Information Session

September 17, 2015

Who Is Involved

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Lifeline Syria

Refugees

Sponsor groups

Government

Settlement agencies

What is Lifeline Syria

• How it began

• Goal

• What we will do

• Who we working with

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Who are the Refugees

A refugee is:

• “a person who... owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country...”

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Who are the Refugees

Must also pass:

• Security

• Criminality

• Medical

• Refugees become Permanent Residents

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What is Private Sponsorship

The resettlement of a refugee to Canada, in which the financial costs of sponsorship and the settlement support is provided by private groups or organizations.

Sponsoring groups must provide financial support and settlement assistance for 12 months or until the refugee becomes self-sufficient.

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What is Private Sponsorship

Sponsorship Agreement Holders

• What are they

• Why work with them

• Their relationship to Lifeline Syria

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Role of Sponsors

• Providing financial support

• Connecting to settlement support

• Helping fill in the gaps

• Being the Canadian connector

When you are not responsible

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Financial Requirements

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Family

Size

12 Months

Income Support

Income Per

Month

Start-up

Costs

Total

Liability

1 $9,800 $817 $2,800 $12,600

2 $16,800 $1,400 $4,400 $21,200

3 $17,700 $1,475 $5,300 $23,000

4 $20,000 $1,667 $7,000 $27,000

5 $22,500 $1,875 $7,200 $29,700

6 $24,500 $2,042 $8,000 $32,500

Additional member

$1,550 $129 $1,000 $2,500

Settlement (borrowed from RSTP)

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Provide settlement support for the duration of the sponsorship period (usually 12 months)

Open a bank

account

Connect with

a settlement

agency

Provide

emotional and

moral support

Government - CIC

• Case

• Group

• Refugees

• Interview

• Clearance

• Arrange arrival

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Settlement Agencies

• Provide services

• Language

• Employment

• Government documents

• Other

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Next Steps

• Assess what you have and what you need

• People, Time, Money, Commitment

• Form your group

• Contact Lifeline Syria

• Take Action -> Group Form

• www.lifelinesyria.ca/group-form

A last note about: SAHs, refugees, and forms

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Thank you.

Questions?

Who Can Be Sponsored

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Named Cases Blended Visa Office Referred

(BVOR) Cases

Fully funded by sponsors

6 months income support from CIC

6 months income support and

startup cost covered by sponsors

Identified by sponsors Identified by UNHCR and CIC

Usually has family or friends in

Canada

Usually no family or friends in

Canada