Canada Refugee Claim In British Columbia
Canada offers refugee protection to some people in Canada who fear persecution or who would be in danger if they had to leave. Some dangers they may face include
• torture
• risk to their life
• risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment
If you feel you could face one of these risks if you go back to your home country or the country where you normally live, you may be able to seek protection in Canada as a refugee.
Who can make a refugee claim?
To make a refugee claim, you
• must be in Canada
• can’t be subject to a removal order
There are two ways you can make a refugee claim in Canada:
1. To a CBSA officer at any port of entry when you arrive in Canada
2. Submit a claim online after you arrive in Canada
Sponsor a refugee
The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program lets private groups sponsor eligible refugees abroad. As the private sponsor, you’ll support a refugee for the sponsorship period, usually up to 1 year. You can’t sponsor a refugee on your own, but you can as part of a group of individuals, known as a Group of Five.
Group of Five Private Sponsorship:
A Group of Five (G5) is five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have arranged to sponsor a refugee living abroad to come to Canada.
G5s may only sponsor applicants who are recognized as refugees by either the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or a foreign state. The principal applicant MUST already have refugee status. Having refugee status means that an authorized body has found that an individual meets its refugee definition. This authorized body can either be the UNHCR or the government of the country (i.e., foreign state) where the refugee is now living.
