Searching for Immigration / Sponsorship

Serves the government and the people of Ontario by:

• Promoting responsible citizenship, multicultural diversity, voluntary action and full participation for the economic and social benefit of Ontario communities
• Providing programs to attract skilled immigrants, support their settlement and integration in Ontario's communities
• Encouraging all Ontarians to strengthen their communities through voluntary action and community participation

Limited in-person appointments available in Keele and Finch offices; services also continue to be offered via telephone, email or online
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Settlement Services

• immigration counselling
• assistance with sponsorship applications
• escort, translation and interpretation, legal referral

Newcomer Skills at Work

• employment mentoring, training in leadership and civic engagement

Community Mental Health Program

• individual counselling, parenting support group, group workshops

Services for Refugees

• mental health counselling or group workshops
• individual counselling on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grieving and the refugee process, stress management, anxiety or depression, family intervention
• peer support and social engagement through workshops on life skills, emotional intelligence or parenting skills
• sponsorships -- counsellors support people sponsoring refugees under the Group of 5 category and, post-arrival assist with settlement counselling, action plans and form-filling
• volunteer interpreters available

Services may be provided at other locations

Members include international unions, provincial organizations, provincial federations of labour, chartered unions, labour councils

• assists in organizing new unions
• information and referral

Permanent Residence for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in the Greater Toronto Area -- help out-of-status construction workers find a pathway to permanent residence

COVID19 -- Follows all current public health restrictions


Provides support and expertise to groups involved in refugee sponsorship and resettlement

• refugee sponsorship training, toolkit and online resource centre
• public awareness of refugee needs

Represents the Anglican Diocese of Toronto and supports the Toronto Conference of the United Church of Canada as a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)

COVID19 -- services provided by phone or online, as well as in-person services

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Information and training support services

• online applications and forms, serves Canada (except Quebec)

Free telephone hotline providing legal assistance to Ukrainians arriving in Canada affected by the war in Ukraine, with focus on immigration related issues, and also provides assistance and referrals for other legal issues related to resettlement, such as housing, employment

• assistance identifying nature of legal issue, advice and assistance on steps to take
• help drafting basic legal document for use in Canadian justice system
• where appropriate, referrals to pro bono and other lawyers for ongoing services
• referrals to support services

COVID19 -- call or visit website for current information irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/stay-connected/Pages/covid-19-irb-operations.aspx


Refugee Protection Division: panel determines refugee claims

• if determined eligible by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or Canada Border Services Agency, the claim is referred to a Refugee Determination hearing
• claimants may be represented by legal counsel
• upon positive evaluation of claim, refugee status will be confirmed and application for landed immigrant status may proceed
• appeals of negative decisions may be heard at Refugee Appeal Board or other bodies, for more information, Refugee Claim Information Sheet

Immigration Appeal Division: hears appeals on immigration-related matters including sponsorships, removal orders, and residency obligations

Immigration Division: conducts detention reviews and admissibility hearings for persons believed to be inadmissible or removable from Canada; located at 385 Rexdale Blvd, 1-833-222-0408, fax 416-744-4274

Office mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect people forced to flee their homes due to violence, conflict and persecution

• provides shelter, food, water, medical care, and other life-saving assistance to refugees around the world

Protection:

• observes Canadian asylum practices and policies in order to promote the highest standards of protection for refugees and asylum-seekers

Resettlement:

• works with the Canadian government and private sponsorship groups to help coordinate resettlement opportunities in Canada

Awareness:

• informs and educates Canadians about the situation of refugees and other displaced persons around the world

Fundraising:

• encourages the Canadian public and the Government of Canada to provide financial assistance to UNHCR programs worldwide

UNHCR Gift Shop:

• targeted donations toward essential resources for refugees such as shelter, medical care, education, nutrition,and clean water

Governmental information centre

• the Client Support Centre can answer questions about immigration, refugees and citizenship services and programs, and on status of an application in process inside Canada

University hub that delivers core programming in the area of refugee law and policy

• refugee law education
• research
• advocacy

University of Ottawa Refugee Assistance Project (UORAP):

• offers resources for community workers who are assisting refugee claimants, and for refugee lawyers

Refugee Law Research Team (RLRT): Team of law students involved in the refugee field that provides:

• legal research
• analysis
• strategic support
• high-level domestic and international refugee advocacy initiatives

Provides traveler, commercial and immigration services

• Accounts Receivable Ledger Office
• e-Longroom - Manifest
• Duty-Free Shop
• NEXUS/Highway
• Designated Commercial Office
• Highway/Land Border Office
• e-Longroom - Release
• Electronic Data Interchange
• Designated Export Reporting Office

Provides traveller and commercial services

• authorized marine site for commercial vessels (no ferry boats or cruise ships) reporting to Canadian Border Service Agency
• Low Value Shipments Program clearances
• reporting and clearing of commercial goods
• reporting of exports
• duty free shop
• electronic transmission and interchange of cargo, release, and accounting data
• authorized port of entry from the United States for traffic arriving by land (passengers and/or commercial)