Resume private sponsorship intake
Petitioners ask the government to resume private sponsorship intake before 31 December 2025 and to expedite already-approved cases, prioritizing interviews at the Canadian Embassy in Ankara. The government responds that the intake pause was extended to 31 December 2026, that submitted applications will be processed FIFO and that officers may prioritize high‑risk cases.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would allow ready private sponsors to bring approved refugees to safety sooner, reducing time spent in precarious situations.
- Expediting approved cases would reduce the risks named in the petition, such as deportation, lack of legal work, and mental‑health harms.
- Prioritizing interviews at the Canadian Embassy in Ankara targets a known bottleneck and could speed arrivals for those facing very long waits.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The government says application volumes exceed available admission spaces; resuming intake could worsen backlogs and exceed processing capacity.
- Restarting intake before capacity increases risks longer, less predictable waits for all sponsors and refugees, which the pause aims to prevent.
- Directing resources to Ankara interviews could divert staff from other regions or priority files; discretionary prioritization may better target the highest‑risk applicants.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled The Government of Canada has paused the intake of private sponsorship refugee applications until December 31, 2025; Many approved privately sponsored refugee applicants are experiencing significant delays, with some waiting over a year for interviews at the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, Türkiye; These delays have left vulnerable individuals in precarious situations, facing risks such as deportation, lack of legal work opportunities, and mental health challenges; and Private sponsors across Canada are prepared and committed to supporting these refugees upon their arrival. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Resume the intake of private sponsorship refugee applications as soon as possible and before the current pause ends on December 31, 2025; and 2. Expedite the processing of already approved privately sponsored refugee cases, prioritizing timely interviews at the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, Türkiye.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Signed by PETER FRAGISKATOS, M.P. Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees program allows Canadians, permanent residents, and community organizations to offer protection and a safe, permanent home for thousands of refugees each year. The high level of interest from private sponsors in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program has led to a large volume of applications and long wait times, as the number of applications has consistently exceeded the private sponsorship admission spaces available under the Immigration Levels Plan. At present, wait times for the program are approximately four years. On November 29, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced an application intake measure in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program to temporarily pause the intake of new applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors. This pause has been extended until December 31, 2026 and is intended to prevent further growth in the volume of applications and, over time, make wait times more predictable for both refugees (in recognition of the risks they face) and their sponsors. Applications already submitted will continue to be processed on first in-first out basis, and Canada will continue to welcome refugees through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program while this measure is in place in line with admissions targets set out in the Immigration Levels Plan. Migration Officers monitor in-country conditions. Officers have the ability on a discretionary basis to prioritize the processing of cases, such as those where an applicant may be at a heightened risk of danger, while operating in line with admissions targets set out in the Immigration Levels Plan. It is important that sponsors, representatives, and clients keep the responsible overseas Migration Office updated on any changes to the situation of the client.