2.D Refugee-Sponsor Relationship
D.1 What happens if the sponsoring group wants to withdraw its application before the refugees arrive?
(v) What are the consequences for the sponsoring group in case of a sponsorship withdrawal prior to the refugees’ arrival?
How Canada Does It
The consequences for sponsoring groups of withdrawing from a sponsorship (see 2.D.1(i)) depend on the reasons for the sponsorship withdrawal. If the sponsoring group withdraws for acceptable reasons (see 2.D.1(ii)), Canada does not penalize them in their current and future undertakings. If the sponsoring groups withdraws for unacceptable reasons (see 2.D.1(ii)), then they may be ineligible to submit future sponsorship applications. If a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) withdraws an application for unacceptable reasons, Canada may review the SAH’s agreement and consider amending, suspending, or cancelling it.
See 2.D.1(ii) for a non-exhaustive list of acceptable and unacceptable reasons to withdraw a sponsorship application.
If the reason for the withdrawal is related to a change in group composition, Canada must determine whether the same sponsoring group or its members have other sponsorships in progress and whether those sponsorships are still viable if a new sponsorship is undertaken.
If a Constituent Group requests to withdraw its application, the SAH may decide to appoint a replacement Constituent Group or to assume total responsibility for the sponsorship.