Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca
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Resettlement from outside Canada: Country of Asylum Class—How to apply
Before you apply to come to Canada as a refugee in the Country of Asylum Class, you must be referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), another referral organization or a private sponsorship group.
Once you have been referred, you must provide information about your background and family members by submitting an application. This will help the Canadian visa officer confirm you meet the requirements of Canada’s immigration laws.
It is important that you provide all the required information on the application forms. A decision on your case may be based solely on this information. Make sure you answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully, with as many details as possible. If you need help to understand the application kit and complete the forms, please seek assistance from family members, friends or a local community group.
There are four steps to apply to immigrate to Canada as a refugee under the Country of Asylum Class.
- Obtain an application package.
- Follow the instructions to complete the forms.
- Collect the documents you need to support your application.
- Submit your completed application and supporting documents.
1. Obtain an application package.
The package includes the application guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Download and print the application package.
2. Follow the instructions to complete the forms.
As the principal applicant, you must ensure all the forms are completed. You will find detailed instructions on how to complete the forms in the guide that is included in the application kit.
Fill out the forms using a typewriter, or print clearly in blue or black ink. Some of the forms can be filled out on a computer. You must complete all the forms:
- Application for Permanent Residence in Canada
- Schedule 1: Background/Declaration. This form must be completed by your spouse or common-law partner, and by your dependent children who are 18 or older, even if they will not go to Canada with you.
- Schedule 2: Refugees Outside of Canada. This form must be completed by all of your family members who are 18 or older and who will go with you to Canada.
- Use of a Representative. You must complete this form if you want to use a representative to help you apply. Using a representative is a personal choice. Find out more about using immigration representatives.
3. Collect the documents you need to support your application.
The checklist (Appendix A of the guide) includes a list of documents you must include with your application. It also indicates which visa offices require translation and/or certification (notarization by a lawyer or notary) of your supporting documents.
Use the checklist to make sure you have included all of the required documents. A visa officer may ask you for more information that is not on the checklist at any time during the application process.
There are no processing fees for refugee applications.
4. Submit your completed application and supporting documents.
In some cases, you may give the application and documents to a visa officer at your location (for example, if you are in a refugee camp). In other cases, you may mail your application to the visa office that serves your region or country. You will find a list of mailing addresses for Canadian visa offices in Appendix B of the guide.
Print your name and address on the top left corner of the envelope.
If you are being sponsored by a private group in Canada, the sponsoring group may ask you to send your completed application to them. Your private sponsor can then review your application to ensure it is complete and submit it in Canada.
If any of the information in your application changes after you send it in, or if you move or change your telephone number or other contact information, you must notify Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). For example, you must advise CIC if there are any changes such as a marriage, divorce, birth or death in your family. You can contact the visa office where you submitted your application by mail or fax.
The visa office will send you a letter to confirm that it received your application. Your file number will be at the top of the letter. Make sure you include your file number if you contact CIC for any reason.
