Refugee Cases and ‘Humanitarian & Compassionate Grounds’

Refugees applying from outside Canada can be sponsored by the federal government, private organizations or groups of private Canadian/Permanent Residents.

People having a well founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group and who are unable or unwilling to return to their countries of birth or habitual residence. As well, the authorities in the applicants country are unable or unwilling to provide protection and there is no other safe third country where the applicant can go to.

Members of designated classes are persons in refugee like situations who are in need of relief even though they are not technically ‘convention refugees.’  This class is based on certain countries that are war torn or have a track record of severe human rights abuses.

Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds cases exist when there is a disproportionate, unusual and/or undeserved hardship that would result if the applicant were forced to leave Canada. Generally, these are ‘in Canada’ applications. 

Examples include but are not limited to:  Long Term Foreign Workers and/or Illegal Residents who have been in Canada for years, life threatening situations in the applicant’s origin/home country, De Facto Family Members who are financially and emotionally dependent. As well, Spouses applying at the port of entry, Spouses applying from within Canada, and where there is a marriage break-down.