Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program

2. Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program

2.15 IMM 6000 application kit

Refugee applicants are required to complete all relevant application forms contained in the IMM 6000 kit (Application for Permanent Residence in Canada: Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian-Protected Persons Abroad). The IMM 6000 includes the IMM 0008, Schedule 1, Schedule 2, and the Authorization to Release Information forms. Applicants are also expected to gather all supporting documentation required for their application. (Refer to the checklist in Appendix A of the IMM 6000.)

The IMM 6000 may be obtained by contacting the Call Centre or downloading it from this website. Only after a visa office abroad has received the completed application forms is an interview with the applicant arranged.

For sponsor-referred cases, there are three methods by which a refugee may be sent the Application for Permanent Residence in Canada. To expedite processing, CIC encourages sponsors to select the third option. The three options are:

1. After the local Citizenship and Immigration Centre has approved the sponsorship undertaking and sent a copy to the visa office, the visa office sends an IMM 6000 kit to the refugee applicant. He or she completes it and returns it to the visa office, along with all supporting documents and photographs. This process can often be time-consuming if applications are incomplete. Delays result if the visa office needs to contact the applicant to request missing information.
2. The sponsoring groups send the IMM 6000 kit and a copy of the approved sponsorship undertaking to the refugee applicant, who submits the application, supporting documents, photographs and copy of the sponsorship undertaking to the visa office. Although this is an extra step for sponsors, it can reduce processing times because the sponsor is able to communicate directly with the applicant and assist them in obtaining and completing the forms, and collecting the supporting documents.
3. The sponsoring groups send the IMM 6000 kit to the refugees they wish to sponsor. The refugee applicant completes it and returns it to the sponsor, along with supporting documents and photographs. The sponsor ensures that the the forms have been completely filled and no required information is missing before submitting the IMM 6000 forms, supporting documents, photographs and the sponsorship undertaking form to the local Citizenship and Immigration Centre at the same time. This option has the advantage of reducing the processing time overseas as well as providing sponsors with an opportunity to review the content and completeness of the refugee’s application before it is submitted.

Note: The sponsorship undertaking form includes a checkbox where sponsoring groups must indicate which IMM 6000 distribution option was chosen.

Supporting Information: Sponsoring groups may also provide additional information to the visa office in support of the applicant’s need for protection. Information provided should generally be non-personal and written by reputable organizations or individuals who are aware of the current situation in the country the applicant is fleeing or now residing in.

Examples of information that can help the visa officer in making a determination on the applicant’s need for protection include written accounts from individuals who have fled similar situations, recent media reports on the persecution of persons with similar attributes, and reports of government legislation affecting the status of refugees in countries of asylum. Supporting information must be directly relevant to the refugee’s need for protection.

Sponsoring groups are encouraged to complete the “Sponsorship Rationale” section of the undertaking form. While optional, this section provides sponsors the opportunity to explain why the principal refugee applicant is being referred for protection; why resettlement is the only durable solution available to them; and why Canada is the most logical choice as a destination. This section can assist sponsors in screening their applications so that they can determine, to the best of their knowledge, whether the applicant meets one of the refugee definitions. The final decision on whether an applicant is both eligible and admissible rests with the visa officer.

Sponsoring groups are further encouraged to include their settlement plan (or a summary of the plan) for refugees who they feel may be considered difficult to settle. This is intended to inform the visa office that the sponsoring group is prepared to cope with any special needs the refugees may have.

The submission of supporting information is optional and designed to help sponsors show why the person is in need of resettlement and what arrangements have been made in Canada to help the refugee settle.

 

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