For more than forty years, Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program has offered refugees the opportunity to rebuild their lives through community and individual sponsorships. While the program has achieved notable success, it has also encountered challenges, including an excessive volume of applications and prolonged processing times.
In response to these challenges, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a temporary suspension of new applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors under the PSR Program, effective November 29, 2024.
Why Was This Decision Made?
The decision to pause new applications stems from several factors:
High Demand: Private sponsors have consistently exceeded the number of available sponsorship spaces under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan.
Large Application Inventory: The growing backlog has resulted in extended processing times for refugees and sponsors alike.
Stakeholder Feedback: IRCC consulted with stakeholders to explore options for intake controls, aiming to create a more manageable system.
What Does This Mean for Sponsors and Refugees?
Processing of Existing Applications: Applications already submitted will continue to be processed. The 2025 target for privately sponsored refugees is set at 23,000 under the Immigration Levels Plan.
Temporary Suspension of New Applications: Groups of five and community sponsors will not be able to submit new applications during this period. However, this does not affect other sponsorship streams, such as sponsorship agreement holders (SAHs).
Support for Stakeholders: IRCC has committed to working closely with sponsors, delivery partners, and stakeholders to manage the transition and plan for future improvements to the PSR Program.
Implications and the Way Forward
This pause is a step toward creating a more efficient system that better serves refugees and sponsors. By addressing the backlog, IRCC aims to provide more certainty to refugees waiting abroad and to Canadian sponsors eager to support them.
While this decision may be challenging for those looking to sponsor refugees through groups of five or community sponsors, it reflects IRCC’s commitment to improving the program’s long-term sustainability.
Key Highlights
This pause will remain in effect until December 31, 2025, to prevent further inventory growth and create shorter, more predictable processing timelines.
Applications already submitted will continue to be processed.
The target for 2025 is to resettle 23,000 privately sponsored refugees.
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