Citizenship and Citoyenneté et

Immigration Canada Immigration Canada

IMMIGRATION Table of Contents

Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Canada Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) . . . . 4

Matching a Sponsoring Group with
a Refugee(s). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Completing the Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Submitting Your Application . . . . . . . . . . 10
Refugee Sponsorship What Happens Next? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Application Appendices:
A - Citizenship and Immigration Centres
B - Start-Up Costs
C - Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)
Service Provider Organizations
Joint Assistance
Forms:
Sponsorship
Request for a Joint Assistance Sponsorship
Refugee Profile (IMM 5504)
Undertaking/Application (IMM 1324)
Sponsor Assessment (IMM 5492)
Settlement Plan (IMM 5494)
Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)
Document Checklist (IMM 5495)

This application is made available free by

Citizenship and Immigration Canada and
is not to be sold to applicants.

Cette trousse est également

disponible en français

IMM 5493E (06-2007)

 Contact Information

Web site
For more information on the programs offered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, visit our Web site
at www.cic.gc.ca. For some types of applications you can inform us of a change of address and find out what
is happening with your application through on-line services on the Web site.

Within Canada
If you are in Canada, you can also phone our Call Centre. An automated telephone service is available
seven days a week, 24 hours a day and is easy to use if you have a touch-tone phone. You can listen to
pre-recorded information on many programs, order application forms, and for some types of applications
the automated service can even update you on the status of your case.
When you call, have a pen and paper ready to record the information you need. Listen carefully to the
instructions and press the number for the selection you want. At any time during your call, you may press
* (the star key) to repeat a message, 9 to return to the main menu, 0 to speak to an agent, or 8 to end your
call. If you have a rotary phone, wait for an agent to answer your call.
If you need to speak to an agent, you must call Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time.

From anywhere in Canada, call 1-888-242-2100 (toll-free)

Using a text telephone?

Call our TTY service from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time at: 1-888-576-8502
(toll-free).

Outside Canada
If you are outside Canada, you can contact a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate. Consult our
Web site for addresses, phone numbers and Web site addresses of our visa offices.

This is not a legal document. For legal information, refer to the Immigration and Refugee
Protection Act and Regulations or the Citizenship Act and Regulations, as applicable.

This publication is available in alternative formats upon request.

2 Refugee Sponsorship Application

Overview
This application kit contains the forms and information necessary for Sponsorship Agreement Holders
(SAH) and their Constituent Groups to sponsor under the Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) Program.
This application kit does not provide general information about private sponsorship of refugees. For more
details, including definitions, roles and responsibilities, refer to The Guide to the Private Sponsorship of
Refugees Program. The guide may be viewed in the Media and Publications section of our Web site.
A Sponsorship Agreement Holder is an incorporated organization that has signed a sponsorship agreement
with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. A SAH can authorize Constituent Groups to sponsor
under its agreement and provide support to the refugee(s). Each SAH sets its own criteria for recognizing
Constituent Groups (which will be referred to as the sponsoring group in the remainder of this application
kit). The sponsoring group must be in the community where the refugee(s) is/are destined.
Before submitting a sponsorship application, Constituent Groups must obtain a Letter of Approval from
their SAH indicating that they have been given the authority to submit a sponsorship under their agreement
and that their Settlement Plan has been reviewed and approved by the SAH.
Note: For residents of Quebec: This application kit does not apply to the province of Quebec.
Contact our Call Centre to speak with an agent for more information.

Before You Apply

• Read all of the instructions carefully before you begin to complete the application forms.
• Gather all of the necessary documents. They are listed in the Document Checklist.
• Photocopy the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep the working copy for
your records. You may make extra photocopies of the blank forms for use when
submitting future sponsorships.
• Fill in the forms carefully and completely. Print clearly, with a black pen.
• Sign and date your forms.

Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) 3

Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)
JAS refers to a joint undertaking by the sponsoring group and Citizenship and Immigration Canada to
sponsor a refugee(s) requiring special assistance and whose admissibility depends upon the additional
support of a sponsor.
In order to resettle successfully, these refugees may require more than a 12-month sponsorship.
Consequently, a JAS is valid for up to 24 months. In exceptional cases, the visa office may request an
extended sponsorship period of up to 36 months. In these cases, the sponsor must agree before the case is
processed.
Note: It is the visa office that identifies which cases require a JAS. The sponsoring groups do not
designate JAS cases.
Under the JAS Program, Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides financial assistance to cover the cost
of food, shelter, clothing and essential household goods and settlement support through funded community
agencies. The sponsor's role is to provide orientation, significant settlement assistance and emotional
support.
Refugees sponsored under the JAS program are identified as having special needs that will likely result in
a longer or more difficult period of integration.
These special needs include:
• a large number of family members;
• trauma resulting from violence or torture;
• medical disabilities; and
• the effects of systemic discrimination.
Note: Officers have neither the training nor the time in the brief interview with the refugee(s) to
detect repressed or emotional problems across cultures.
JAS refugees will be matched to communities where their needs would most likely be met. Information
considered before matching includes but is not limited to: specialized services available and/or special
requirements of one or more family members, location of any family members in Canada, location of same
or similar ethnic communities in Canada, size of family, employment and language skills.
JAS refugees will not be matched to communities that cannot provide required settlement services (such as
programs or services to address the needs of refugees who are victims of torture, persecution, etc.). There
must be a Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) Centre available in the community to provide financial
and basic orientation.
The local Citizenship and Immigration Centre (CIC) is responsible for deciding whether to approve the
match of a sponsoring group with a special needs case. Thus it is the officer who decides whether a match
is “successful” or not. Sponsoring groups are advised to demonstrate that they have sufficient expertise or
experience to accommodate the refugee’s special needs and that their community offers settlement services
that are well-suited to the particular needs of the refugee applicant.
Note: Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms a refugee has the right to live and move
anywhere in Canada. Sometimes a refugee(s) may choose to leave the community where
the sponsor resides. In rare cases, the refugee(s) may not arrive in the community to which
they were destined.

4 Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)

Matching a Sponsoring Group with a
Refugee(s)
The process noted below is the process that is followed when matching a sponsoring group with a refugee(s).
The Matching Centre in Ottawa assembles and co-ordinates an inventory of refugees who require a Joint
Assistance Sponsorship. These refugees have already been interviewed by a visa officer and are
determined to be eligible for resettlement in Canada. The Matching Centre posts their profiles on a secure
Web site accessible only to Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) and local CICs in order to facilitate the
matching process.

Using the secure Web site

• SAHs may check the secure Web site for a suitable profile and may provide the
downloaded profile(s) to their sponsoring groups for consideration (where applicable).
• If after reviewing the profile, the group is interested in sponsoring a particular case, the
next step is for the sponsoring group to request a more detailed profile from the local CIC.
• The sponsoring group will make its final decision based on a review of the detailed
profile. They must inform their local CIC as soon as possible whether they are committed
to sponsoring the particular case so that other groups may have the opportunity to review
the unmatched case.
• The final step is to complete the JAS sponsorship undertaking (IMM 1324), attach the
detailed refugee profile to the application and submit all necessary documents to their
local CIC.

Using the Matching Centre

• If no suitable profile is found on the Web site or if a sponsoring group does not access the
Web site, the completed Request for a Joint Assistance Refugee Profile (IMM 5504)
should be submitted to the local CIC who will forward the request to the Matching Centre
to keep in their inventory until a match can be made. The Request for a Joint Assistance
Refugee Profile contains information on the sponsoring group’s community and on the
type of refugee case the group wishes to sponsor.
• The Matching Centre assembles and co-ordinates an inventory of sponsoring groups
requesting a refugee profile and attempts to match the sponsoring groups with a
refugee(s).
• Refugees will be matched to communities where their needs are most likely to be met.
Information considered before matching includes but is not limited to: location of any
family members in Canada, location of same or similar ethnic communities in Canada,
size of family, employment and language skills of the refugee(s).
• When the Matching Centre is able to make a successful match, they will refer the
detailed profile to the local CIC who will refer the profile to the SAH for discussion with
the sponsoring group (where applicable).
• The SAH and sponsoring group should review the detailed profile together (where
applicable) and notify their local CIC as soon as possible whether they are committed to
sponsoring the particular case so that other groups may have the opportunity to review the
unmatched case.

Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) 5

 • The final stage is for the sponsoring group to complete the JAS sponsorship undertaking
(IMM 1324), attach the detailed refugee profile to the application and submit all necessary
documents to their local CIC.

Matching Process - General

• Only one sponsoring group may review a particular detailed profile at a time, so the group
is encouraged to arrive at a decision as soon as possible so that other sponsoring groups
may have an opportunity to consider the unmatched case.
• Profiles must be matched with a sponsoring group within six months or they will be
referred back to the visa office for referral to another country for resettlement.
• Delays in obtaining medical or security results or difficulties making travel arrangements
can delay the arrival of the refugee(s).
• On average, refugee(s) under the JAS program will arrive in Canada within twelve weeks
from the date the sponsorship is approved by CIC.

Completing the Forms

The following instructions will help you fill in the forms included in this application kit. Most questions are
clear; instructions are provided only when necessary. Attach a separate sheet of paper if you need more
space and indicate the letter or number of the question you are answering.

Request for a Joint Assistance Sponsorship Refugee Profile

(IMM 5504)
Complete this form if your group would like to receive a refugee profile(s). If you are a Constituent Group,
consult with your Sponsorship Agreement Holder before you request a profile of a refugee(s).

A – Type of Family/Individual You Wish to Sponsor

In this section your group can indicate limitations you have regarding family size, composition, and country
of origin of the refugee(s) you can settle. Indicate the reasons for your limitations or preferences (e.g.
Spanish-speaking because your group has a number of people who can act as interpreters).
The Matching Centre will do its best to match refugees using the information provided by your group. Be
aware that the more flexible your group is regarding the refugee(s) you can settle, the more quickly a
potential profile can be sent to you.

B – Information on Sponsoring Group

Share relevant background information (personal and professional) about your group that will facilitate the
matching process. Helpful information would include any experience or skills group members have with
special needs.

6 Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)

C – Information on Your Community
Provide information about the receiving community. This information is essential in finding refugee
applicant(s) who will adapt quickly and successfully to life in the community.

Undertaking/Application for a Joint Assistance Sponsorship

(JAS) - Sponsorship Agreement Holder and Constituent
Groups (IMM 1324)
Complete this form after your group has received and reviewed the profile of a refugee(s) and is committed
to sponsoring that refugee(s).

A – Sponsorship Agreement Holder

Print the name of the organization that has signed a Sponsorship Agreement with the Minister of Citizenship
and Immigration and the name of the Sponsorship Agreement Holder representative.

Constituent Groups must provide information on their SAHs.

B – Constituent Group (if applicable)

Print the name of the sponsoring group that will be supporting the refugee applicant(s). The sponsoring
group must be in the community where the refugee applicant(s) is/are destined. Also, print the name of the
person authorized to represent the sponsoring group, sign this Undertaking, and act as the contact person.

C – Refugee(s) Being Sponsored

Print the names, and the dates of birth of the refugee family with whom you have been matched. This
information is supplied in the refugee profile. Attach the Refugee Profile that you received.

Non-accompanying family members

Sponsoring groups may wish to confirm with their local CIC whether the principal applicant listed any non-
accompanying family members on their application for permanent residence (IMM 0008) since the
sponsorship undertaking also extends to non-accompanying family members who are eligible under the
terms of the “one-year window of opportunity”.
The “one-year window of opportunity” is a provision that facilitates the reunification of non-accompanying
family members with family who have been resettled in Canada. To be eligible, it is necessary that non-
accompanying family members were included on the principal applicant’s application for permanent
residence (IMM 0008) and that they make an application for permanent residence at a visa office within one
year of the principal applicant’s arrival in Canada. For more information on the “one-year window of
opportunity”, consult The Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

D – Complete Mailing Address of Refugee(s) or Refugee’s Contact Information

Your local Citizenship and Immigration Centre may be able to provide you with contact information so that
you can become acquainted with the refugee(s) you are sponsoring before their arrival in Canada.

E – Identification of Special Needs

Based on the information and identification of any special needs provided in the refugee profile, indicate
how your group and community can assist the refugee(s) with these particular needs.

Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) 7

F – Obligations
Read this section carefully as it outlines the obligation of the sponsor. All Joint Assistance Sponsorships are
for a period up to 24 months. In exceptional cases, the visa office may request an extended sponsorship
period of up to 36 months. In these cases, the sponsor must agree before the case is processed.

G – Declaration by the Sponsor

Each party to the sponsorship must sign and date the application. By signing here, the sponsoring group
declares that they understand and commit to upholding the terms outlined on the undertaking.

H – Relatives of Refugee(s) Living in Canada (To be completed by CIC)

The local CIC should complete this section based on the information given in the refugee profile. An officer
will ask the refugee(s) if they have any relatives or friends in Canada. A refugee(s) is encouraged to provide
this information so that a sponsoring group can be located where the refugee(s)’ friends or relatives are
located.

I – Special Needs (To be completed by CIC)

The refugee profile will indicate which category of special needs the refugee(s) fall under. Using this
information the local CIC should check off the relevant category.

Sponsor Assessment (IMM 5492)

You may photocopy the Sponsor Assessment form (IMM 5492). This form must be completed by:
• all sponsors who sign the undertaking.
All persons who intend to sponsor refugees must meet the sponsor eligibility criteria established by the
Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Each party to the sponsorship (those who sign the
undertaking) must complete the Sponsor Assessment to confirm their eligibility. Individuals who are
deemed ineligible to sponsor will have their applications returned to them. If you wish to clarify your
response to a certain question, provide details on a separate sheet.
Individuals may wish to submit their Sponsor Assessment in a sealed envelope to ensure confidentiality. Be
advised that the local CIC reserves the right to require official documentation to support any aspect of your
Sponsor Assessment.

Settlement Plan - Joint Assistance Sponsorship Form

(IMM 5494)
The Settlement Plan is a planning tool for sponsoring groups to formulate how they intend to deliver the
various aspects of settlement assistance needed to help the refugee applicant(s) establish successfully in
Canada. Where practicable, the planned arrangements should be in place before the refugee arrives.
In those instances where refugee applicants intend to live together in Canada as a family unit but are named
on separate Undertakings only one Settlement Plan encompassing the entire household is required. It must,
however, reflect the resettlement needs of each individual being sponsored.

Submission of Settlement Plan

Sponsorship Agreement Holders must complete a Settlement Plan for each JAS undertaking they sign but
are not required to submit the form to the local Citizenship and Immigration Centre (note exception below).
Constituent Groups must also complete a Settlement Plan for each JAS undertaking they sign and must
submit it to their Sponsorship Agreement Holder. The SAH assesses the overall application and, when

8 Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)

satisfied, issues a letter of approval authorizing the group to sponsor under their agreement. Both the SAH
and the Constituent Group are required to retain a copy of the Settlement Plan in their files.
Exception: Sponsorship Agreement Holders (and their respective Constituent Groups) that signed an
agreement with the Minister less than two years ago are required to submit the Settlement Plan to the local
Citizenship and Immigration Centre as part of the sponsorship application.

C – Settlement Needs - Details

Answer each question in a detailed yet concise manner.

Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

Complete this form if you are appointing an immigration representative.
An immigration representative is someone who is not a member of your sponsoring group but who has
your group’s permission to conduct business on your behalf with Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(CIC). When you appoint a representative, you also authorize CIC to share information from your file to
this person.
You are not obliged to hire a representative. We treat everyone equally, whether they use the services of a
representative or not. If you choose to hire a representative, your application will not be given special
attention nor can you expect faster processing or a more favourable outcome.
The representative you appoint is authorized to represent your sponsoring group only on matters related to
the application you submit with this form. You can appoint only one representative for each application you
submit.

There are two types of immigration representatives:

Unpaid representatives
• friends and family members who do not charge a fee for their advice and services
• organizations that do not charge a fee for providing immigration advice or assistance (such
as a non-governmental or religious organization)
• consultants, lawyers and Québec notaries who do not, and will not, charge a fee to
represent you
Paid representatives
If you want us to conduct business with a representative who is, or will be charging a fee to represent
you, he or she must be authorized. Authorized representatives are:
• immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Canadian Society of
Immigration Consultants (CSIC)
• lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law
society and students-at-law under their supervision
• notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and
students-at-law under their supervision
If you appoint a paid representative who is not a member of one of these designated bodies, your
application will be returned. For more information on using a representative, visit our Web site.

Section B.
5. Your representative’s full name
If your representative is a member of CSIC, a law society or the Chambre des notaires du
Québec, print his or her name as it appears on the organization’s membership list.

Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) 9

 8. Your representative's declaration
Your representative must sign to accept responsibility for conducting business on behalf of the
sponsoring group.

Release of information to other individuals

To authorize CIC to release information from your case file to someone who is not a member of your
sponsoring group and is not a representative, you will need to complete form Authority to Release Personal
Information to a Designated Individual (IMM 5475) which is available on our Web site at www.cic.gc.ca/
english/information/applications/release-info.asp.
The person you designate will be able to obtain information on your file, such as the status of your
application. However, he or she will not be able to conduct business on your behalf with CIC.

You must notify us if your representative’s contact information changes or if you

cancel the appointment of a representative.

Document Checklist (IMM 5495)

Joint Assistance Sponsorships - Sponsorship Agreement Holder/Constituent
Group
The Document Checklist helps ensure that you have attached the required documents to your application.
Should you wish to attach any other pertinent information to the application, indicate these documents by
adding them to the checklist. If any information is missing, your application will be returned to you. Enclose
the Document Checklist with your application.

Submitting Your Application

Mail your application to a Citizenship and Immigration Centre (CIC) listed in Appendix A. Choose the CIC
closest to the community where the refugee applicants are expected to settle in Canada.

Print “Joint Assistance Sponsorship” above the address of the CIC and provide your complete
return mailing address.

10 Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)

What Happens Next?
Upon receipt of a completed and signed JAS sponsorship application, your group can expect:
• a letter from the local CIC advising if the JAS sponsorship application is approved or
refused. This letter will be sent to you within 30 working days of CIC receiving the
sponsorship application. If the processing of your application has not been finalized within
those 30 days, you will receive a letter with the estimated processing time.
If the sponsorship application has been approved, the group will receive a letter that
includes:
· a CIC file number and a CIC contact name and fax number
· a Notice of Arrival advising when the refugee(s) will arrive in Canada.
• the sponsorship may be monitored after the refugee arrives. This might be an in-person
meeting, a survey or a phone call.

You must advise us of any change of address or telephone number by contacting your local CIC. If there
are other changes to the information provided after you have mailed your application, advise your local
CIC and your SAH (where applicable).

Checking application status

Once we have notified you that your sponsorship application has been received, you can find out the current
status of your application by logging on to our Web site at www.cic.gc.ca and selecting On-Line Services –
e-Client Application Status. The Web site will only provide information on the status of your application
and will not provide all of the details of your case.

You may also use this on-line service to check on the status of the refugee applicant’s application by
entering his or her information. Before you do this, you must have the refugee applicant’s consent.

Protecting your application information

We protect your information. It is only available to our employees who need to see it in order to provide
services to you. It is protected from unauthorized access electronically by security software and procedures.
Your application status can only be obtained with your family name, date of birth, country of birth and one
of these numbers:
• CIC client number
• CIC file number
• CIC Record of Landing (form IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (form
IMM 5292) number
• Permanent resident card number
We will not disclose any information to anyone else without your written consent. If you give consent or
provide the information above to others, they will be able to obtain the status of your application. We will
not be able to determine when, for what purpose, how often, or to whom information may have been
disclosed.
You can protect your information by not telling anyone your personal information and by keeping
documents with this information in a safe place. Also when you view the status of your application on-line,
you should apply the same precautions that you would use for your other personal Internet transactions.

Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) 11

For more information on the protection of your data, read the security page and the Frequently Asked
Questions page found at www.cic.gc.ca – On-Line Services – e-Client Application Status.

Removing on-line information

You can remove on-line information by logging on to www.cic.gc.ca and selecting On-Line Services –
e-Client Application Status. Follow the instructions to access your application status information. Then
select the check box to remove your application status from the Internet. If you reside in Canada you can
also call our Call Centre and ask an agent to do this for you. If you are outside Canada, contact the Canadian
embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your region.

12 Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)

Appendix A
Citizenship and Immigration Centres
ATLANTIC
Charlottetown Halifax St. John’s
134 Kent Street, Suite 410 1741 Brunswick Street, Suite B110 North Atlantic Building, 2nd floor
National Bank Tower Halifax, N.S. B3J 3X8 31 Pippy Place
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 8R8 Fax: (902) 426-4241 P.O. Box 13667, Station “A”
Fax: (902) 566-8355 St. John's, NL A1B 4G1
Moncton
Fax: (709) 722-2929
Fredericton 860 Main Street, 6th Floor
495 Prospect Avenue Moncton, N.B. E1C 1G2 Saint John
Fredericton, NB E3B 9M4 Fax: (506) 851-2240 189 Prince William Street
Fax: (506) 452-3392 Saint John, N.B. E2L 2B9
Fax: (506) 636-5073
ONTARIO
Hamilton Orillia Thunder Bay
55 Bay Street North - First Floor 25 Peter Street North, 2nd Floor Suite 108-221 Archibald St. North
Hamilton, Ontario L8R 3P7 Orillia, Ontario L3V 4Y8 Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 3Y3
Fax: (905) 572-2626 Fax: (705) 326-6078 Fax: (807) 624-2151
Kingston Oshawa Toronto Central
86 Clarence Street 78 Richmond Street W., 2nd Floor 25 St.Clair Ave. E., Suite 200
Kingston, Ontario K7L 1X3 Oshawa, Ontario L1G 1E1 Toronto, Ontario M4T 1M2
Fax: (613) 545-8574 Fax: (905) 721-5025 Fax: (416) 954-6579
London Ottawa Kitchener
417 Exeter Road 200 Catherine Street, Ground Floor 29 Duke St. East
London, Ontario N6E 2Z3 Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K9 Kitchener, Ontario N2H 1A2
Fax: (519) 691-8175 Fax: (613) 995-1304 Fax: (519) 571-6819
Niagara Falls Sudbury Windsor
6080 McLeod Rd. 19 Lisgar St., Suite 305 1250 Walker Road
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 7T4 Federal Building Windsor, Ontario N8Y 4T4
Fax: (905) 354-4497 Sudbury, Ontario P3E 3L4 Fax: (519) 985-4761
Fax: (705) 671-0749
PRAIRIE/NORTHERN TERRITORIES
Calgary Lethbridge Saskatoon
170 - 220 4th Avenue S.E. 706 - 4th Ave. S., Room 403 660 - 410 22nd Street E
Calgary, AB T2G 4X3 P.O. Box 2050 Saskatoon, SK S7K 5T6
Fax: (403) 292-4172 Lethbridge, AB T1J 4K6 Fax: (306) 975-4525
Fax: (403) 382-3163
Edmonton Winnipeg
Suite 240, Canada Place Regina 400 - 25 Forks Market Road
9700 Jasper Avenue 1783 Hamilton Street, Room 220 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0S9
Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3 Regina, SK S4P 2B6 Fax: (204) 983-3176
Fax: (780)495-6739 Fax: (306) 780-8745

Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) A-1

BRITISH COLUMBIA/YUKON
Kelowna Vancouver Victoria
202- 1635 Abbott Street 1148 Hornby Street Room 377, 816 Government Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 1A9 Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C3 Victoria, BC V8W 1W9
Fax: (250) 470-4877 Fax: (604) 666-6582 Fax: (250) 363-3669
Prince George
250 – 177 Victoria Street
Prince George, BC V2L 5R8
Fax: (250) 561-5502

A-2 Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)

Appendix B
Start-Up Costs
This appendix provides information on start-up costs that Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides to
government-assisted refugees, including those sponsored under the Joint Assistance Sponsorship Program.
This information differs from province to province and should be used as a guide only.
For government-assisted refugees, start-up cheques are normally provided to the client within a few days of
arrival in the community of final destination. These cheques include non-repayable allowances for clothing,
household effects, linens, staples and telephone installation. In addition, the initial start-up cheque usually
includes "assistance loan" amounts, if applicable, for the last month’s rent or damage deposit and for
telephone and utility security deposits. The start-up cheque also includes one month of living allowances,
which includes food, incidentals, rent and a transportation allowance.

Start-up costs with established maximums:

Clothing:
In some cities, money is issued in the start-up cheque to allow the refugee to purchase their own
clothing. A one-time basic clothing allowance is provided at the rate of:
• $225 per adult
• $150 for each additional family member
In addition winter outerwear is provided at the rate of:
• $150 per adult
• $100 per family member

Basic Household Needs Allowance:

Suggested items include: beds, table and chairs, bed linens, basic window coverings and common
household products such as kitchen utensils, pots, pans, brooms and mops.
The maximum allowance rates apply:
• Per single without family members $950
• Per single plus one family member $1,500
• Per single plus two family members $2,075
• Per couple without accompanying family members $1,625
• Per couple plus accompanying family members $1,915
• For each additional family member $350

Staple Allowance:
This is a one-time allowance provided to offset the purchase of basic food and cleaning supplies to
start up a household and it includes items such as flour, sugar, rice, spices and condiments, detergent,
cleansers, etc. The rates are as follows:
• $100 for the first person in each household
• $75 for each additional family member to a maximum of $400

Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) B-1

 Telephone Installation:
A one-time allowance established in accordance with provincial social assistance rates to connect one
telephone per family unit may be approved. Other telephone costs are the client’s responsibility and
must be covered by the basic food and incidental rate.

Assistance Loan:
The initial start-up cheque could include an assistance loan for the security deposit or last month’s rent,
for telephone deposit and for a deposit to the utility company where required. If two or more singles
are sharing the same dwelling, they may want to share one telephone in order to share the deposit
costs.

Children Under 6 Years:

Refugees who arrive with children under the age of 6 years as of the date of arrival or who have a baby
within their first year in Canada may be issued an additional $50 per month on top of their normal food
and incidental rate. This money is intended to cover the cost of diapers, laundry, formula and other
infant needs.

Maternity Allowance:
On receipt of a physician’s letter confirming pregnancy, a one time $150 additional clothing allowance
and $37 per month allowance to assist with special dietary needs may be approved. This allowance
may be issued for a maximum of six months within the sponsorship period or until the birth of a baby,
whichever comes first.

Newborn Allowance:
About one month prior to the expected due date, the client may be issued $500 to purchase clothing,
furniture, etc. for the baby. This allowance can be issued if the due-date (provided in writing from a
physician) is not more than 21 days after the last date of the sponsorship period.

School Start-Up Allowance:

This allowance of $150 for children between 4-18 years of age is paid to help defray costs for school
supplies, activity fees, gym clothing, etc. It is normally issued on a one-time basis and should be
included in the entitlement payment for the month of August or later during the school year. However,
some families may require this amount twice if the entitlement period covers two school years.

Special Diet Allowance:

This allowance is paid to individuals who provide a letter from a physician. The maximum allowable is
$100 per month above the normal food and incidental rate.

B-2 Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)

Appendix C
RAP Service Provider Organizations
ATLANTIC
PEI Association of Newcomers to Metropolitan Immigrant YM/YWCA
Canada Settlement Association (MISA) 19-25 Hazen Avenue
179 Queen Street, Box 2846 2131 Gottingen Street Saint John, NB E2L 3G6
Charlottetown, PEI Macdonald Building Ph: (506) 646-2389 or 646-2388
C1A 8C4 Halifax, NS, B3K 5Z7
Association for New Canadians
Ph: (902) 628-6009 Ph: (902) 423-3607
P.O. BOX 2031
Multicultural Association of Multicultural Association of the 144 Military Road
Fredericton Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA) St John’s, NFLD, A1C 5R6
123 York Street, Suite 201 1299A Mountain Road, Suite 2 Ph: (709) 722-9680
Fredericton, NB E3B 3N6 Moncton, NB E1C 2T9
Ph: (506) 457-4038 or 452-0650 Ph: (506) 858-9659
ONTARIO
Hamilton Settlement and Immigrant Reception and COSTI-IIAS Immigrant Services
Integration Services Organization Information Services (IRIS) (COSTI)
360 James Street North Malton Neighbourhood Services 1710 Dufferin Street
Lower Concourse 7200 Gorway Drive Toronto, ON M6E 3P3
Hamilton, ON L8L 1H5 Mississauga, ON L4T 2T7 Ph: (416) 922-6688
Ph: (905) 667-7476 Ph: (905) 672-3660
Reception Centre
K-W Reception House Catholic Immigration Centre
100 Lippincott Street
101 David Street 219 Argyle Street
Toronto, ON M5S 2P1
Kitchener, ON N2G 1Y1 Ottawa, ON K2P 2H4
Ph: (416) 922-6688
Ph: (519) 743-2113 Ph: (613) 232-9634
Multicultural Council of Windsor
London Cross Cultural Learner
Reception House and Essex County
Centre
204 Boteler Street 245 Janette Avenue
505 Dundas Street
Ottawa, ON K1N 5A7 Windsor, ON N9A 4Z2
London, ON N6B 1W4
Ph: (613) 789-4338 Ph: (519) 255-1127
Ph: (519) 432-1133

Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS) C-1

PRAIRIE/NORTHERN TERRITORIES
Calgary Catholic Immigration Saamis Immigration Services Catholic Social Services
Society Association 5104 - 48th Avenue
#300, 120 – 17 Avenue SW Regional Resource Centre Red Deer, AB T4N 3T8
Calgary, AB T2S 2T2 177, 12th Street, N.E. Ph: (403)347-8844 or (403)346-8818
Ph: (403) 262-2006 or Medicine Hat, AB T1A 5T6
Regina Open Door Society
(403)290-5774 or (403) 298-9751 Ph: (403) 504-1188
1855 Smith Street
Catholic Social Services Moose Jaw Multicultural Council Regina, SK S4P 2N5
10709-105 Street 60 Athabasca Street, East Ph: (306) 352-3500
Edmonton, AB T5H 2X3 Moose Jaw, SK S6H 0L2
Saskatoon Open Door Society
Ph: (780)424-3545 or (780)432-1137 Ph: (306) 693-4677
311 4th Avenue North
Lethbridge Family Services Prince Albert Multicultural Council Saskatoon, SK S7K 2L8
508 – 6th Street South 17-11TH Street, West Ph: (306) 653-4464
Lethbridge, AB T1J 2E2 Prince Albert, SK S6V 3A8
Manitoba Interfaith Immigration
Ph: (403) 320-1589 Ph: (306) 922-0400
Council Inc.
Welcome Place, 397 Carlton Street
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2K9
Ph: (204) 977-1000
BRITISH COLUMBIA/YUKON
Community Airport Newcomer Immigrant Services Society (ISS)
Network (CANN) 530 Drake Street
280-8191 Westminster Hwy, Vancouver, BC V6B 2H3
Richmond, BC V6X 1A7 Ph: (604) 684-7498
Ph: (604) 270-0077

C-2 Refugee Sponsorship: Joint Assistance Sponsorship (JAS)