The Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program celebrated its 25 th Anniversary in 2004. The program was initiated by churches and for many years, all the Sponsorship Agreement Holders were various church denominations. The Salvation Army is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder, partnering with Citizenship and Immigration Canada in this program.

As such, we work with Constituent Groups, which might be Salvation Army or other denominational congregations - or in some instances, community, cultural or family groups- to process documentation and prepare, in practical ways, those wanting to sponsor refugees. An initial eligibility assessment must be done to try to determine if the proposed refugee/refugee family will be able to attain refugee determination. Up to date country conditions are available on the United Nations High Commission for Refugees web site (unhcr.ch). Other criteria, such as personal risk, security and medical must also be examined in order for a refugee applicant to be deemed admissible, as assessed by an overseas Citizenship and Immigration Canada visa officer. The Constituent Group (local congregation) is responsible for providing for the refugee/refugee family for one year after arrival in Canada , or until the refugee/family becomes self-sufficient, whichever comes first. Since all the processing has been done overseas, sponsored refugees already have permanent resident status when they arrive in Canada .

Government Sponsored Refugees

Each year, the government sets a target number for government sponsored refugees. These refugees are referred by UNHCR, but still go through the sponsorship process. If they are accepted, when they arrive in Canada , they receive the equivalent of Social Assistance payments and benefits until they are able to become self-sufficient.

Sometimes the government will ask a sponsorship group to assist with a case they may think would be more difficult to settle. They pay the equivalent of social assistance benefits. The congregation would provide Canadian orientation, practical and emotional support. This is called a Joint Assisted Sponsorship.

Refugee Claimants

Refugee claimants make their way to Canada to seek asylum. Since 9/11 it has become more difficult for refugees to access Canada . The implementation of The Safe Third Country Agreement in December of 2004 has stopped much of the flow of refugee traffic crossing into Canada from US land borders. Airlines have also been fined if they knowingly carry passengers using false identity documents, even though refugees can often not obtain travel documents from their country of origin, from which they are fleeing.

Refugee Claimants do not have resident status, but must go through the refugee determination process and appear before the Immigration Review Board. One person determines whether or not the refugee claimant has a valid claim.

There are many social justice issues surrounding the refugee determination process.