2.B Sponsors: From Mobilization to Engagement

B.5 What are sponsors' responsibilities?

(i) What are sponsors’ responsibilities to the State?

How Canada Does It

Sponsors’ responsibilities to the State include:

  • Submitting a complete and accurate private sponsorship application;
  • Meeting the sponsorship eligibility requirements set out by the State;
  • Ensuring they continue to meet sponsorship eligibility requirements during the sponsorship period; and
  • Complying with government requests to monitor and review the sponsoring group’s capacity to resettle refugees.
     

Sponsoring groups are required to demonstrate they meet sponsorship eligibility requirements at the time the refugee sponsorship application is submitted. Sponsoring groups undertake a legal responsibility to provide financial and settlement support to refugees following their arrival.

Sponsors’ responsibilities to the State include:

  • Submitting a complete and accurate refugee sponsorship application, including, where applicable, the forms outlining the sponsoring group’s Settlement Plan and financial capacity (Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) do not need to submit a statement of financial capability, and SAHs with more than two years of experience do not need to submit Settlement Plans). If nominating the refugees they wish to sponsor, sponsors also need to submit forms outlining the refugee applicants’ circumstances for fleeing their countries of nationality, their fears of return, and current living conditions. If sponsors are sponsoring refugees referred to Canada by UNHCR or another referral organization through the Visa Office-Referred (VOR), Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR), or Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) programs (see B.3(i)), they do not need to send forms outlining the refugees’ circumstances, as the refugees have already been approved for resettlement by UNHCR and Canada;
  • For Groups of Five and Community Sponsors, providing documentation demonstrating financial capacity (see 2.B.3(v));
  • Updating the sponsorship application with the Government of Canada if necessary;
  • Complying with any government requests for further information or documentation;
  • Ensuring they comply with the sponsorship undertaking after the refugees’ arrival;
  • Complying with any government requests to monitor and review the sponsoring group’s capacity (see 2.B.5(iii)); and
  • Complying with any government requests to mediate a potential sponsorship breakdown (see 2.D.1, 2.D.2, and 2.D.3).