Who can sponsor? There are many routes to sponsorship. However, City of Refuge specifically works with churches to help them sponsor Christian refugees.
What does it cost? Churches are responsible for providing for all costs to care for the refugees for 12 months from their arrival date. However, these costs can be greatly reduced by providing donated items such as dishes, furniture, clothing, winter gear, and more! Some churches even have the capacity to provide a home free of charge to the refugees! Costs vary, depending on the location of the church and the size/needs of the refugee family. To get an idea of what it might cost for your church, please contact a coordinator (\\link to coordinators’ page here).
Do we need a big church to do this? No, plenty of small churches sponsor refugees. You just need a small committee of 4-5 people who are willing to do the work to help welcome the refugees and get them settled. Sometimes churches have partnered with other local congregations for sponsorships as well.
What should we consider when we choose a refugee family? This is an important question. We want refugees to quickly feel at home when they arrive in Canada. The demographics of your church, the local community, the work availability, languages spoken, and the families sponsored by neighbouring churches can all be factors in this decision. Please contact a coordinator for advice and remember to pray! God will guide your decisions and it’s important to trust Him with this one too.
Do applications ever get denied? Sometimes, yes. If the application is rejected during the interview or screening process, you can contact your coordinator. There are options for reapplication, appeal, and more, depending on the situation. If the refugees absolutely cannot come to Canada, it is possible to redirect the funds you have raised to another refugee sponsorship.
Who holds the funds while we wait for the refugees to arrive in Canada? The church will hold the funds in a designated account with two signatories while they wait for the refugees to arrive.
How long does it take? The average timeline for sponsorship is 2-3 years from choosing a family to their arrival in Canada. However, some cases are expedited and move faster, while others may take longer. The timeline depends on the location and the visa office processing the application. Please ask a coordinator for an estimated timeline for your sponsorship.
How do we start the process? You can begin by contacting our coordinators (\\link to coordinators’ page)
Did the government pause all refugee applications? You may have heard that IRCC has temporarily paused new applications from Groups of 5 and Community Sponsors. This pause does not apply to the Private Sponsorship applications submitted by City of Refuge. City of Refuge continues to process applications as normal.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact our coordinators.