The paperwork required to sponsor a refugee has 2 components:
- Sponsorship Group Forms, and
- Refugee (Family) Forms.
Within "Sponsorship Group Forms", there are also 2 components: documents required by the SAH detailed in 1. below, and forms required by the Canadian government detailed in 2. below.
Forms will not open directly from the IRCC website, nor will they open on mobile devices (iPads, tablets, mobile phones, etc.). They will only open once they have been saved to your desktop computer. You will see a "Please wait ..." message. Now you know you're in the right place. While this message is showing, download that item to your computer:
- highlight the link
- right-click
- choose "save as" and then choose a location to save the file. This could be your desktop, downloads, or in a folder of your choosing.
If the file doesn't open on it's own at this point, then go to the folder where you saved the form, find the form, right-click on that file and choose "open" to open as you would any other pdf.
1. Documents required by the AGC SAH:
- Refugee Pre-screening Form
- This form is required when a church group is working with a local family as co-sponsors, or if the church has self-identified a refugee for sponsorship.
- Detailed Settlement Plan Templates - you will be sent a personalized excel booklet containing a settlement plan template and a budget template, completed with IRCC Minimum Calculation rates in your area, and a slightly higher SAH recommended amount.
- Letter of Church Support from the church board.
- Sponsorship MOU & RSI Agreement
- This agreement will be signed by the CG and the SAH, or in the case of a co-sponsorship, all 3 parties (CG, SAH & co-sponsor) will sign.
2. Documents required by IRCC (complete and submit to the SAH)
For the Sponsorship Group
Use the step-by-step guide to complete all the required forms for both the sponsoring group and the refugee.
- IMM5373 - Undertaking/Application to Sponsor
- IMM5492 - Sponsor Assessment
- IMM5440 - Settlement Plan
- All signatories (CG and co-sponsors) MUST provide Proof of Canadian Citizenship, Indian Status, or Permanent Residence. Valid documents are listed here.
For the Refugee(s)
The family member with the strongest refugee case is designated the "Principal Applicant". The Principal Applicant must complete & submit the following forms, available in a concise application kit HERE.
Refer to the Principal Applicant's Instruction Guide (IMM 6000) for help with these documents. "Step 3: Fill in your forms" gives detailed guidance for each question.
Use the link above to access the instruction guide and all the current necessary forms for the refugee portion of the undertaking which will include:
- IMM0008 - Generic Application Form for Canada
- completed by Principal Applicant (PA) only.
- IMM5669 - Schedule A: Background / Declaration
- completed by PA, the spouse and all dependants ages 18 - 21.
- IMM0008 SCH2 - Schedule 2: Refugees Outside Canada
- completed by PA, the spouse and all dependants ages 18 - 21.
An application may also include:
- IMM5476 - Use of a Representative
- (Optional, but highly recommended.)
Children 17 years and younger (of the Principal Applicant) will also be listed on the PA’s IMM0008 Generic Application under the additional dependant information in Section E. These children do not require any additional forms to be completed.
Checklist & Supporting Documentation
The Principal Applicant's Instruction Guide provides a list of supporting documents that should be submitted with the application (certified copies not originals). As a minimum, the refugees should provide some form of official ID documentation if at all possible (Passport, National ID, Birth Certificate etc.). The supporting documentation is used to prove their identity, their family relationships and may also be used to corroborate their refugee story.
Finally...
Once an application is submitted, of course life continues on. As you continue to keep in touch with the refugee family, you may hear that a family member gets married, gets pregnant, perhaps someone dies, or a child is adopted. If there is any change to the family composition,