Resettlement: Eligibility assessment
(REF-OVS-4)
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
All principal applicants and their dependents will be assessed to ensure they are eligible for resettlement to Canada. Procedures vary when assessing dependents according to their circumstances. A principal applicant who is of minor age requires further scrutiny. An interview is an evaluation method that can be used for selected cases.
Topics covered in this section include assessments relating to:
Program requirements
Convention Refugee Class - Conditions
Factors for review to confirm if criteria of Convention Refugee class is met.
Country of Asylum Class - Conditions
Factors for review to confirm if criteria of Country of Asylum class is met.
Outside country of nationality or habitual residence
How to assess if applicant is considered outside country of nationality or habitual residence. The “Syrian refugee” example is presented to demonstrate what to consider when conducting this assessment.
Alternatives within country of nationality or habitual residence
How to assess if applicant has an internal flight alternative where the applicant can travel safely and integrate into another region within his/her country of nationality or habitual residence.
Another durable solution apart from resettlement to Canada
How to assess if another solution may exist for refugee apart from resettlement to Canada.
Resettlement to Canada: Ability to establish in Canada
How to assess ability to establish in the resettlement context.
When and how to interview
Deciding when to interview
Considerations when deciding whether an interview may be useful for assessment.
Preparing for the interview
What is done before interview begins including how to prepare the interpreter, establish baseline for credibility assessment, validate identity and status and obtaining consent for disclosure of information.
Conducting the interview
How to structure questions to applicants and considerations when assessing and recording their responses.
Assessing credibility
How to assess if an applicant is being credible.
Finalizing the interview
How to conclude interview with applicant and what to record from assessment.
Dependent family members and separated-unaccompanied children
The definition of legal versus de facto dependent, how to process dependent residing in different location, add a new dependent before departure, and immigrate a dependent at later date under one-year window provision. Also explains situations involving separated children applying for resettlement on their own and considerations.
Cases for priority or special processing
Considerations for assessing and processing special or priority case groups. Includes cases referred for urgent protection, vulnerable cases, public policies, applicants who are persecuted on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity expression (SOGIE-LGBTQI) and other groups requiring special attention.
Resettlement: Program delivery partners – roles and responsibilities
Key partners within and outside of IRCC and their respective responsibilities regarding resettlement.