Refugee and Asylum Seeker

Refugees and asylum are people who have fled their home country or region because of a well-founded fear of persecution. They are forced to leave the places they know as home due to circumstances such as dangerous levels of violence, discrimination against certain minorities, natural disasters, and more. In Canada, the refugee protection system has two parts: the Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program for people seeking asylum from outside of Canada; and the In-Canada Asylum Program for those seeking asylum within Canada.

 In-Canada Asylum Program

The asylum program provides refugee protection to people in Canada who have a well-founded fear of persecution or are at risk of torture or cruel or unusual punishment in their home countries.

Canadian refugee protection programs

The Canadian refugee system has two main parts:

• The Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program, for people who need protection from outside Canada and
• The In-Canada Asylum Program for people making refugee protection claims from within Canada.

Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program

 GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED REFUGEES

These are Convention refugees whose primary settlement primarily for up to one year is fully backed by the Government of Canada or Quebec. Once the case has been referred to Canada, a Canadian visa officer will assess the data and, in most cases, schedule an interview. Besides medical examination, criminal or security checks must be done before the approval of resettlement.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), along with private sponsors, identifies refugees for resettlement. A person cannot apply directly to Canada for resettlement. After they are placed, it takes time to process the cases.

 PRIVATELY SPONSORED REFUGEES (PSRS)

 You become a privately sponsored refugee (PSR) when a group of people in Canada volunteers to help you adjust to life here. Your sponsorship group will:

• Help you find a place to live
• Give you financial support
• Give you social and emotional support
• Provide you with food and clothing

PSRs aren’t alone with the settlement – it’s a group effort. A PSR’s sponsorship group must support them for one year after they arrive or until the PSR can be financially independent, whichever comes first. There are also no fees associated with being sponsored by a public-spirited organization. It is against the law for any non-governmental organization to charge you money to help you settle in Canada.

Quebec has its process for sponsoring refugees.

 BLENDED VISA OFFICE REFERRED REFUGEES (BVORS)

 The Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program matches refugees identified by the UNHCR with private sponsors in Canada. The income assistance (for the first six months) is given by the Government of Canada through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), while private sponsors afford another six months of financial aid. In addition, social and emotional support may be given by a private sponsor for up to one year.

Integration Services

Refugees often need help to settle. This is true whether they are resettled from overseas or granted protection in Canada. The Government of Canada works with many partners and stakeholders to provide many types of settlement services. These services help refugees adjust to life in Canada.