement plans. • If you are listed on multiple sponsorship applications, list which applications and how you will be able to provide settlement support to everyone you are sponsoring. • Every member of the group needs to provide support. 17
General Reminders: what we want to see in an application All required forms and documents listed in the sponsorship guides are included in the application package. All information is consistent in all documents submitted (ex. spelling of names, addresses of sponsors). Contact information is accurate and up-to-date. The settlement plan is detailed, realistic and demonstrates that the sponsors have made efforts to prepare. Any information that could be of concern to a ROC-O officer is clarified through supporting documentation such as a cover letter. 18
General Reminders: case status requests & preparedness • For case status requests please contact ROC-O or the IRCC office abroad. • Please email for a status request only if necessary. Too many requests can take staff away from processing and lead to overall delays. • What can you do to help your application (before you submit and after): • Read and follow the sponsorship guides. • Participate in RSTP workshops, webinars and e-trainings. • Let IRCC know as soon as possible if your contact information changes or is out-of-date. 19
Reminders from Migration Officers • IRCC forms are available to everyone on the IRCC or RSTP website • Applicants must be honest in their verbal and written testimonies (forms and during interview) • Applicants must declare all accompanying and non- accompanying dependents 20
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