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How long does it take before the refugee can come to Canada?

Generally, it can take up to 36 months to process an application. In rare cases, it can take longer, depending on:

• whether the person is referred by a sponsor or a visa office,
• which visa office is processing the application, and
• how complex the case is.

To help Citizenship and Immigration Canada process sponsor-referred applications faster, sponsoring groups should:

• include all relevant documents, and
• make sure the contact information is accurate.

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