Private Sponsorship of Refugees: Get the Facts!

Being sponsored to come to Canada as a refugee can be a rewarding experience for you and your sponsor. But do you know the facts about private sponsorship? Avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Learn the facts about being a privately sponsored refugee, including who pays for what.

Private Sponsorship of Refugees: Get the facts!

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Transcript: “Private Sponsorship of Refugees: Get the Facts!”

Video length: 3:45

Electronic music plays.

Montage sequence: Fade up on aerial views of the Vancouver skyline. Pan of Queen’s Park Legislature Building in downtown Toronto.

Airliner landing. Travellers arriving in Immigration and Customs hall at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montréal.

NARRATOR: Being sponsored to come to Canada as a refugee can be a rewarding experience for you and your sponsor. But do you know the facts about private sponsorship? True or False.

Montage sequence (continues): Travellers walking up to an immigration kiosk at an airport. An immigrant family presenting their documents to the immigration agent.

Shot of people outside at the annual Tulip Festival in Ottawa.

Medium shot of a woman making a presentation to a group of people in a boardroom. Wide shot of same presentation.

Still image of a man in a crowd of people in a refugee camp, with a young child on his shoulders.

Voice 1: I guarantee your private sponsorship application will be approved—100%!

The words spoken by Voice 1 appear on screen over the image of the man and child. Then the word “FALSE” is stamped over them.

A still image of a female refugee, seated at a computer. She is holding an identity card in one hand and typing with the other.

Voice 2: I’ll be happy to sponsor you, but you have to pay me in advance.

The words spoken by Voice 2 appear on screen over the image of the woman at the computer. Then the word “FALSE” is stamped over them.

A still image of the Canadian flag fills the screen.

NARRATOR: Avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Learn the facts about being a privately sponsored refugee, including who pays for what.

The words “Private Sponsorship of Refugees: Get the Facts!” appear over the image of the flag.

Montage sequence: A group of refugee sponsors meet in a room.

A woman helps a male refugee try on a winter coat in a store.

NARRATOR: As a privately sponsored refugee, it means that a group of individuals in Canada is offering to be your sponsor and to help you adjust to life during your first year here.

A refugee couple are greeted by a female sponsor outside of a church.

NARRATOR: You do not pay a sponsor for your sponsorship, or for submitting your application.

NARRATOR: Your sponsor is responsible for providing the funds to support you during your first year in Canada. Your sponsor gives you emotional and social support during that year as well.

Montage sequence: A man and child enter a school office.

A refugee and a sponsor conversing across a table.

People riding on a subway car.

A female sponsor and a male refugee talk while seated on a sofa. The image blurs as a text bullet list builds on screen over the sequence of blurred shots.

“Your sponsor is responsible for:

Your sponsor must also live in Canada.”

NARRATOR: Your sponsor must also live in Canada.

NARRATOR: FACT. All the forms you and your sponsor need to complete are available for free from our website.

A still image of a laptop computer open on a tabletop with a Government of Canada webpage visible on the screen. The words “Sponsor a Refugee” can be read on the page. The webpage scrolls slowly upwards, revealing more text.

A URL appears on screen under the laptop: “Canada.ca/refugees”.

NARRATOR: Your sponsor can also ask for free advice from the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program, which has several offices in Canada.

The image of the website on the laptop screen changes to the page of the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program. The words “Are you interested in sponsoring refugees?” are visible at the top of that page, which scrolls slowly upwards.

The words “Refugee Sponsorship Training Program” appear at the top of the frame. Then a URL appears at the bottom of the frame: “rstp.ca”.

A still image of the Canadian flag reappears on the screen.

NARRATOR: FACT. You may decide to hire a consultant, lawyer or notary as your immigration representative to help you complete the forms. That is your choice. You do NOT have to use one.

The words “FACT. You MAY hire a consultant, lawyer or notary as your immigration representative to help you complete the forms. But you do NOT have to use one” appear on screen over the image of the flag.

A still image appears on screen showing someone seated at a laptop, with their hands on the keyboard.

NARRATOR: If you choose to hire one, be sure to check Canada’s immigration website first. The website has a list of people who can legally represent you on your application. Only authorized representatives can represent you for a fee.

A URL appears over the image: “Canada.ca/immigration-representative”. Then the words “If you use an immigration representative, make sure they’re authorized by the Canadian government” appears above the URL.

Another still image appears on screen, showing a woman seated at a laptop.

NARRATOR: FACT. If your sponsor or an immigration representative asks you for money or tells you that you have to prepay to be sponsored, even if they promise to give it back once you land in Canada, do NOT pay them. Your sponsor is responsible for providing that financial support.

The words “FACT. You do NOT have to pre-pay for your resettlement. Do not transfer money to your sponsor in advance” appear on screen over the image of the woman.

A still image of the Canadian flag reappears on the screen.

NARRATOR: Look for the signs. It could be fraud.

The words “DO NOT PAY.

Look for the signs of fraud:

appear over the image of the flag, as well as the URL “Canada.ca/immigration-fraud”.

A still image of 2 men reviewing documents across a desk from each other appears.

NARRATOR: Remember, a consultant can charge you to complete the forms, but they cannot charge you for the cost of your sponsorship. Your sponsor is responsible for paying for that.

The words “You DO NOT pay a sponsor or an immigration representative for the cost of your sponsorship” appear on screen over the image of the 2 men.

A still image of the Canadian flag reappears on the screen.

NARRATOR: FACT. The Government of Canada does NOT have favoured immigration representatives who can fast-track applications. Each application is processed individually and is approved or rejected based on its own merit. No one can make your application get processed faster.

Text: The words “FACT. The Government of Canada does NOT have favoured immigration representatives who can fast-track applications” appear over the image of the flag.

NARRATOR: FACT. No one can guarantee that your application will be approved.

The words change and “FACT. No one can guarantee that your application will be approved” appear over the image of the flag.

Montage sequence: IRCC agents seated at computers review documents on their screens. Close-up of one of the female agents. Two men in an office review documents.

NARRATOR: Only a Canadian migration officer can decide if you get a visa to come to Canada. You and your sponsor must both meet the requirements for you to be approved as a privately sponsored refugee. You must pass the medical, security and criminality requirements before your application can be approved.

A still image appears of a laptop computer open on a tabletop with a Government of Canada webpage visible on the screen. The words “Sponsor a Refugee” can be read on the page. The webpage scrolls slowly upwards, revealing more text.

NARRATOR: Once your application has been submitted, it may take some time before your application is reviewed.

A still image of the Canadian flag reappears on the screen.

An arrangement of 3 Facebook ads slides onto the screen over the flag. A poster slides on top of the Facebook pages.

NARRATOR: These ads appear around the world and try to scam refugees. Don’t be a victim of these types of fraudulent ads.

Montage sequence: Refugee families arriving in Canada and being hugged and welcomed on their arrival.

NARRATOR: Learn the facts about private sponsorship.

Music volume is up then fades out.

Dissolve to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature, along with the copyright message, “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2019”, followed by the Canada wordmark.

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