Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program
The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program
Canada is a country of immigrants with a varied history of welcoming refugees and newcomers from all over the world. The many military campaigns in South East Asia during the 1970s caused a mass exodus of refugees who desperately needed help and support. It was the plight and flight of these refugees that inspired the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program.
Canadian churches and community groups recognized these people particularly needed support and worked tirelessly to find safe places for them to live in Canada.
The Government of Canada formalized this process of Canadians sponsoring refugees from overseas in 1979. Canada was the first country in the world to have a refugee sponsorship program. It has now become a model for other countries around the world. Regardless of the motivation, potential sponsorship group members are voluntarily willing to take on the significant commitment of both financial and non-financial assistance when choosing to undertake private sponsorship of refugees. sponsors commit their personal time, energy, and often money to assist an individual or family in need of resettlement.
Despite these significant personal investments, there is a rich and rewarding history of Canadians welcoming Privately Sponsored Refugees from Coast to Coast.
HOW PSR WORKS
The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program is the only program in the world that enables organizations and private citizens to assist refugees directly through resettlement. Once a person has fled their country of origin.
- The resettlement process can begin when refugees identify themselves.
- In order to resettle, people try to find potential sponsors in Canada.
- CAIR assists sponsors in determining whether a person qualifies as a refugee.
- Sponsors must be cleared by CAIR as well as be able to provide financial support for refugee families.
- Once both are eligible, formal documents must be submitted to the Canada Government.
- Once accepted, the refugees travel to Canada where settlement will begin.
WHO MAY SPONSOR A REFUGEE?
Co-sponsor individuals and organizations that can partner with community sponsors and SAH members and groups of five Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents to help with settlement and provide support to refugees. For dealings with IRCC, the co-sponsoring organization also has to authorize a person to act on their behalf, referred to as the Signing Authority, who:
- Has the authority to submit sponsorship applications on behalf of their organization; can legally bind their organization to the terms of the private sponsorship; and
- Must submit a completed Sponsor Assessment form (IMM 5492) as part of each new sponsorship application
WHO WE ARE
Canadian Association for Immigrants and Refugees (CAIR) is a Canadian non-for-profit organization dedicated to sponsoring and resettling refugees. Our mission is to sponsor as many refugees as possible, ensuring their safe arrival and providing them with the necessary support to settle in Canada.
Charitable Status : Federal Non-for-profit Corporation
Registration Number : 1387893-7
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