Community sponsors: After you apply

Sponsor-referred cases

If ROC-O approves your Undertaking to Sponsor, they will send the refugee application to the responsible visa office abroad for consideration by a visa officer.

The visa office will tell you if they approve or refuse the refugee application. The sponsoring group will generally receive a Notification of Arrival Transmission at least 10 business days before the refugee arrives in Canada. The notice will tell you when the refugee will arrive in Canada.

Visa office-referred cases

Refugees usually arrive in Canada between three and six months after ROC-O approves a sponsorship request. In some cases, refugees are ready to travel sooner. The sponsoring group will generally receive a Notification of Arrival Transmission at least 10 business days before the refugee arrives in Canada.

Refugee Sponsorship Training Program

The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program, which is funded by the Government of Canada, can help you prepare for what to expect when refugees arrive in Canada.

Change of information

It is up to you to keep your application up-to-date.

With any updated information you submit, include:

  • the IRCC file number (the G number),
  • a contact name, and
  • a phone and/or fax number.

If your address or telephone number changes after you apply, you must tell us.

Groups of Five and Community Sponsors: use this Web form.

Choose “sponsor” in the drop-down menu for relationship to applicant. Choose “change of address” in the drop-down menu for application type.

Sponsorship Agreement Holders: email the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

If any information about the refugee you want to sponsor changes, you must tell the responsible visa office right away.

Sponsorship group representatives should provide a signed copy of the IMM 5476 Use of a Representative (PDF, 648 KB) form if you did not include one with your application.

Withdrawing your application

If you wish to withdraw your sponsorship undertaking after you have submitted your application, you must e-mail ROC-O and tell them why you want to withdraw.

Case Status Enquiries

Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O)

In many cases you can check your application status online. If you cannot check your case status online, and:

  • the application is still in Canada; and
  • we have not met the estimated in-Canada processing times,

You can email the Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O)

Canadian visa offices abroad

In many cases you can check your application status online. If you cannot check your case status online, and:

  • the application has been sent to the responsible visa office abroad (as shown in their online case status or via confirmation letter from ROC-O), and
  • the visa office has not met the estimated processing times,

You can use the IRCC Web form to ask about the status of the Application for Permanent Residence.

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