2.D Refugee-Sponsor Relationship

D.1 What happens if the sponsoring group wants to withdraw its application before the refugees arrive?

(ii) What circumstances can lead to a sponsorship withdrawal prior to the refugees’ arrival?

How Canada Does It

The Government of Canada determines on a case-by-case basis if sponsorship withdrawal (see 2.D.1(i)) is permitted based on the circumstances. Sponsorship withdrawal may be acceptable if the sponsoring group no longer has the capacity to provide financial assistance and settlement support for reasons beyond its control. Sponsorship withdrawal will not be permitted if the group prefers to sponsor other refugees or over-extends its support for multiple undertakings.

The Government of Canada determines whether sponsorship withdrawal is permitted on a case-by-case basis.

 ACCEPTABLE REASONS for sponsorship withdrawal may include:

  •  There are unexpected changes in the financial status of the sponsoring group that render it unable to support the refugee(s) financially;
  • There is a major change of condition, such as significant loss of membership, so great that it prevents the sponsoring group from being able to fulfill its sponsorship obligations;
  • New information arises about the refugee family that may put undue strain on the sponsor’s resources and create excessive demands that a sponsor cannot meet (e.g. additional people in the refugees’ family unit);
  • The sponsoring group learns information about the refugees that would make them ineligible or inadmissible to resettle in Canada; and
  • The refugees no longer wish to resettle in Canada.

 UNACCEPTABLE REASONS to withdraw the sponsorship may include:

  • The sponsoring group would rather sponsor other refugees and does not have the capacity for multiple undertakings;
  • There is a change of leadership in the sponsoring group;
  • A sponsoring group has over-extended its ability to support all submitted sponsorship undertakings, including both financial and in-kind assistance
  • A sponsoring group cannot withdraw a sponsorship application after the refugees’ visa to Canada has been issued. If sponsorship breakdown occurs after the visa has been issued, sponsorship dispute and breakdown protocols are triggered (see 2.D.2).