If you have a loved one that you would like to sponsor through Canada's Private Sponsorship of Refugees program, then you would be identified as the co-sponsor when working with the AGC as your SAH.
Perhaps you already know that SAHs work differently from one another. Some SAHs sponsor refugees directly. However, we are a sponsorship agreement holder that operates nationally. This means that we do not sponsor refugees directly; it is our churches that become sponsoring groups.
So, you have loved ones who have been forced to flee from their home and you'd like to help them get to Canada. May God bless you and guide you in your efforts!
Unfortunately, the 40,000 spaces our government pledged to Afghan nationals have all been used. Now, Afghans can be sponsored in the same way as all other refugees through the PSR program.
As of today, there is no mechanism in place to help Afghan nationals who are still inside Afghanistan or Iran. Canada does not have an embassy in either of those countries. I know that is a big problem. Routes out are few and dangerous, and once out, there is still no assurance of a solution.
For those already outside Afghanistan, the route to sponsorship is the same as it is for every other refugee. To either:
As a refugee in the world today, we are aware of your need for a solution to your forced displacement.
Unfortunately, there are millions of refugees looking for sponsors, and not all Canadians are aware of the ability and privilege they have to privately sponsor refugees.
A big part of the work we do is getting the word out to the people we are connected with, helping them to understand that they can sponsor a refugee family.
This means that we are powerless to sponsor refugees directly; it is the churches associated with us that become sponsoring groups. Although we speak regularly with our churches, explaining the refugee crisis and the need for more sponsoring groups, we receive far more requests asking for assistance than we have church groups able to sponsor. Unfortunately, the list of people looking for sponsors is long, and the chance of a sponsorship group coming available is very slim.
The sponsorship community heard in December 2021 how to access the spaces our government pledged to Afghan nationals. Unfortunately, that expedited program has completed. Now, all Afghan applicants must go through the same PSR program that all refugees use.
As of today, there is no mechanism in place to help Afghan nationals who are still inside Afghanistan or Iran. I know that is a big problem. Routes out are few and dangerous, and once you are out, there is still no assurance of a solution.
For those already outside Afghanistan and Iran, the route to sponsorship is the same as it is for every other refugee. To either:
"I cannot do everything, but I must not do nothing."
- Baronness Caroline Cox