Discernment

It is very important to carefully discern if refugee ministry is appropriate for your congregation. Set up a committee to assess your congregation resources (financial and human), its interests (in a certain part of the world, or in refugees with particular characteristics or needs), and its commitment (time, personal involvement). Survey the congregation to assess as accurately as possible, and to give everyone the opportunity to get involved. Gather information from the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and other churches with sponsorship experience.

Form a Sponsorship Group

Once your congregation agrees to go ahead with sponsorship they need to form a Sponsorship Group with congregational approval. The information collected from the congregation and others will help the sponsorship group to complete the CBOQ sponsorship application form, government forms and begin preparations for the arrival of your refugee family.

The sponsorship process can take a long time, and many pieces of the puzzle must be in place before the CBOQ can issue the letter of authorization that the government requires for sponsorship.

Complete the sponsorship application form

The congregation must provide the name, date of birth and country of origin of the refugee to be sponsored and their dependents. Many sponsorship groups obtain the names from relatives in Canada who are looking for help to sponsor their relatives living in refugee camps. Others get names from the Government
of Canada.

Refugee Sponsorship Kit

Application Form for letter of Authorization to Sponsor

Canada Immigration Sponsorship Forms

Research & write a settlement plan

A settlement plan is a plan detailing what the congregation will do to orient and support the refugees during the sponsorship. It will provide the congregation with a framework to work through the myriad details of who will do what, when, how, with what resources—and where those resources will come from. Groups need to plan a monthly budget for the person(s) they are sponsoring, taking into consideration any special needs. The budget may include financial and in-kind donations and must be for a level of support equal to local social assistance levels.

During the waiting period, your sponsorship group is encouraged to pray for the process and the refugee family, update the congregation about the status of your application and the family, work with the congregation to raise funds, gather household items and resources the refugee family will need upon arrival.

Submit the application form and settlement plan to CBOQ

This settlement plan and application form must be approved by the Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec before the sponsorship can go forward. If the application is approved, the congregation will receive a Letter of Authorization from the Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec

Submit forms to Citizenship and Immigration

The congregation needs to submit the letter of authorization with a completed 'Undertaking to Sponsor' form (IMM5439) and supporting documents to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The congregation will then receive a signed Undertaking from CIC, with file number and contact information.

What happens overseas?

Preparation of the Refugee's File Overseas: The congregation then waits while the refugee’s file is prepared overseas. CIC forwards the Undertaking to a Canadian Visa Office overseas. The visa office opens a file and assigns the refugee applicant a visa post number. The visa office sends an IMM008 Application Form to the refugee. The refugee then completes and returns the IMM008 form to the visa office.

Screening Process: Once the IMM008 has been received, the refugee is put on a waiting list for a screening interview by a Canadian Visa officer. If the refugee passes the screening interview he/she will have a medical exam. If the refugee is cleared by the medical exam, he/she will need to pass a security and criminality check.

It is important to know that approximately 50% of sponsor-referred private sponsorship applications are refused. To help avoid refusals, review the details of the refugee’s situation carefully before signing the sponsorship. For the government to approve the sponsorship there must be clear evidence that the refugee will eventually be able to support him/herself and adapt to life in Canada. The refugee must also pass the medical exam and security clearances.

Visa, Notice of Arrival, Travel, and Landing: If given clearance the refugee can obtain Immigrant Loans forms from the government which help them pay for certain expenses including the cost of medical exams and travel. NOTE: Refugees must repay their loans. Congregations are not responsible for repaying immigrant loans.

The refugee will then be granted a visa. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) arranges travel for the refugee and the congregation receives a notice of arrival. The Refugee is “landed” upon arrival

Greet the refugee

Your sponsorship group will arrange to have greeters, and possibly an interpreter, meet the refugee at the airport and take them to where he/she is staying. Then, the settlement plan takes effect.

Celebrate

Welcome your refugee with open arms.

Most refugees will be very open and willing to enjoy your hospitality and fellowship. Some may be wary and even hostile because of their religious convictions or the circumstances under which they became refugees. Continue to support and encourage them to the extent that they will allow