Refugee Sponsorship Application (IMM 5413)

Overview
Before You Apply
The Application Process
Step 1. Gather Documents
Step 2. Complete the Application
Step 3. Mail the Application
What Happens Next?
How to contact CIC
Appendix A – Financial Guidelines

Overview
Before You Apply
The Application Process
Step 1. Gather Documents
Step 2. Complete the Application
Step 3. Mail the Application
What Happens Next?
How to contact CIC
Appendix A – Financial Guidelines

This is not a legal document. For legal information, refer to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations or the Citizenship Act and Regulations, as applicable.

This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.

Overview

Application package

This application package consists of:

an instruction guide and
the required forms

The instruction guide is a tool that provides:

the information you must know about this application before sending it to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and
assistance with how to fill out the forms and the required supporting documents.

Read the instruction guide thoroughly and then fill out each applicable form.

The forms are specifically designed with questions that will assist CIC in processing your application.

Why you need to read this guide

This guide provides all of the instructions necessary to complete this application. As a result of reading the guide, you should be able to

complete the application form, and
determine what supporting documents need to be included.

Symbols used in this guide

This guide uses the following symbols to indicate information of particular importance.

: What you must do to have your application processed.
: Important information that you need to be aware of in order to avoid delays or other problems.
: Where to get more information.; Note: Tips that will assist you with this application.

The application process

The instructions provided in this guide follow the basic steps you will need to know to complete your application.

Step 1. Gather documents
Step 2. Complete the application
Step 3. Mail the application

Before you apply

Who can use this application?

This application kit contains the forms and information necessary for Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) and Constituent Groups (CG), Group of Five individuals and Community Sponsors to sponsor a refugee(s) living outside of Canada.

What is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder?

A Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) is an incorporated organization that has signed a Sponsorship Agreement with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. A SAH can authorize Constituent Groups to sponsor under its agreement and provide support to the refugee(s).

The SAH or Constituent Group may also choose to formally partner with an individual (for example, a family member of the sponsored refugee living in Canada) and/or another organization in carrying out settlement duties. The partner is herein termed the “cosponsor”.

Each SAH sets its own criteria for recognizing Constituent Groups and cosponsors (who collectively will be referred to as the sponsoring group in this application kit). The sponsoring group or its representatives must be located in the community where the refugees are destined.

Note: Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a refugee has the right to live and move anywhere in Canada. Sometimes, the refugee(s) may choose to leave the community where the sponsor resides. In rare cases, the refugee(s) may not arrive in the community to which they were destined.

What is a Group of Five?

A Group of Five (G5) is any group of five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are 18 years of age or older and who live in the community where the refugee is expected to settle. Group members act as guarantors that the necessary support will be provided for the full duration of the sponsorship, which is generally 12 months. The group is expected to show that they have the necessary financial resources, expertise and commitment required to fulfill the terms of the sponsorship undertaking.

Note: Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms a refugee has the right to live and move anywhere in Canada. Sometimes the refugee(s) may choose to leave the community where the sponsor resides. In rare cases, the refugee(s) may not arrive in the community to which they were destined.

What are the requirements?

Every member of the Group of Five (G5) must meet the following requirements:

be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident 18 years of age or older
have financial capacity to fulfill the sponsorship undertaking for the duration of the sponsorship period (generally 12 months)
provide evidence of settlement capacity to provide emotional or social support to a refugee and his or her family
be based in the community where the refugee(s) are expected to live

What is a Community Sponsor?

A community sponsor may be:

an organization,
an association, or
a corporation.

It is not necessary that the organization, association or corporation be incorporated under federal or provincial law.

What are the requirements?

A community sponsor must meet the following requirements:

Must have financial capacity to fulfill the sponsorship undertaking for the duration of the sponsorship period (generally 12 months)
Must provide evidence of settlement capacity to provide emotional and social support to a refugee and their family
Must be based in the community where the refugee(s) are expected to live

Note: Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms a refugee has the right to live and move anywhere in Canada. Sometimes the refugee(s) may choose to leave the community where the sponsor resides. In rare cases, the refugee(s) may not arrive in the community to which they were destined.

The community sponsor may also choose to formally partner with an individual (for example, a family member of the sponsored refugee living in Canada) and/or another organization in carrying out settlement duties. This partner is called a “cosponsor”.

Note: Community sponsors are limited to a maximum of two sponsorship applications per year.

Private sponsorship

If you are interested in the private sponsorship of refugees but lack a particular refugee case to sponsor, refer to the application kit Request for a Refugee Profile (IMM 5496). You will need to fill out this application prior to submitting an undertaking to sponsor. After returning the completed application, your group should expect to receive a Refugee Profile that provides general information on a refugee case that may settle well within your community. Refugees who are referred by a visa office have already been interviewed by an officer and have been found to be eligible for resettlement in Canada.

For more details, including definitions, roles and responsibilities, refer to The Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program which may be obtained by visiting the Publications section under “Resources” in our website in the Publications section. See “How to Contact CIC” at the end of this guide.

Quebec residents

This application kit does not apply to the province of Quebec. Sponsors living in the province of Quebec should contact the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (MICC).

Important information

Make sure to use the correct application

Before you start, ensure you are using the correct application kit. Another application kit is available for:

Sponsoring groups who wish to sponsor under the Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) Program

For more information. The other application kit may be obtained by visiting our website or by contacting the CIC Call Centre. See “How to Contact CIC” at the end of the guide.

The application process – Application Submission

Action you must take: Complete and submit your application
Gather all required documents as explained in the document checklist.
Fill out the application forms and mail your completed package as outlined in this guide.

CIC process: The Centralized Processing Office – Winnipeg (CPO-W) checks your application
Did you include the completed and signed undertaking form and Application for Permanent
Residence form in your package? Is the information complete and consistent between the
forms?

CIC process: If yes, the CPO-W will process your application

CIC process: If no, your application will be returned to you.

CIC process: Acknowledgement of your application

an acknowledgement letter will be sent to you within 30 working days of CIC receiving the application
If the undertaking is approved, this letter will contain CIC file numbers (in-Canada and overseas) and information on how to obtain status updates on the application

Note: If the processing of the application has not been finalized within those 30 days, you will receive a letter with the estimated processing time

What happens next: Once the sponsorship application has been assessed at a Visa Office, you will receive
a letter that includes:

Notification that the principle refugee applicant’s application has either been approved or refused by the visa office

Note: If the principle refugee applicant was approved, the sponsoring group can expect a Notice of Arrival Transmission (NAT) advising when the refugee will arrive in Canada

Legend

Action you must take

CIC process

What happens next

Step 1. Gather documents

What documents are required?

You may use the Document Checklist (IMM 5437) which you can find in this package to assist you gathering the necessary documentation.

Note. If any of the required documents are missing, or photocopies are not clear, your application may be returned to you.

Note: Additional documents may be required during the processing of your application.

Translated documents

Any document that is not in English or French must be accompanied by

the English or French translation, and
an affidavit from the person who completed the translation.

Note: An affidavit is a document on which the translator has sworn, in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths in the country in which the translator is living, that the contents of their translation are a true translation and representation of the contents of the original document. Translators who are certified members in good standing of one of the provincial or territorial organizations of translators and interpreters of Canada do not need to supply an affidavit.

Important information. Translations by family members are not acceptable.

Family member is defined as being a: parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and first cousin.

Your application will be returned to you if you do not include the translation of your documents and an affidavit from the translator.

1 - Proof of Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residence status

Each party to the sponsorship group must provide a proof of status in Canada.

Examples include:

Permanent Resident Card, or
Immigrant Visa and Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688), or
Canadian birth certificate, or
Both sides of a Canadian citizenship card, or
Both sides of a Canadian certificate of registration of birth abroad.

Format: Photocopy

2 - Proof of funds

The following sources are considered valid proof of income for Group of five members or co-sponsors who intend to use their personal income towards the sponsorship:

A copy of your most recent T4 and/or T1, or
A copy of your most recent Notice of Assessment (from Canada Revenue Agency), or
An original letter or proof of annotated cheque stubs from your employer confirming Financial Profile details, or
If self-employed, a letter from an accountant confirming your annual income, or
Proof of other sources of income (pension statement, investments, etc.), or
Employment Insurance pay stubs.

The following sources are considered valid proof of income for Community sponsors who intend to use their personal income towards the sponsorship:

Last year’s audited financial statement from the sponsoring organization (if applicable)
An original letter from a Canadian financial institution attesting to bank account details (if applicable)
An original letter from the organization guaranteeing a cash donation (if applicable)
Proof(s) of alternate source(s) of funding (if applicable)

Format: Photocopies or original letter (when mentioned).

3 - Proof of refugee status recognition

A document showing valid proof of recognition as refugees by UNHCR or a foreign State must be included with the application, such as:

The UNHCR Refugee Certificate (i.e: Mandate Letter of Protection)

Note: A “UNHCR Asylum Seeker Certificate” or a “UNHCR Registration Card” are not accepted as valid proof of refugee recognition.

Note: If the document is not in English or French, it must be accompanied by an English or French translation. See “Translated Documents” for more information.

Format: Photocopy

4 - Additional documents

Any other document that you wish to include with your Undertaking/Application to Sponsor.

Format: Photocopies or original.

Important information

IMM 6000

The principal refugee applicant and his or her family members are required to complete an application for permanent residence (IMM 6000).

The principal refugee applicant abroad (not the sponsoring group) completes and signs the application for permanent residence. The IMM 6000 must be submitted together with the sponsorship undertaking to the CPO-W.

The CPO-W submits completed application for permanent residence and approved undertaking to visa office.

Step 2. Complete the application

Filling out the application

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the application forms.

The following are the forms that must be filled out and submitted:

For SAH’s only:

Settlement Plan – Sponsorship Agreement Holders and Constituent Groups (IMM 5440) (PDF, 209 KB)

For Group of Five only:

For Community Sponsors only

Settlement Plan Financial Assessment – Community Sponsors (IMM 5515) (PDF, 200 KB)

Optional:

Note. It is a serious offence to give false or misleading information on these forms. The information you provide on your application may be subject to verification.

Important information

Be complete and accurate

Complete all sections. If any section is not applicable to you, write “N/A” (“Not applicable”). If your application is incomplete it will be returned to you and processing may be delayed.

Note: If you need more space for any section, use a separate sheet of paper and submit it along with your application. On the top of each additional sheet, write:

the name of your group,
the name of the principal refugee applicant,
the form number (e.g. IMM 5373), and
the number and/or letter of the section you are completing.

Undertaking and Application to Sponsor (IMM 5373)

Who must fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by the following members of the Sponsoring group:

Sponsorship Agreement Holders

Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)
Constituent Group (if applicable)
Cosponsor (if applicable)

Groups of Five

Each member of the Group of Five individuals (G5)

Community Sponsors

Community Sponsor
Cosponsor(s) (if applicable).

Note: If your group requires more space to provide all the necessary information, attach a separate sheet with further details. Print the sponsor’s name at the top of each additional sheet and indicate the form’s title and the number of the question you are answering.

General Application Information

Check the box to indicate if your sponsoring group is a:

Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) or Constituent Group (CG)
Group of Five (G5)
Community Sponsor (CS)

Section A – Sponsorship Group

This section must be completed by Constituent Groups, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors

Write the name of the sponsoring group including the:

CG, G5 or CS representative’s last name (surname/family name), given name
other name(s) used (including birth name, maiden, previous married name(s), aliases and nicknames)
date of birth
address of the CG, G5 or CS representative complete with the postal code
contact details (telephone, cell phone email address).

Note: It is very important to provide a primary email address. This is the email address that will be used for all correspondence regarding your sponsorship, including notifying you when the refugee or family will arrive. If no email address is available, please ensure that you have provided a phone number where the contact person can be reached. Should your contact information change at any time you must inform CIC immediately.

Section B – Sponsorship Agreement Holders

This section must be completed by Sponsorship Agreement Holders, whether partnering with a Constituent Group or not

Write the name of the organization which has signed a sponsorship agreement with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, including the:

SAH representative’s last name (surname/family name), given name
other name(s) used (including birth name, maiden, previous married name(s), aliases and nicknames)
date of birth
address of the SAH, complete with the postal code
contact details (telephone, fax and e-mail)

Section C – Co-sponsors

This section must be completed by Co-Sponsors Only

A cosponsor is the individual or organization you are formally partnering with in the provision of settlement support. It is not mandatory to formally recognize partners. By signing the undertaking, cosponsors officially share responsibility for the sponsorship and are held to be jointly and severally liable if the terms of the undertaking are breached.

Write the name of the corporation (if applicable).

Check the box indicating whether the group is a SAH or Community Group (CG).

Write the following:

group representative’s or individual’s last name (surname/family name), given name
other name(s) used (including birth name, maiden, previous married name(s), aliases and nicknames)
date of birth
relationship to principal refugee applicant (if applicable)
address of the group representative or individual, complete with the postal code
contact details (telephone, fax and e-mail)

Check the box indicating whether you or your group has ever signed any other undertakings to sponsor refugees. If yes, provide details on a separate sheet.

Note : If the Co-sponsor is an individual, the individual must:

be 18 years of age or older
be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
reside in the community where the refugee is expected to live

Note : If the Co-sponsor is an organization, the organization may be:

a corporation
an unincorporated organization
an association
another SAH or CG (note that each CG requires a letter of approval from their respective SAH)

Section D – Groups of Five

This section must be completed by Groups of Five Only

Write the names of each member of your Group of Five, including:

your group member’s last name (surname/family name) and given name
other name(s) used (including birth name, maiden, previous married name(s), aliases and nicknames)
date of birth
the relationship to the principal refugee applicant (if applicable)
address of the Group of Five member, complete with the postal code
contact details (telephone, fax and e-mail)

Check the box to indicate if the individual has submitted previous refugee sponsorship(s). If the answer is “yes”, provide the following information on a separate page:

name of sponsoring group (at time of sponsorship)
name, date of birth, and country of birth of all persons sponsored
the client identification numbers issued to you by CIC as a result of this sponsorship

Section E – Refugee applicant(s)

This section must be completed by all sponsoring groups

Sponsoring groups are required to commit to sponsor the principal refugee applicant along with all family members (defined below), both accompanying and non-accompanying, at the same time of submitting the original undertaking/application.

Check the box to indicate if you are sponsoring a refugee applicant referred to your sponsoring group by a visa office. If it is the case, include the Refugee Profile that you received.

Principal refugee applicant:

Write the :

last name (surname/family name)- do not use initials
given name(s)
sex
date of birth
place and country of birth, including the name of the town or city
marital status
country of citizenship

Note: If you are sponsoring a family, the principal applicant should be the family member who has the strongest refugee case.

Family members: spouse or common-law partner of the principal applicant, and/or any dependent children, and/or any dependent children of dependent children. See the definition of family members in the table below.

Write the :

last name (surname/family name)- do not use initials
given name(s)
sex
date of birth
place and country of birth, including the name of the town or city
marital status
country of citizenship
relationship to the principal refugee applicant- (spouse, common-law partner, son or daughter, child of son or daughter)

Check the box to indicate whether or not the family member will be accompanying the principal refugee applicant.

Spouse

refers to either of the two persons (opposite or same sex) in a legally-recognized marriage.

A common-law partner

is a person who is currently cohabiting and has cohabited in a conjugal relationship with the principal applicant for a period of at least one year.

Dependent children

are children (biological or adopted) of the principal applicant or those of his or her spouse or common-law partner

They must:

be under the age of 22 and not a spouse or common-law partner; or,
have depended substantially on the financial support of a parent and have been continuously enrolled and in attendance as full-time students in an accredited post secondary institution or pursuing full-time skills training since before the age of 22 (or since marrying or entering into a common-law relationship, if this happened before the age of 22); or,
depend substantially on the financial support of a parent since before the age of 22 and be unable to provide for themselves due to a physical or mental condition.

Children included in the application must meet the definition of “dependent children” at the time the application is made. Therefore, a person who has turned 22 since the original application was made, and who meets all other requirements, will still qualify as a dependent child.

Dependent child of a dependent child

refers to children of dependent children of the principal applicant or those of his or her spouse or common-law partner.

Note: Only family members as outlined above (spouse, common-law partner, dependent children, and dependent children of dependent children) can be included on the undertaking. Other persons who are considered members of the family unit, but who do not meet the definitions above, may be sponsored together with the principal refugee applicant but must be registered on a separate undertaking.

See section G – Multiple Undertakings for further details. The sponsoring group may also link non-family sponsorship cases together in the Multiple Undertakings section.

Non-accompanying family members:
Sponsoring groups should be aware that the principal refugee applicant is expected to list all of his/her non-accompanying family members on the application for permanent residence (IMM 0008). This includes family members whose whereabouts are unknown.

Where names have been added to the application for permanent residence that do not appear on the sponsorship undertaking, the visa office will contact the sponsoring group to confirm that the sponsorship is still valid despite the increase in persons sponsored. Where it is possible, sponsoring groups are advised to thoroughly interview refugee applicants and/or relatives in Canada to clarify the actual number and identity of family members who are expected to accompany the principal refugee applicant or who may follow under the provision of the “one-year window of opportunity”.

The one-year window (OYW) provision facilitates the reunification of non-accompanying family members with family who have been resettled in Canada. To be eligible, it is necessary that non-accompanying family members be included on the application for permanent residence (IMM 0008) and that they make an application for permanent residence at a visa office within one year of their family’s arrival in Canada. For more information on the “one-year window of opportunity”, consult the Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

Section F – Principal Refugee Applicant Mailing Address Outside Canada or Contact Person/Organization Outside Canada

This section must be completed by all sponsoring groups

Provide a complete mailing address outside Canada and, if possible, a telephone number and e-mail address for the principal refugee applicant. If there is an alternate contact person or organization outside Canada who will be the point of contact for the principal refugee applicant, their address will be the one to which the Canadian Visa office will send correspondence.

Provide:

the name,
mailing address, and
a telephone number and e-mail address, if possible.

Note: If your group is sponsoring a Visa Office Referred (VOR) case, the CPO-W may be able to provide you with a complete mailing address outside Canada and, if possible, a telephone number and e-mail address for the principal refugee applicant. This will allow your sponsoring group to become acquainted with the refugee(s) you are sponsoring before their arrival in Canada.

Section G – Multiple Undertakings

This section must be completed by all sponsoring groups, if applicable

You may use this section to link sponsorship cases together by providing the name and date of birth of the principal refugee applicant for each particular case. Filling out this section ensures that all linked sponsorships are processed at the same time by the visa office.

If you or your group decides to sponsor de facto dependents (see definition below) or family members not covered by one of the definitions of family members above (e.g.: married daughter/son with dependent children, father, mother, married sister/brother with dependent children, etc.), you will need to complete a separate Undertaking/Application to sponsor form for each unit of these family members, and list the undertakings under this section.

Note: List only the name and date of birth of the principal applicant listed on each undertaking.

De facto dependents
De facto dependents include people who may or may not be blood relatives but who cannot apply as family members as defined above. To be considered a de facto dependent, a person must be dependent on the family in which membership is claimed. The dependency must be emotional or financial and will often be a combination of both factors. Such people would normally, but not exclusively, live with the principal refugee applicant as members of the same household. An officer at the visa office will determine if a person can be considered as a de facto dependent.

A separate undertaking form and IMM 6000 application for permanent residence must be filled out for each de facto dependent. De facto dependents are not eligible under the One Year Window of opportunity (OYW) as they do not meet the definition of family member described above. For further information on de facto dependents, consult the Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

Section H – Relatives of the Refugee Applicant(s) Living in Canada

This section must be completed by all sponsoring groups, if applicable

Provide information on the principal refugee applicant’s relatives living in Canada. Include primarily close relatives such as parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and adult children. This information will allow the officer to recognize existing links to Canada that the refugee applicant may have.

Write the:

Name (Surname, Given name)
Status in Canada
Relationship to the Refugee applicant(s)
Address
City
Province and postal code
telephone number

Section I – Obligations of the Sponsoring Group

This section must be read and understood by all sponsoring groups

Read this section carefully. Only in very exceptional cases will your group be asked to sponsor a refugee longer than 12 months (up to 36 months). The sponsoring group has the option to refuse a longer sponsorship period.

The sponsoring group is obliged to provide support to all family members listed on the undertaking, regardless of the timing of their arrival in Canada. The sponsor is responsible to support the non-accompanying family members under the same terms as in the original settlement plan unless the principal refugee applicant is now self-sufficient and able to provide adequately for his family members.

Section J – Declaration/Signatures

This section must be completed and signed by all sponsoring groups

Note. Each party to the sponsorship must sign and date the application. By signing here, the sponsoring group declares that they understand and commit to upholding the terms outlined on the undertaking.

Note: For all Constituent Groups wishing to submit undertakings for sponsorship must include, with each undertaking, the signature of an authorized SAH representative in the appropriate signature box of this section of the undertaking. This signature indicates the SAH’s approval of the CG’s Settlement Plan and intent to sponsor. The signature of the SAH representative also indicates that the SAH has approved the sponsorship and is willing to accept responsibility in cases of breakdown, default or withdrawal.

Section K – For CIC use only

Do not write in Section K.

Note: If you wish to provide a “Sponsorship Rationale”, attach a separate sheet of paper to this application in order to provide additional information which may serve to explain why:

the principal refugee applicant is being referred for protection,
resettlement is the only durable solution available to them, and
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. Ultimately, the final decision on whether an applicant is both eligible and admissible rests with the vise officer.

Settlement Plan

Sponsorship Agreement Holders and Constituent Groups
Group of Five
Community Sponsors.

Ensure that you read the instructions and complete the settlement plan that applies to your group

Settlement Plan – Sponsorship Agreement Holders and Constituent Groups (IMM 5440)

Who must fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by the:

Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)
Constituent Group (if applicable)
Cosponsor (if applicable)

What is it?

The Settlement Plan is a planning tool for sponsoring groups to formulate how they intend to deliver the various aspects of settlement assistance needed to help the refugee applicant(s) establish successfully in Canada. Where practicable, the planned arrangements should be in place before the refugee arrives. Where cosponsors are involved in the sponsorship, discuss settlement arrangements and responsibilities together and jointly fill out the settlement plan.

In those instances where refugee applicants intend to live together in Canada as a family unit but are named on separate undertakings, only one Settlement Plan encompassing the entire household is required. It must, however, reflect the resettlement needs of each individual being sponsored.

The Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment (IMM 5440) is used by CIC to assess whether your group is able to provide the settlement assistance and financial support needed to help the refugee applicant(s) establish successfully in Canada during the validity of the sponsorship.

Submission of the Settlement Plan

Sponsorship Agreement Holders must complete a Settlement Plan for each undertaking they sign but are not required to submit the form to CPO-W (note exception below).

Constituent Groups must also complete a Settlement Plan for each undertaking they sign and must submit it to their Sponsorship Agreement Holder. The SAH assesses the overall application and, when satisfied, issues a letter of approval authorizing the group to sponsor under their agreement. Both the SAH and the Constituent Group are required to retain a copy of the Settlement Plan in their files.

Note: Exception– Sponsorship Agreement Holders (and their respective Constituent Groups) that signed an agreement with the Minister less than two years ago are required to submit the Settlement Plan to the CPO-W as part of the sponsorship application.

Section A – General information

Write the complete name of the:

Principal Refugee Applicant
Sponsorship Agreement Holder
Constituent Group (if applicable)
Cosponsor-individual (if applicable)
Cosponsor-Organization (if applicable)
Contact person

Write the contact details of the Contact person (telephone, fax and e-mail, mailing address complete with the postal code).

If your Constituent Group is not a church or charitable organization, attach to the Settlement Plan a list of all of the group members including their full names and contact information. Print the private sponsor’s name and the principal applicant’s name at the top of each additional sheet and indicate the form’s title and the number of the question you are answering.

Section B – Settlement Needs Checklist

Identify who will be providing for the settlement needs of the refugee(s) by checking the relevant box.

Where more than one party is providing for a particular need, check all boxes that apply.

Where there is no cosponsor, check all boxes to indicate that the sponsoring group is aware of and will provide for the settlement needs listed.

Section C – Settlement Needs – Details

Answer each question in a detailed yet concise manner.

Question 1

If temporarily staying with relatives, provide information on family composition of the family relatives that the sponsored refugee(s) will be staying with and what current accommodation arrangements the relatives have. Also, provide details on the time frame when you anticipate that permanent accommodation will be found and what type of accommodation you are looking for e.g. house or apartment.

Question 2

Indicate the names of the individuals that will be volunteering and what tasks they will be assisting with e.g. arrival, Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) application, Health card application, medical appointments, etc.

Question 3a

Upon indicating the settlement agency, indicate what service(s) the refugee(s) will be obtaining from that agency e.g. Language training, translation of documents, etc.

Question 3b

If you have not contacted any agencies to provide settlement support, indicate when you plan on making this contact. If you have contacted some agencies, indicate the date, the name of the person you made contact with and in regards to what services.

Also, indicate if you have dealt with these agencies in the past and what type of services your sponsored refugees have accessed from them.

Question 4

In order to help you determine what financial requirements may be necessary to support the refugee applicant(s) for the validity of the sponsorship period, consider the following:

Rent: consider cost of accommodation (ensure refugee(s) will be able to afford payment after sponsorship ends)
Utilities: include electricity, heat and water
Food: consider the refugee(s)’ need to have some of their national food in their diet
Transportation: bus or metro passes, tickets, etc.
Clothes: consider winter clothes as well
Telephone: decide whether to fund long distance calls; the refugee(s) will need to communicate with family and friends back home
Health: plan for costs not covered by the provincial health plan or the Interim Federal Health plan
Education: school trips, day care to allow parents to attend language training, transition into work force
Incidentals: pocket money, recreation, unanticipated expenses

To help your group establish the amount of money necessary for your group to sponsor the refugee(s) for a 12-month period, including the “start-up” costs, we have provided financial information which may be used as a guide (see Appendix A).

Question 5

Indicate where you will obtain these in-kind donations and what type of donations you are seeking.

Question 6

Some contingency plans can include scenarios such as the refugee(s) was or were originally supposed to reside with a relative in Canada upon arrival; however, they choose to reside on their own for the duration of the sponsorship period. Provide some details as to how you will provide support for the additional costs that will occur. Another scenario could be that the refugee(s) choose to move to a different city. Provide some details as to how you will continue to provide the required assistance.

Question 7

Indicate what specific roles each person will be responsible for when assisting the refugee(s).

Section D – Signatures

A representative from each party to the sponsorship must agree to the settlement plan. Discussing settlement arrangements with partners before the sponsorship will help to minimize confusion over responsibilities after the refugee(s) arrive. By signing the Settlement Plan, you are indicating that you are aware of the terms of the plan and commit to fulfilling them. Where a Constituent Group has submitted the undertaking, its SAH must sign the Settlement Plan to indicate that it has been approved.

Note: Where two sponsoring groups of different SAHs are partnered, both SAHs should approve the Settlement Plan.

Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment – Group of Five (G5) (IMM 5373A)

Who must fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by the:

Group of Five.

Note: This form must be signed by the Group representative.

What is it?

The Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment is used by CIC to assess whether your group is able to provide the settlement assistance and financial support needed to help the principal refugee applicant(s) establish successfully in Canada during the validity of the sponsorship.

Assessing the Sponsoring Group’s Finances

In order for Citizenship and Immigration Canada to determine that your group has sufficient financial resources to fulfill the terms of the undertaking, you must show all sources of funding, including in-kind (see definition in this section) and cash donations, that will be combined to provide support. You must also include documentation showing the individual contribution that each member intends to make to the sponsorship.

Your group should consult the dollar figures presented in the Sponsorship Cost Table (see Appendix A). These figures represent an estimated national average for the total cost of a 12-month refugee sponsorship case, depending on the family size. In order to make its assessment, CIC will combine the value of all committed funds, including the dollar value of any applicable in-kind donations, to determine if the total funds committed equals (or surpasses) the amount listed on the Cost Table.

In-Kind donations

Donations made in goods, commodities or services, instead of money.

In those instances where refugee applicants intend to live together in Canada as a family unit but are named on separate Undertakings, only one Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment encompassing the entire household is required. It must still, however, reflect the resettlement needs of each individual being sponsored. Photocopy the plan and keep a copy for your group’s records.

Section A – General information

Write the complete name and date of birth of :

the principal refugee applicant

Write the complete name of :

your Group of Five
your Group of Five representative

Write the contact details of your group representative (complete address, telephone, fax and e-mail, mailing address complete with the postal code).

Section B – Settlement Needs – Checklist

For each settlement need, check the box to indicate if your group will provide cash or in-kind donations to supply it and then, give the corresponding value.

For in-kind donations, write the dollar value for each form of settlement assistance for which an in-kind donation is available. Use the rates provided in the in-Kind Deduction Table on page 4 of the form. The total value of in-kind donations will be deducted from the cost of the 12 month sponsorship.

In order to help you determine what financial requirements may be necessary to support the refugee applicant(s) for the validity of the sponsorship, consider the following:

Rent: consider cost of accommodation (ensure refugee(s) will be able to afford payment after sponsorship ends)
Utilities: include electricity, heat and water
Food: consider the refugee(s)’ need to have some of their national food in their diet
Transportation: bus or metro passes, tickets, etc.
Clothes: consider winter clothes as well
Telephone: decide whether to fund long distance calls; the refugee(s) will need to communicate with family and friends back home
Health: plan for costs not covered by the provincial health plan or the Interim Federal Health plan
Education: school trips, day care to allow parents to attend language training, transition into work force
Incidentals: pocket money, recreation, unanticipated expenses

Section C – Settlement Needs – Details

Check the box to indicate if the specified settlement need will be provided by your group.

For each service, specify:

who will be responsible
the availability of the person responsible for the service (time he/she will dedicate to the task)
when there is no question in the details box, provide information if applicable, or explain why your group will not assist the refugee with the service

Question 1

Greeting
Indicate if you will be meeting the refugee upon arrival. Explain if you will provide transportation to the final destination. Give details.

Question 2

Health plan
Indicate if you will you be assisting the refugee to apply for a health plan. Give details if applicable or explain why your group will not be assisting with this service.

Question 3

Temporary accommodation
Specify how long the refugee(s) will use the temporary accommodation and the size. If the location is known, provide the address, the name of the person hosting the refugee(s), and relationship to the principal refugee applicant.

Provide a contingency plan in case the arrangement for temporary residence did not work out. For example, you could plan for a different temporary residence, or allow a budget for public accommodation (e.g.: hotel, shelter), etc.

Question 4

Permanent accommodation
If your group did or will arrange for a permanent accommodation, state the size of the residence, and the address (if known).

Rent deposit: Check the box to indicate if your group will pay the deposit or not, or if it is non applicable.

Hook-up costs: Check the box if your group will pay for hook-up costs for telephone, electricity, gas, heat etc.

Provide a contingency plan in case the arrangement for permanent accommodation did not work out. For example, you could plan for a temporary accommodation, or allow a budget for public accommodation (e.g.: hotel, shelter), etc.

Question 5

Interpreter
If your group did not arrange for an interpreter, explain how you are planning to assist the refugee(s) in the contingency plan box.

Indicate how and when the interpreter would be available (e.g.: on demand in person, on demand by phone, by appointment taken X days in advance, etc.)

Provide a contingency plan in case the interpreter is not available for urgent matters, unpredicted occasions, on short notice, or if he/she was unreachable. For example, you can arrange for a replacement.

Question 6

Social Insurance Number
If you are not planning on assisting the refugee(s) with this service, explain the reasons in the Details box.

Question 7

Doctors and dealing with trauma
Specify what doctor(s) your group did or will help finding. Check all that apply. If you plan to find a specialist not listed here, specify facing “Other”.

Provide a contingency plan in case you could not find a doctor, and how you will make sure that the refugee(s) health is taken care of, especially in case the refugee(s) suffers trauma.

Question 8

Child tax benefit
If applicable and you are not planning on assisting the refugee(s) with this service, explain the reasons in the Details box. If not applicable, write N/A.

Question 9

Other public/settlement services or agencies
Provide information about the settlement agencies or services, and/or other public services or agencies you will or did contact for the benefit of the refugee(s).

Question 10

Medical emergencies
Details (if applicable): Explain how your group will handle medical emergencies.

Note: It is important to answer this question if the refugee(s) suffers from trauma or post-traumatic stress.

Question 11

Orientation
In order to help the refugee(s) settle in the community and quickly become self-dependent with regards to daily routine, your group should plan for some orientation activities. Provide all relevant information about activities you planned.

Depending on the needs of the refugee(s), orientation activities could address (but are not limited to):

using house appliances and facilities
opening a banking account
using public transportation
shopping for food, drugs, cloths, household effects, etc.
education system for children and young adults

Question 12

Linking refugee(s) with community groups and activities
For the benefit of the refugee(s), state the names of the community groups, organizations and or activities your group has approached for information, registration, etc.

In the space provided, state other detail information of the activities (e.g. tentative dates, location, duration, etc.), the mission of the community groups and specify if you have already contacted these community groups or are planning to.

Question 13

Enrol children in school or daycare (if applicable)
For principal refugee applicants with accompanying school age children, your group should assist the refugee in finding a school and/or daycare facility and enrol all the children, and any specialized services for children with special needs.

Question 14

Enrol adults in language training
To facilitate the refugee(s)’ integration in their new community and make sure they have the skills necessary; your group must help the refugee(s) find and register in an official language class.

Provide the name of the school and the length of the program for which you did or will enrol the adult refugee(s).

Question 15

Finding employment
The following guidelines must be followed if the sponsoring group plans to assist the refugee(s) in finding employment:

employment must conform to federal and provincial labour standards and regulations
employment should not interfere with the refugee’s efforts to learn one of Canada’s official languages

You also need to identify the relevant resources for the adult refugee(s) to help him find an employment. Depending on the refugee(s)’ skills and needs, you need to find out about:

employment counselling services and agencies that provide them
local Canada Employment Centre and services available
trainings on employment preparation sessions and registration procedures
foreign credential assessment agencies and procedures

In the Details box, provide additional information about your group’s efforts to assist the refugee(s) find employment.

Question 16

Finance: managing sponsorship money
Your group has to provide income support to the refugee(s) during the sponsorship period (12 to 36 months) or until the latter becomes financially self-sufficient. The living allowance has to be paid periodically. Specify how much money you are planning to pay and how often. Refer to the Sponsorship Cost Table for guidance. It is recommended to take into consideration the living costs in the community of resettlement for more accurate evaluation.

Provide information about how your group is planning to manage the sponsorship money:

for monetary donations, specify if funds are held in trust, in a bank account, if they are or will be donated through a fund raising campaign, periodical account deposit, etc.
for in-kind donations, go to question 17.

Provide a contingency plan in case, for any reason, your group is short of money before the end of the sponsorship period.

Question 17

In-kind donations
Specify the group member(s) responsible for each in-kind donation. Provide any relevant details regarding how your group will organize delivering these donations.

Section D – Financial Assessment

This section will allow the group to predetermine if it has committed sufficient funds to the sponsorship.

This section features two tables:

Sponsorship Cost Table: To determine the minimum amount of funds that your group should secure for the sponsorship, consult the dollar figures presented in the Sponsorship Cost Table. These figures include monthly expenses plus start-up costs (for more information on start-up costs, see Appendix A). The required financial resources indicated in the Sponsorship Cost Table are roughly equivalent to local social assistance rate figures. They are approximate rates only and should be used as a guideline. The figures represent an estimated average for the total cost of a 12-month refugee sponsorship case, depending on the family size. It is recommended to take into consideration the living costs in the community of resettlement for more accurate evaluation.
In-Kind Deduction Table: use it to determine and report on page 1 of the form (Section B) the amount of money you can deduct from the total cost of the sponsorship, for each start-up cost and/or for accommodation.

Financial Commitment:

Group members contributing financially to the sponsorship should provide the amount of money they are committing towards the sponsorship, and if applicable all other sources of funds.

Important information. It is preferable that at least three members contribute financially to the sponsorship cost.

Other Sources of Funds

Declare the amount of money that will be contributed from other sources of funds and list these sources on the form. The sponsoring group must provide supporting documentation that shows the availability of these funds.

Pledged Donation

If an organization has pledged to provide funds to contribute towards the cost of sponsorship, the group will need to provide proof such as:

a promissory note of cash signed by the authorized representative of the organization or the organization’s bank
copy of a recent, audited financial statement for the organization
a letter confirming that the money is being held in an account at a registered Canadian financial institution or documents outlining the terms and conditions of the account

Personal Income

If personal income from individuals within the sponsoring group or from individual cosponsors is being used towards the sponsorship, the contributing individuals must provide supporting documentation to show proof of their income. The following sources are considered valid proof of income:

copy of the most recent T4 and/or T1, or
copy of the most recent Notice of Assessment (from Canada Revenue Agency), or
original letter or proof of annotated cheque stubs from the employer confirming salary details, or
if self-employed, a letter from an accountant confirming the annual income, or
proof of other sources of income (pension statement, investments, etc.), or
employment Insurance pay stubs.

Funds Held in Trust

Funds available at the time of sponsorship application may be deposited in an account at a Canadian financial institution. The account may be in the name of the sponsoring group with a note that the money is in trust for the principal refugee applicant (this is not a “trust account” in the formal sense of the term). The account should require the signature of at least two of the group members to make withdrawals.

Note: You will need to provide a letter from the financial institution confirming the existence of the account or documents outlining the terms and conditions of the account.

Section E – Signature

Note. The group representative must sign and date the Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment. By signing this form, your group is indicating that it is aware of the terms of the settlement arrangements and is committed to fulfilling them.

Financial Profile – Group of Five (G5) (IMM 5373B)

Who must fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by:

Each member of the Group of Five who intend to use their personal income to support the refugee applicant(s).

Note: Group members may wish to submit their Financial Profile in a sealed envelope to ensure confidentiality.

It is not necessary that each group member contribute financially to the sponsorship, however, it is preferable that at least three members commit to sharing the financial burden.

What is it?

The Financial Profile is used by CIC to assess whether your group is able to provide the settlement assistance and financial support needed to help the refugee applicant(s) establish successfully in Canada during the validity of the sponsorship.

Where practicable, the planned arrangements should be in place before the refugee arrives. All members of the group must agree to the plan.

Section A – Group Name

Write the complete name of your Group of Five.

Section B – Principal Refugee Applicant

Give personal details of the principal refugee applicant including:

last name (surname/family name) – do not use initials
given name(s)
date of birth

Section C – Personal Details

Write your personal details including:

last name (surname/family name) – do not use initials
given name(s)
date of birth

Write the number of people for whom you are currently the primary source of financial support, including yourself.

Examples of such persons include (but are not limited to):

an unemployed spouse
children who reside in your household
college and university students
elderly relatives
ex-spouses and child support

Primary source include certain basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, home appliances and furnishings.

Section D – Employment

You must provide proof of all income derived from employment that you intend to use towards the sponsorship. Acceptable sources include:

a copy of your T4
your Notice of Assessment (detailed computer printout from Canada Revenue Agency in response to filing your income tax return)
an original letter or proof of annotated cheque stubs from your employer confirming details on the Financial Profile

If you worked for more than one employer over the last 12 months, provide the required details on a separate sheet. In box 9, provide the combined gross salary earned from all employers over the last 12 months.

If you are self employed, provide information that applies.

Section E – Previous Employer

Write the name and details of your previous employer if you have been employed less than one year with your current employer. Use a separate sheet of paper if you have worked for more than 2 employers over the past 12 months.

Section F – Other Sources of Income

You may report income earned in the past 12 months through self-employment or a business venture. If you choose to do so, you may either submit your Notice of Assessment (from Canada Revenue Agency) or provide a letter from an accountant indicating your business address, occupation, personal annual income, and net annual business expenses claimed by you under the Income Tax Act.

You may also report income obtained over the last 12 months from sources other than self-employment or business (pensions, investment interest, etc.). You must submit supporting documentation that indicates the source and amount of this income. The following list describes several sources of income, other than employment, that can be included in the calculation of your total annual income.

Business Income: The gross income earned and reported to Canada Revenue Agency from activities conducted for profit from a sole proprietorship, partnership or unincorporated business. This would include professions, trades and businesses such as small retail outlets and restaurants.

Self-employment Earnings: The gross income earned and reported to Canada Revenue Agency from self-employment endeavours such as farming, fishing, commission sales, consulting and child care that are conducted for profit.

Rental Income: Income earned and reported to Canada Revenue Agency from rental property
Investment and Interest Income: Income reported to and accepted by Canada Revenue Agency from dividend payments, interest, stocks, bonds, other investments and interest on savings deposits
Maternity/Parental/Sickness Benefits
Employment Insurance income
Pension Income: Income from Old Age Security, Canada/Quebec Pension Plan, other pensions, superannuation and annuity payments from Canadian sources. Do not include Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments
Other Income: Include income you have received and will continue to receive on a regular basis that is not included above

Section G – Funds Committed to Sponsorship

This section indicates the financial contribution that each member intends to make to the sponsorship.

Box A: Total Income – the amount entered in this box should represent your total annual income from all sources (employment, self-employment, investments, etc.) for the past 12 months.

Box B: Funds Committed to Sponsorship – this is the amount that an individual group member wishes to commit to the sponsorship. This amount will be combined with the contribution of other group members, including other funds (e.g., trust account). This amount is to be used in section D on the Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment (IMM 5373A).

Section H – Declaration and Signature

Note. Read, sign and date the declaration.

Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment – Community Sponsors (IMM 5515)

Who must fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by the:

Community Sponsor;
Cosponsor(s) (if applicable).

What is it?

The Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment is used by CIC to assess whether your group is able to provide the settlement assistance and financial support needed to help the refugee applicant(s) establish successfully in Canada during the validity of the sponsorship.

Where practicable, the planned arrangements should be in place before the refugee arrives.

Assessing the Sponsoring Group’s Finances

In order for Citizenship and Immigration Canada to determine that your group has sufficient financial resources to fulfill the terms of the undertaking, you must show all sources of funding, including in-kind (See definition below) and cash donations that will be combined to provide support. You must also include the necessary documentation that confirms the availability of the committed funds.

Your group should consult the dollar figures presented in the Sponsorship Cost Table (see Appendix A). These figures represent an estimated national average for the total cost of a 12-month refugee sponsorship case, depending on the family size. In order to make its assessment, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will combine the value of all committed funds, including the dollar value of any applicable in-kind donations, to determine if the total funds committed equals (or surpasses) the amount listed on the Cost Table.

In-Kind donations

Donations made in goods, commodities or services, instead of money.

In those instances where refugee applicants intend to live together in Canada as a family unit but are named on separate Undertakings, only one Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment encompassing the entire household is required. It must still, however, reflect the resettlement needs of each individual being sponsored. Photocopy the plan and keep a copy for your group’s records.

Section A – General information

Write the complete name and date of birth of:

the principal refugee applicant

Write the complete name of the:

Community Sponsor
Cosponsor-individual (if applicable)
Cosponsor-organization (if applicable)
Contact person

Write the contact details of the Contact person (telephone, fax and e-mail, mailing address complete with the postal code).

Write the contact details of an alternate contact person, if applicable (name and telephone number.)

Section B – Organization profile

The principal community sponsor must fill out this section. If there are any cosponsoring organizations, they must also complete their own organization profile on a separate sheet or make a photocopy of the form IMM 5515.

Section C – Settlement Needs – Checklist

Check the box to indicate:

who will be responsible to provide for each settlement need
if your group will have any in-kind donations to supply certain settlement needs

If you checked the in-kind box, write the dollar value for each form of settlement assistance for which an in-kind donation is available. The total value of the in-kind donations will be deducted from the cost of the 12 month sponsorship. (Use the rates provided in the in-Kind Deduction Table on page 4).

Note: more than one party can provide for the same need.

Section D – Settlement Needs – Details

Answer each question in a detailed yet concise manner.

Question 1

Question 2

Indicate the names of the individuals that will be volunteering and what tasks they will be assisting with e.g. arrival, Social Insurance Number (S.I.N) application, Health card application, medical appointments, etc.

Question 3a

Upon indicating the settlement agency, also indicate what service(s) the refugee(s) will be obtaining from that agency e.g. Language training, translation of documents, etc.

Question 3b

Also, indicate if you have dealt with these agencies in the past and what type of services your sponsored refugees have accessed from them.

Question 4

The following guidelines must be followed if the sponsoring group plans to assist the refugee(s) in finding employment:

Employment must conform to federal and provincial labour standards and regulations.
Employment should not interfere with the refugee’s efforts to learn one of Canada’s official languages.

You need to identify the relevant resources for the adult refugee(s) to help him find an employment. Depending on the refugee(s) skills and needs, you need to find out about:

employment counselling services and agencies that provide them
local Canada Employment Centre and services available
trainings on employment preparation sessions
registration procedures foreign credential assessment agencies and procedures.

Question 5

Break down the monthly amount in categories e.g. rent, utilities, food, transportation, clothing, telephone, health, education and incidentals. Do not list just one lump sum.

In order to help you determine what financial requirements may be necessary to support the refugee applicant(s) for the validity of the sponsorship, consider the following:

Rent: consider cost of accommodation (ensure refugee(s) will be able to afford payment after sponsorship ends)
Utilities: include electricity, heat and water
Food: consider the refugee(s)’ need to have some of their national food in their diet
Transportation: bus or metro passes, tickets, etc.
Clothes: consider winter clothes as well
Telephone: decide whether to fund long distance calls; the refugee(s) will need to communicate with family and friends back home
Health: plan for costs not covered by the provincial health plan or the Interim Federal Health plan
Education: school trips, day care to allow parents to attend language training, transition into work force
Incidentals: pocket money, recreation, unanticipated expenses

Question 6

Indicate where you will obtain these in-kind donations and what type of donations you are seeking.

Question 7

Question 8

Indicate what specific roles each person will be responsible for when assisting the refugee(s).

Section E – Financial Assessment

This section will allow the group to predetermine if it has committed sufficient funds to the sponsorship. Use the dollar amount indicated on the group’s financial documents and the dollar amounts listed in the two cost tables inserted on the form in the same section.

Note: It is essential that the Total Financial Commitment equals or exceeds the Final Cost of Sponsorship.

This section features two tables:

Sponsorship Cost Table: To determine the minimum amount of funds that your group should secure for the sponsorship, consult the dollar figures presented in the Sponsorship Cost Table. These figures include monthly expenses plus start-up costs (for more information on start-up costs, see Appendix A). The required financial resources indicated in the Sponsorship Cost Table are roughly equivalent to local social assistance rate figures. They are approximate rates only and should be used as a guideline. The figures represent an estimated national average for the total cost of a 12-month refugee sponsorship case, depending on the family size. It is recommended to take into consideration the living costs in the community of resettlement for more accurate evaluation.
In-Kind Deduction Table: use it to determine and report on page 1 of the form (Section B) the amount of money you can deduct from the total cost of the sponsorship, for each start-up cost and/or for accommodation.

Group Revenue

If the sponsoring group intends to use revenue from its operations towards the cost of sponsorship, the group will need to provide supporting documentation to demonstrate the viability of the financial commitment.

Acceptable supporting documents include, but are not limited to, the following:

organization’s yearly budget for the last three years
copy of a recent, audited financial statement for the organization
bank account details from organization showing substantial cash balance over several months

Pledged Donation

If an organization has pledged to provide funds to contribute towards the cost of sponsorship, the group will need to provide proof such as:

a promissory note of cash signed by the authorized representative of the organization or the organization's bank;
copy of a recent, audited financial statement for the organization;
a letter confirming that the money is being held in an account at a registered Canadian financial institution or documents outlining the terms and conditions of the account.

Personal Income

copy of the most recent T4 and/or T1; or
copy of the most recent Notice of Assessment (from Canada Customs and Revenue Agency); or
original letter or proof of annotated cheque stubs from the employer confirming salary
details; or
if self-employed, a letter from an accountant confirming the annual income; or
proof of other sources of income (pension statement, investments, etc.); or
Employment Insurance pay stubs.

Funds Held in Trust

Note: You will need to provide a letter from the financial institution confirming the existence of the account or documents outlining the terms and conditions of the account.

Other Sources of Funds

Declare the amount of money that will be contributed from other sources of funds, and list these sources on the form. The sponsoring group must provide supporting documentation that shows the availability of these funds.

Section F – Signature

Note. The president or executive director of the community sponsor and any cosponsors must sign and date the Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment. By signing this form, the sponsoring group is indicating that it is aware of the terms of the settlement arrangements and is committed to fulfilling them.

Sponsor Assessment (IMM 5492)

Who must fill out this application form?

This form must be completed by the following members of the Sponsoring group:

Sponsorship Agreement Holders

Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) – (unless the form is kept on file with Citizenship and Immigration Canada)
Constituent Group (if applicable)
Cosponsor (if applicable)

Note: The representative of a Sponsorship Agreement Holder may complete the Sponsor Assessment form and submit it to CIC National Headquarters to be kept on file instead of having to complete the form for each sponsorship application.

Groups of Five

Each group member.

Community Sponsors

Community Sponsor
Cosponsor(s) (if applicable)

What is it?

All persons who intend to sponsor refugees must meet the sponsor eligibility criteria established by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Each party to the sponsorship (those who sign the undertaking) must complete the Sponsor Assessment (IMM 5492) to confirm their eligibility.

Individuals who are deemed ineligible to sponsor will have their applications returned to them. If you wish to clarify your response to a certain question, provide details on a separate sheet.

Individuals may wish to submit their Sponsor Assessment in a sealed envelope to ensure confidentiality. Be advised that Citizenship and Immigration Canada office reserves the right to require official documentation to support any aspect of your Sponsor Assessment.

Section A

Write the name of the sponsoring group (print clearly).

Section B

Write the last name (surname/family name) and given name(s) of the sponsor representative or individual sponsor (print clearly).

Section C

Write any other name(s) used (including birth name, maiden, previous married name(s), aliases and nicknames) of the sponsor representative or individual sponsor (print clearly).

Section D

Check the box to indicate if you are at least 18 years of age or older.

Note. All members of the Group of 5 must be 18 years of age or older.

Section E

Check the box to indicate if you are a Canadian citizen, a Registered Indian or a permanent resident.

Note. All members of the Group of 5 and all members of the Community Sponsors must be either a Canadian citizen, a Registered Indian or a permanent resident.

Section F

Check the box to indicate if you or your representatives reside in the expected community of resettlement.

Note. All members of the Group of 5 and all members of the Community Sponsors must reside or have representatives in the expected community of settlement.

Section G

Check the box if you have been convicted, in Canada of the offence of murder or an offence set out in the schedule I or II of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.
Or
Check the box if you have been convicted of an offence outside Canada that, if committed in Canada would constitute one of the offences referred to above. If yes, provide conviction details such as the charge, the date of charge and the place.

Note: the schedules I and II are attached to the form.

Section H

Check the box to indicate if you are in default of any court-ordered support payment obligations.

Section I

Check the box to indicate if you are currently detained in any penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison.

Section J

Check the box to indicate if you have ever been ordered to leave Canada.

Section K

Check the box to indicate if you are subject to any revocation proceedings under the Citizenship Act.

Note. You must sign and date the application.

Consent to Disclose and Collect Personal Information (IMM 5729)

Who must fill out this application form?

This form must be read and signed by both the sponsoring group and the refugee applicant.

Read the instructions at the top of the form carefully.

If you are the sponsor(s) and are submitting the application package, you must ensure that the principal refugee applicant has read:

Part A – Consent to Disclose Personal Infromation;
Part B – Consent for Indirect Collection of Personal Information; and
Part C – Alternative Route for Providing Sensitive Information.
The principal refugee application must then sign Part D – Declaration/Signature
You the sponsor(s) must read and sign Part E – Declaration on Subsequent Use of Disclosure of Personal Information

If you are the principal refugee applicant and are submitting the application package, you must ensure your private sponsor(s) has read:

Part F – Consent to Disclose Personal Information and
Part G – Consent for Indirect Collection of Personal Information
Your private sponsor(s) must then sign Part H – Declaration/Signature
You the principal refugee applicant must read and sign Part I – Declaration on Subsequent Use of Disclosure of Personal Information

Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

Who may use this form?

Complete this form only if you:

used the services of a representative to help you prepare or submit your application; or
are appointing a representative; or
are cancelling a representative’s appointment.

If you have dependent children aged 18 years or older, they are required to complete their own copy of this form if a representative is also conducting business on their behalf.

What is a representative?

A representative is someone who has provided advice, consultation, or guidance to you at any stage of the immigration application process, or in an immigration proceeding. If someone represented or advised you to help you submit your application, then that person is your representative. A representative is also someone who has your permission to conduct business on your behalf with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

When you appoint a representative:

you also authorize CIC and CBSA to share information from your case file with this person;
your application will not be given special attention nor can you expect faster processing or a more favourable outcome;
the representative is authorized to represent you only on immigration matters related to the application you submit with this form;
you can appoint only one representative for each application you submit;
you are not obliged to hire a representative. We treat everyone equally, whether they use the service of a representative or not.

Important information. You must notify us if your representative’s contact information changes or if you cancel the appointment of a representative.

Types of representatives

Family, friends, and non-profit groups often help applicants who feel the need for support and advice on immigration matters. You can appoint a representative who does not charge fees or receive any other compensation for providing immigration advice or services to represent you before CIC or the CBSA.

There are two types of representatives.

Uncompensated representatives include:

friends and family members who do not, and will not, charge a fee or receive any other consideration for their advice and services;
organizations that do not, and will not, charge a fee or receive any other consideration for providing immigration advice or assistance (such as a non-governmental or religious organization);
consultants, lawyers and Quebec notaries, and students-at-law under their supervision, who do not, and will not, charge a fee or receive any other consideration to represent you.

Compensated representatives:

Compensated representatives charge a fee or receive some other form of consideration in exchange for the advice and representation that they provide. If you want us to conduct business with a compensated representative then they must be authorized by CIC.

It is important to know that anyone who represents or advises you for payment — or offers to do so — in connection with immigration proceedings or applications is breaking the law unless they are an authorized representative or they have a specific agreement or arrangement with the Government of Canada that allows them to represent or advise you. This applies to advice or consultation which happens before or after an immigration application is made or a proceeding begins.

Authorized representatives are:

immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC);
lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society and students-at-law under their supervision;
notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and students-at-law under their supervision.

If you appoint a compensated representative who is not a member of one of these designated bodies, your application will be returned. For more information on using a representative, visit our website.

General Application Information

Check one (1) box to indicate if you are appointing or cancelling the appointment of a representative.

Section A – Applicant Information

Question 1

Write your last name (surname or family name) and given name(s).

Question 2

Write your date of birth.

Question 3

If you have already submitted your application, write:

the name of office where the application was submitted;
location of office;
type of application you are sending.

Question 4

Write your Citizenship and Immigration Canada Identification (ID) or Unique Client Identifier (UCI) number (if known).

Section B – Appointment of Representative

Question 5

Write your representative’s full name.

If your representative is a member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), a law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec, print his or her name as it appears on the organization’s membership list.

Question 6

Check one (1) box to indicate if your representative is unpaid or paid.

If your representative is paid, write the membership ID number of:

the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC); or
a Canadian provincial or territorial law society; or
the Chambre des notaires du Québec.

Question 7

Write your representative’s contact information.

Note: By indicating your representative’s e-mail address, you are hereby authorizing CIC to transmit your file and personal information to this specific e-mail address.

Question 8

To accept responsibility for conducting business on your behalf, your representative must:

sign the declaration
date the declaration, and
include the Party ID, only if it is known.

Section C – Cancel the Appointment of a Representative

Question 9: Fill in this section if you wish to cancel the appointment of a representative. Write the representative’s full name.

Section D – Your Declaration

Question 10

By signing, you authorize CIC to complete your request for yourself and your dependent children under 18 years of age.

If your spouse or common-law partner is included in this request, he or she must sign in the box provided.

Release of information to other individuals

To authorize CIC to release information from your case file to someone other than a representative, you will need to complete the form Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475). The form is also available from Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates abroad.

The person you designate will be able to obtain information on your case file, such as the status of your application. However, they will not be able to conduct business on your behalf with CIC.

Step 3. Mail the application

Where to mail the application

Mail your completed application in a stamped envelope to the address shown below:

Affix sufficient postage (top right of the envelope)

Sender (top left of the envelope)
(Your name)
(Your Address)
(Your Postal Code)

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Centralized Processing Office – Winnipeg (CPO-W)
Box # 1B
400-25 Forks Market Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 4S9

Send the document checklist

Make sure you use the document checklist and include it with your application.

Sign the form

Note. The forms must be signed and dated before they are mailed. If they are not signed and dated, your application will be returned to you.

What happens next?

Application process

Upon receipt of a completed and signed sponsorship application by the CPO-W, your group can expect:

A letter from the CPO-W advising if the sponsorship undertaking is approved or refused. This letter will be sent to you within 30 working days of CIC receiving the sponsorship application.
If the sponsorship undertaking has been approved, this letter will also contain a CIC file number (s) and information on how to obtain further status updates on the application.
If the processing of your application has not been finalized within those 30 days, you will receive a letter with the estimated processing time.

After the sponsorship application has been assessed at CPO-W, the file will be transferred to the visa office where the refugee’s application for permanent residence will be assessed.

Following this, the group will receive a letter that includes a notification that the principal refugee applicant’s application has either been approved or refused by the visa office.

Note: If the principal refugee applicant’s application was approved, the sponsoring group can expect a Notice of Arrival Transmission (NAT) advising when the refugee will arrive in Canada.

The sponsorship may be monitored after the refugee has arrived. This might be an in-person meeting, a survey or a phone call.

Important information

Updating your contact information

During the application process, you must advise us of any change of address or telephone number by:

going to www.cic.gc.ca, select Change address; or
see “How to Contact CIC” at the end of this Guide.

Checking application status on-line

You can check the status of your application on-line by doing the following:

Go to the CIC website;
Select Check application status;
Follow the instructions provided.

Note: Your application status will only appear on-line once the initial review by CIC is completed.

To obtain details on how to remove your application status information from the Internet, visit the “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) section.

Protecting your information

Your personal information is:

only available to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) employees who need to see it in order to provide the services to you, and
not disclosed to anyone else except as permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Act.

For more information. You can obtain additional information on the protection of your data by visiting the Help Centre on our website.

Quality Assurance Program

Our quality assurance program randomly selects applications for a special review. If selected you will be asked to attend an interview with a Citizenship and Immigration official so that we can:

verify the documentation you submitted is accurate,
verify that your application has been completed properly.

Note: You will be notified in writing should your application be selected.

How to contact CIC

Within Canada

CIC Call Centre:
1-888-242-2100 (toll-free)

Hours of operation:
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., your local time

If you are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing, or you have a speech impediment and use a text telephone, you can access the TTY service from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time by calling: 1-888-576-8502 (in Canada only).

Website: www.cic.gc.ca

Email address for the Centralized Processing Office – Winnipeg (CPO-W):
CPOW-BTCW@cic.gc.ca

Appendix A – Financial Guidelines

Financial guidelines

Sponsoring groups will not accept the payment of funds from the refugees for the submission of a sponsorship, either before or after their arrival in Canada. However, the refugee’s relatives in Canada may contribute funds to the resettlement.
Refugees have no legal obligation, and cannot be made to enter into a legal or informal obligation, to prepay or repay their sponsoring groups for lodging, care, and settlement assistance and support. However, the refugee’s relatives in Canada may contribute funds to the resettlement.
Sponsoring groups are not responsible, unless they have co-signed loans, for any debt that a refugee incurs in Canada.
Sponsorship Groups are expected to provide the refugees with both financial and settlement support for a period of up to 12 months including the opportunity to attend English language training and acquire skills necessary to access employment in Canada. Should the refugee become financially self-sufficient during the 12-month sponsorship period, the sponsoring group is not obligated to provide income support under the terms of the undertaking for the remainder of the sponsorship period. However, the sponsoring group must maintain immediate access to adequate funds for the remaining length of the sponsorship in the event that the refugee ceases to be self-sufficient.
Sponsored refugees who bring financial resources to Canada should manage their own finances and are expected to contribute to their own settlement costs. Sponsoring groups may expect sponsored refugees to contribute towards their settlement costs according to the same standard established for government-assisted refugees who bring financial resources to Canada. For example, a single sponsored refugee may retain up to a maximum of $1000 for personal use and a couple may retain up to $2000 plus $500 for each additional family member, with the balance of their funds being allocated towards the cost of their settlement. You may refer to The Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program for further details.

Cost of Sponsorship

Although the cost of living varies from one region to another, the following table can assist the sponsoring group in estimating the cost involved in sponsoring a refugee family for 12 months. The required financial resources indicated in the Sponsorship Cost Table are roughly equivalent to local social assistance rate figures.

Family Size	12 Months of Income Support	Start-up Costs	Estimated Total Annual Settlement Cost ($)
1	9,000	2,800	11,800
2	15,500	4,300	19,800
3	17,700	5,300	23,000
4	20,000	6,000	26,000
5	22,500	7,200	29,700
6	24,500	8,000	32,500
Additional member	1,550	1,000	2,500

Income Support can vary depending on ages of various dependents which play a role in determining monthly income support for shelter, food, transportation and incidentals.

Start-up costs include: one time payment for household items, furniture, linens, food staples, clothing & winter clothing, deposit for utilities, phone installation and first month’s rent. These are approximate rates only and should be used as a guideline. Contact your local Citizenship and Immigration Centre (CIC) should you be interested in your local Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) income support rates which are in line with local social assistance rates.

For details on how to contact your local CIC, refer to The Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program which may be obtained by visiting the Publications section under “Resources” in our website in the Publications section.

Several factors may reduce the amount of financial support that the sponsoring group must provide. Examples of these factors may include: in-kind donations and financial resources the sponsored refugee brings to Canada. The chart below provides an estimated value for certain in-kind donations. For more information on the cost of sponsorship, contact your local Citizenship and Immigration Centre or the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP). For details on how to contact the RSTP, visit their website at www.rstp.ca.

**In-Kind Deduction Table ($)**
Family Size	Shelter	Clothing	Furniture	Start-up Costs (Household Needs)	School Start-up Costs	Food Staples
1	6,000	500	1,500	325		175
2	6,000	1,000	2,000	350		250
3	7,800	1,375	2,500	375		325
4	7,800	1,750	3,000	400		400
5	9,600	2,125	3,500	425		475
6	9,600	2,500	4,000	450		550
For additional member, add	900	375	500	25	150/per child between ages 4-21	75

The In-kind Deduction Table is based on annual costs. Start-up Costs include: bedding, linens and household items. These are approximate rates only and should be used as a guideline. Contact your local Citizenship and Immigration Centre (CIC) should you be interested in your local Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) income support rates which are in line with local social assistance rates.

Start-Up Costs

Sponsoring groups might find it useful for their own planning purposes to be aware of the financial assistance Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) provides to government-assisted refugees in order to cover standard household start-up costs. The following information describes some of the various needs that are considered when CIC establishes the amount for the initial start-up cheque. Individual start-up costs with established maximums:

Clothing: a one-time basic clothing allowance is provided.

$325 per adult
$250 per dependent child

Winter Clothing: winter coat, winter boots, mittens, scarf, snow pants for children, etc.

$175 per adult
$125 per dependent child

Basic Household Needs Allowance: Suggested items include: beds, table and chairs, bed linens, basic window coverings and common household products such as kitchen utensils, pots, pans, brooms, mops, detergents and cleansers.

The following maximum allowance rates apply:

Per single without accompanying dependents $1,330
Per single plus one dependent $2,340
Per single plus two dependents $2,665
Per couple without accompanying dependents $1,960
Per couple plus one accompanying dependent $2,455
Per couple plus two accompanying dependents $2,945
Per couple plus three accompanying dependents $3,515
For each additional dependent $350

Food Staples: flour, sugar, rice, spices and condiments, etc.

$175 for the first person in each household
$75 for each additional dependent (no maximum)

School Start-Up allowance: an allowance of $150 for school-age children and young adults attending K-13, between the ages of 4-21 to defray costs for school supplies, activity fees, gym clothing, etc.

How-to video

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Overview

Application package

Why you need to read this guide

Symbols used in this guide

The application process

Before you apply

Who can use this application?

What is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder?

What is a Group of Five?

What are the requirements?

What is a Community Sponsor?

What are the requirements?

Private sponsorship

Quebec residents

Make sure to use the correct application

The application process – Application Submission

Legend

Step 1. Gather documents

What documents are required?

Translated documents

1 - Proof of Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residence status

2 - Proof of funds

3 - Proof of refugee status recognition

4 - Additional documents

IMM 6000

Step 2. Complete the application

Filling out the application

Be complete and accurate

Undertaking and Application to Sponsor (IMM 5373)

Who must fill out this application form?

General Application Information

Section A – Sponsorship Group

Section B – Sponsorship Agreement Holders

Section C – Co-sponsors

Section D – Groups of Five

Section E – Refugee applicant(s)

Section F – Principal Refugee Applicant Mailing Address Outside Canada or Contact Person/Organization Outside Canada

Section G – Multiple Undertakings

Section H – Relatives of the Refugee Applicant(s) Living in Canada

Section I – Obligations of the Sponsoring Group

Section J – Declaration/Signatures

Section K – For CIC use only

Settlement Plan

Settlement Plan – Sponsorship Agreement Holders and Constituent Groups (IMM 5440)

Who must fill out this application form?

What is it?

Submission of the Settlement Plan

Section A – General information

Section B – Settlement Needs Checklist

Section C – Settlement Needs – Details

Section D – Signatures

Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment – Group of Five (G5) (IMM 5373A)

Who must fill out this application form?

What is it?

Assessing the Sponsoring Group’s Finances

Section A – General information

Section B – Settlement Needs – Checklist

Section C – Settlement Needs – Details

Section D – Financial Assessment

Section E – Signature

Financial Profile – Group of Five (G5) (IMM 5373B)

Who must fill out this application form?

What is it?

Section A – Group Name

Section B – Principal Refugee Applicant

Section C – Personal Details

Section D – Employment

Section E – Previous Employer

Section F – Other Sources of Income

Section G – Funds Committed to Sponsorship

Section H – Declaration and Signature

Settlement Plan and Financial Assessment – Community Sponsors (IMM 5515)

Who must fill out this application form?

What is it?

Assessing the Sponsoring Group’s Finances

Section A – General information

Section B – Organization profile

Section C – Settlement Needs – Checklist