Government-Assisted Refugee Resettlement

Through the Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) program, refugees are referred to Canada for resettlement by * the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or * another referral organization You can’t apply to resettle in Canada as a government-assisted refugee. Instead, we rely on referral organizations like the UNHCR to help us reach the people who need resettlement. To be considered by a referral organization, you must register for refugee status with the UNHCR or state authorities. ## Information bulletin

As a government-assisted refugee, either the Government of Canada or the province of Quebec†www.quebec.ca will support you while you settle in Canada. This support is delivered by non-governmental agencies that we fund, called service provider organizations. You’ll receive support * for up to 1 year from the date you arrive in Canada or * until you’re able to support yourself (whichever happens first) ### Human rights defenders stream

### 1) Convention refugee abroad class You may be in this class if you: * are outside your home country, * cannot return there due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on * race * religion * political opinion * nationality, or * membership in a particular social group. Examples: gender, sexual orientation, etc. Convention refugees can be sponsored by: * the Government of Canada (government-assisted refugees ), * a group of people or an organization (privately sponsored refugees ), or * a mix of both (blended visa office-referred refugees ). ### 2) Country of asylum class

## Who is not eligible? You are not eligible if: * you have another stable option for protection, such as an offer to be resettled in another country, * you become a citizen of another country, which will then protect you, * you choose to return to the country you left, or * the reasons you left your country no longer exist.

### Human rights defenders stream We created a refugee stream for human rights defenders under the GAR program. Through this new stream, we’ll resettle up to 250 people (human rights defenders and their family members) each year. We’ll resettle human rights defenders to Canada in the same way that we resettle other government-assisted refugees. You can’t apply to resettle in Canada under this stream. The UNHCR refers human rights defenders to us. Front Line Defenders†www.frontlinedefenders.org and ProtectDefenders.eu†protectdefenders.eu help the UNHCR identify the people who are most in need of protection through this stream. ## What happens next

Through the Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) program, refugees are referred to Canada for resettlement by * the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or * another referral organization You can’t apply to resettle in Canada as a government-assisted refugee. Instead, we rely on referral organizations like the UNHCR to help us reach the people who need resettlement. To be considered by a referral organization, you must register for refugee status with the UNHCR or state authorities. ## Information bulletin

Once your case has been referred to Canada, a Canadian visa officer will review the file. In most cases, they will interview you. Your interview will be close to where you are located. Before we can accept you for resettlement, you must: * go through a medical exam, * pass a criminal and security check, and * give your biometric information, which includes fingerprints and a digital photo. ### Get medical services before you leave for Canada If you are a refugee selected for resettlement to Canada, you may be covered for certain medical services before you leave. Find out: * if you are eligible for pre-departure medical services and * which services are covered. These checks make sure that: * you have not committed serious crimes in the past, * you are not a safety or security risk to Canada, and * no identity fraud has been committed. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) works with its security partners, such as the Canada Border Services Agency, to complete this work as quickly as possible. If we approve your application, an organization that we fund will help you get the paperwork you need to leave the country. They will also help you with your travel to Canada. If we do not approve your application, we will let you know and tell you why. You will also have a chance to provide more information. All refugees (or persons in refugee-like situations) that we accept, can use immigrant support services†ircc.canada.ca . You can use some services before you arrive and other services after you arrive. ## Beware of fraud

## How to apply If you are referred, you will need to fill out the application package to apply as a Convention refugee or as a humanitarian-protected person abroad . You will need to pass a medical exam and security and criminal check . Note: The province of Quebec selects its own refugees. Find out about Quebec’s procedures for selecting refugees abroad†www.quebec.ca . ## Who is not eligible?

Once your case has been referred to Canada, a Canadian visa officer will review the file. In most cases, they will interview you. Your interview will be close to where you are located. Before we can accept you for resettlement, you must: * go through a medical exam, * pass a criminal and security check, and * give your biometric information, which includes fingerprints and a digital photo. ### Get medical services before you leave for Canada If you are a refugee selected for resettlement to Canada, you may be covered for certain medical services before you leave. Find out: * if you are eligible for pre-departure medical services and * which services are covered. These checks make sure that: * you have not committed serious crimes in the past, * you are not a safety or security risk to Canada, and * no identity fraud has been committed. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) works with its security partners, such as the Canada Border Services Agency, to complete this work as quickly as possible. If we approve your application, an organization that we fund will help you get the paperwork you need to leave the country. They will also help you with your travel to Canada. If we do not approve your application, we will let you know and tell you why. You will also have a chance to provide more information. All refugees (or persons in refugee-like situations) that we accept, can use immigrant support services†ircc.canada.ca . You can use some services before you arrive and other services after you arrive. ## Beware of fraud

## Arriving in Canada When you arrive in Canada, an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)†www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca will meet you. The CBSA secures the borders and ports of entry to Canada. You must have a valid travel document (for example, a passport or a travel document issued by the Government of Canada). You must also have a Canadian permanent resident visa with you. The officer will ask to see your passport from your home country, if you have one, and other travel documents. Make sure you have them on hand. This will help speed up your entry into Canada. The officer will make sure that your permanent resident visa is still valid. The expiry date is shown on the visa. You cannot use it after it expires. We cannot extend permanent resident visas. Make sure you use it within the time limit. The officer will give you your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) . You must sign your COPR. The officer will ask you a few questions. The questions will be similar to the ones you answered on your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada. The officer will confirm that you are eligible to enter Canada. The officer may not allow you to enter Canada if you give false or incomplete information at the point of entry, or if you do not satisfy the officer that you are eligible to enter Canada. If there are no problems at the port of entry, the officer will authorize you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. We will mail your permanent resident card to your new address in Canada. You should make sure that the Canadian address on your COPR card is correct because we will send your permanent resident card to that address. If you plan to change your address in the future, or if you do not have a permanent address yet, give us the correct address as soon as you can. ## Disclosure of funds

## Help after you arrive After you have been admitted to Canada, someone from a settlement organization or sponsorship group will meet you at the airport. They will bring you to a place where you will stay for the first few days. They will also help you to find a permanent place to live. Once in Canada, there are services to help you learn English and French, find a job or other daily activities. Find out more about services in your area†ircc.canada.ca . There are also services to help refugees resettle in Canada. Find out more about settlement services available to refugees in Canada . ## Features

As a government-assisted refugee, either the Government of Canada or the province of Quebec†www.quebec.ca will support you while you settle in Canada. This support is delivered by non-governmental agencies that we fund, called service provider organizations. You’ll receive support * for up to 1 year from the date you arrive in Canada or * until you’re able to support yourself (whichever happens first) ### Human rights defenders stream

To be considered by a referral organization, you must register for refugee status with the UNHCR or state authorities. ## Information bulletin

We’ll resettle human rights defenders to Canada in the same way that we resettle other government-assisted refugees. You can’t apply to resettle in Canada under this stream. The UNHCR refers human rights defenders to us. Front Line Defenders†www.frontlinedefenders.org and ProtectDefenders.eu†protectdefenders.eu help the UNHCR identify the people who are most in need of protection through this stream. ## What happens next

## Beware of fraud * Canada does not charge application fees for refugees to be resettled. * Canada does not collect fees from refugees before they arrive in Canada. * No one can make sure that you will get a visa to come to Canada.