Private Sponsorship of Refugees

Through the Government of Canada’s Refugee Sponsorship Program, Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents can collaborate with a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) (of which the Association for New Canadians is one) to support refugee resettlement in Canada. There are four options for sponsorship:

• Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program is for individuals or families who wish to sponsor specific people to come to Newfoundland and Labrador.  This helps address one of the most fundamental barriers to the successful settlement, integration, and retention of refugees in Newfoundland and Labrador – family reunification. [NOTE: THE ANC HAS A NEW ONLINE APPLICATION FORM AND FULL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PSR PROGRAM AT THIS LINK COMING SOON]
• Blended Visa Office Referral (BVOR) Program is designed to provide an opportunity for the general public to support the resettlement of a refugee identified by the UNHCR.
• Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) Program is designed to support refugees who have special needs. IRCC and settlement agencies work with co-sponsors to help refugees adjust to life in Canada by giving them settlement help and emotional support.
• Rainbow Refugee Assistance Project (RRAP) is a blended refugee sponsorship initiative to encourage the sponsorship of refugees who are persecuted on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

In addition to providing community groups and individuals with support and assistance during the sponsorship process, this program is especially vital to the retention of sponsored immigrants, as it strives to meet their unique needs by providing a mechanism to support those who are ineligible for other reunification options. 

If you are interested in becoming a co-sponsor or are interested in sponsoring a refugee, please contact: [email protected]