Now that you have arrived in Canada, your Local Committee on your campus is your main point of contact and support. We encourage you to go to them first with any of your day-to-day questions and concerns. The WUSC office in Ottawa will remain in touch with you to offer support and information from afar. Your primary contact person at WUSC will be the person responsible for the selection of students in your former country of asylum. Please click here for the contact information for the SRP overseas staff team. 

During the 12 months of your sponsorship, here is what you can expect from WUSC:

• You will be receiving a monthly SRP student reminder message by email with helpful tips and reminders

• You will receive a mid-sponsorship survey and an end-of-sponsorship survey to gather your feedback and input to the program

• We will be organizing a mid-sponsorship session to bring SRP students together with SRP alumni to debrief your experience and provide peer support - stay tuned for more details

• We will be available anytime if you would like to share news with us or discuss a particular challenge that you haven’t been able to resolve with your Local Committee’s support.

ACADEMIC ADVISORS

Once you have settled in, we recommend you ask your local committee to help connect you with the academic advisors on campus. They are the best people to help you understand the courses available to you this first semester. They can also give you advice about how to move towards your desired course of study if you are not able to register in your first choice program right away. Remember, it’s a good idea to consider taking a lighter course load in your first semester.

ENGLISH COURSES

You may be required to take English or French language courses in your first year. Even if you’re not required to, it can be a good idea to connect with a free course online or in the community to help give you extra support. Ask your Local Committee about options for community-based courses. Also, to help you practice your language skills and also to learn about Canadian culture, we suggest you check out the MAURIL website, also available as an app for your phone. 

SETTING UP YOUR SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER (SIN)

It is essential that you get your Social Insurance Number (SIN) set up as soon as possible since this is a main form of identification for Canadian residents. A SIN is required in order to secure employment in Canada. It is also helpful when applying for a bank account, student loans, etc. Many of you will have received your SIN upon arrival at the airport, but in some airports, this service may not be available. Talk to your Local Committee about applying for your SIN if you did not receive this at the airport. You can learn more about the SIN application process here. 

SETTING UP A BANK ACCOUNT

Your Local Committee will help you set up a bank account upon arrival in your community of settlement. In Canada, most purchases are made by using a bank card (called a debit card), rather than cash. You will also need a bank account to receive your monthly allowance from your Local Committee and to receive employment income, if you start a part-time job. There are many banks that offer accounts for newcomers. Your Local Committee may have selected a bank location already, based on their location or the best services for newcomers.

To learn more about the process of setting up a bank account, here is some general advice. 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SPONSORSHIP BUDGET

It is important for you to understand the financial terms of your sponsorship, with special focus on your monthly allowance. This is the amount that your Local Committee will provide to you each month, often deposited directly to your bank account, to cover your daily living expenses. We recommend that you speak in detail with your Local Committee and ask questions to fully understand what costs you are expected to cover yourself with that monthly amount. Depending on the financial arrangements on your campus, there may also be some expenses that are covered directly by the Local Committee, for example, a residence meal plan. 

Please be aware that the financial arrangements of every Local Committee are different - the monthly allowance that you receive will likely be different from a SRP friend of yours at another campus. There is a required minimum financial support that your Local Committee has committed to provide and WUSC has approved your Local Committee’s budget before you arrived. We know it’s not always easy to talk about money and that it may feel uncomfortable or impolite for you initially. Having a couple of meetings about budget in your first month or two, along with follow ups when financial questions arise, can avoid misunderstandings and situations where you overspend on other items and are left short on cash.

SETTING UP YOUR PROVINCIAL HEALTH CARE INSURANCE

Canada has universal health care insurance. This means all Canadians and Permanent Residents receive free basic medical services, paid for by tax contributions from individuals and companies across Canada. You can learn more about Canada’s universal health care system here. 

Health insurance is regulated by each province. Your Local Committee will help you set up your provincial health care insurance. The process varies by province. In some cases, there is a 3-month waiting period before you are eligible for provincial health care. During this time, you are covered by additional insurance (IFHP - more on this below). You may also be covered by student health insurance on campus. Talk to your Local Committee to learn more about provincial health insurance. 

To learn more, you can click below to visit the website of your provincial ministry of health:

• Alberta

• British Columbia

• Manitoba

• New Brunswick

• Newfoundland and Labrador

• Northwest Territories

• Nova Scotia

• Nunavut

• Ontario

• Prince Edward Island

• Quebec (in French only)

• Saskatchewan

• Yukon

INTERIM FEDERAL HEALTH PROGRAM (IFHP) COVERAGE

As a privately-sponsored refugee, you are entitled to additional health insurance coverage during your first 12 months in Canada. This is called the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). Click here to learn more about this program and what it covers. 

POST-ARRIVAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT

We encourage you to ask your Local Committee to help you set up your first health appointment called the “post-arrival health assessment". We recommend that you go see a doctor within your first month in Canada - this is a good idea, even if you have no current health concerns. It’s good to get connected with a clinic while you’re healthy, so that when you do fall sick, you will already know where to go. Also, doctors and nurses can offer you helpful advice about your health and well-being during this settling-in time, including suggestions about healthy eating, quality sleep and exercise to keep your mental and physical health strong. In some cases, doctors may not be fully aware of the various health issues that refugees new to Canada may face. We have prepared a letter that you can take with you to your first health appointment - please click here to download it. Please print this out and take it with you, along with the following checklist for the region you have been living in:

• Sub Saharan Africa (English)

• Sub Saharan Africa (French)

• Central Middle East

MONITOR YOUR PERMANENT RESIDENT (PR) CARD PROCESSING 

Your PR card should currently be in process with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship department of Canada but the processing times may be longer than previous years due to the impacts of COVID-19. To avoid the possibility of your PR card being sent to the wrong address or getting lost, we strongly recommend that you ask your Local Committee to help you update any contact information that may be different from what you provided at the Port of Entry when you arrived in Canada. You can track the progress of your application as well as provide any updates with IRCC through their online web form.

TALKING TO THE MEDIA

Some of you may be asked to speak to your local campus or community media about your arrival in Canada. This can be a great way to celebrate newcomers joining your campus or community, and it can also be a good way to motivate others to consider sponsoring refugee students or families. But we want you to know that you have the right to say yes or no to this media attention. The intentions behind media attention are positive 99.9% of the time but sometimes this attention can be overwhelming or overly personal. Everyone is different. We wanted to offer this helpful link to assist you with deciding how or if you want to engage with local media. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• You should have met with your Local Committee to discuss and understand how to manage your monthly budget so you can plan ahead for your expenses in the next year;

• You should have opened a bank account, obtained your Social Insurance Number, and set up your Provincial Health Card (note: some provinces have a 3-month waiting period);

• You may have made an appointment to see a healthcare professional for a post-arrival health assessment and/or to address any current physical or mental health concerns;

• You should check the status of your Permanent Resident card online, and change the address on your file (to your current mailing address or to the Local Committee's address) if you have not already done so you can do it at this link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/status.asp  

• You should have met with an Academic Advisor to discuss your options for your course load for this semester and begin to understand your options for navigating towards your major of choice in the future;

• If you have any issues with the above important tasks, please contact your Local Committee for support. If you are still having issues, please get in touch with us so that we can support you to resolve the issue. 

ARRIVAL FORM 

Please take a few minutes to complete this Arrival Form to update us with your in-Canada contact information. This will help us to remain in touch with you and send you regular reminders. 

TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT FOR THE STUDENT REFUGEE PROGRAM

Every SRP student is asked to review and sign the Tripartite Agreement between you, your Local Committee and WUSC. This may sound familiar - you will have received a copy of this during your pre-departure self-study reading course. Now that you are here in Canada, you will soon be receiving an email message from WUSC asking you to review and “digitally sign” the  Tripartite Agreement between WUSC, your Local Committee and the SRP student. This agreement outlines each party’s roles and responsibilities during the 12-month sponsorship. Here is a link to the Tripartite Agreement so that you can read it again. Thank you for taking the time to read this important document which helps ensure that the sponsorship experience is positive for everyone involved! 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY 

Academic integrity is a fundamental part of all Canadian post-secondary institutions and is taken very seriously. Click here for more information and resources on academic integrity.  

MAKING FRIENDS AND OVERCOMING SOCIAL ISOLATION 

As a newcomer, it takes time to grow your social network in Canada. We encourage you all to seek out and spend time with new people you are meeting on campus - Local Committee members, classmates and others. There may be former SRP students on your campus that you have not met yet - we recommend that you ask your Local Committee to connect you with previous SRP if it hasn’t happened already. 

Remember to balance your studies with social interaction. A Harvard residence study discovered that students who study in groups and create a study community have better mental health, are happier and achieve higher grades than those who study in isolation or take too few study breaks to connect with others. 

We wish to share with you a resource developed to assist newcomers who arrived to Canada by themselves. We hope this can serve as a guide to you and add to the new life you have already begun to create since you arrived. Please find this helpful resource online here: 

https://settlement.org/downloads/Alone_in_Canada/english_alone_in_canada.pdf

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST FRAUD 

Each year there are various cases of scams targeting newcomers and we have learned that unfortunately, some former SRP students were targeted. Click here to read more on protecting yourself against fraud.

COVID UPDATES: PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA 

Click here to read more about the COVID updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

We recommend students reach out to different newcomer-serving organizations in their communities as they might have events and activities for newcomers which you can take part in! Click here to find out more about newcomer services in your area. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• You should continue to check the status of your Permanent Resident card online, and change the address on your file (to your current mailing address or to the Local Committee's address). If you have not already done so you can do it at this link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/status.asp 

• If you have not yet completed the Arrival Form, please do so now!

• Make sure you have read the Tripartite Agreement and if you have any questions, please discuss with your Local Committee and/or with your primary contact person at WUSC.

LOCAL COMMITTEE CODE OF CONDUCT

You will soon be receiving an email message from WUSC asking you to review and digitally sign the Local Committee Code of Conduct.  This document is an annual agreement between WUSC and Local Committee members, and between Local Committee members, to uphold and adhere to WUSC’s organizational policies. We are including the Local Committee Code of Conduct in this monthly reminder so that you can read it in advance. If you have not yet discussed it with your Local Committee, we suggest you ask them about it and make time to discuss it together. Thank you for taking the time to read this important document which helps ensure that the sponsorship experience is positive for everyone involved!

SWITCHING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

As you move through your first semester of studies, you may be thinking about how to navigate towards the academic major you are most interested in. Click here to find out more about switching academic programs.

TRANSPORTATION LOAN

As you may recall, the Canadian government requires resettled refugees to pay back the travel costs for your trip to Canada. This is called the “Transportation Loan”. You can read more about this loan here or on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada website.  

During your 12-month sponsorship, you will be receiving the travel loan invoice from Immigration, Refugees, & Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Please check with your Local Committee - in some cases, the LC may have set aside funds to help you repay your travel loan. If not, you will be able to set up a monthly repayment schedule to repay this loan to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

FEELING LOW, STRESSED, OR ANXIOUS?

It is very important to take care of your mental health as well as your physical health. It is a very stressful life experience to move to another country and it is very natural that you might find yourself feeling overwhelmed, tired and anxious. Click here to read more if you've been feeling this way. 

TRAVEL WITHIN CANADA

We know that some of you may be planning to visit friends or family in another city (or province). Click here for more information about travel within Canada.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• You should continue to check the status of your Permanent Resident card online, and change the address on your file (to your current mailing address or to the Local Committee's address). If you have not already done so you can do it at this link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/status.asp 

MID-SPONSORSHIP SURVEY

Please take 20-30 mins to complete the Mid-Sponsorship survey to let us know more about your sponsorship and overall experience so far. The following survey will help us better serve you and future sponsored students. Please click here to complete the mid-sponsorship survey. Please note: we will not share individual responses with LC members so you can consider your responses confidential to WUSC staff only. 

DEALING WITH DISCRIMINATION

Coming to Canada, while new and exciting, requires a lot of adjustments that aren’t always easy. Some of you may have experienced bias and discrimination relating to gender, cultural diversity and race. Click here for more information and resources on how to deal with this.

MONITORING YOUR MONTHLY BUDGET

By now, we hope that you feel comfortable with your financial situation and have a good understanding of your sponsorship budget. You may have considered taking a part-time job to earn some additional spending money, and also to make new friends and get out into the community. You know by now that life in Canada is expensive and living on a student income can be challenging. We encourage you to monitor your spending carefully and ensure that you are able to live within your monthly budget. Talk to other students to learn more about the best options for affordable food, clothing, etc. If you have started a part-time job and you find that you have some additional funds, we encourage you to set up a savings account at your local bank. You may be able to start to save money for your second year. We also know that sometimes SRP students may want to send money home to help out family and friends. We understand that it is very important to support your loved ones. We encourage you to be sure that you have covered your own expenses first before figuring out what you may be able to share with your loved ones. 

CULTURE SHOCK

As you enter into your 4th month of sponsorship, you may be experiencing different stages of culture shock. In the honeymoon phase, everything might have felt new and exciting. Now that you’ve spent more time in Canada, you may be experiencing feelings of frustration, irritability and loneliness. These emotions are all a normal part of adapting to a new culture, especially after the initial excitement has worn off and reality has set in. It can feel overwhelming and scary - but you’re not alone! It’s important to recognize when you might be experiencing culture shock, as you may begin isolating yourself and pulling away from your new community. You can find some suggestions from the University of Ottawa here on how to deal with culture shock and what signs to look out for.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• You should continue to check the status of your Permanent Resident card online, and change the address on your file (to your current mailing address or to the Local Committee's address). If you have not already done so you can do it at this link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/status.asp 

• If you have not yet completed the Mid-Sponsorship Survey,  please do so now! 

MID-SPONSORSHIP SESSION

WUSC is organizing a special gathering for SRP students - called the mid-sponsorship session. This session is facilitated by SRP alumni and WUSC staff, usually held at the same time and location as WUSC’s International Forum which is usually held in January every year. This session connects current students with former SRP students, allowing them to meet, discuss challenges, and talk about their experience in Canada. Watch for an email invitation with more information about the upcoming mid-sponsorship session.

HONEYMOON, HOMESICKNESS, UPS AND DOWNS

We hope you have found your first semester in the Canadian academic environment exciting and successful! We are sure it’s a stressful and exciting time for you as you reach the mid-point in your sponsorship. We know that your academic studies are likely your main focus - we also hope you are taking some time to enjoy some fun activities during these first few months of your new adventure in Canada. It is natural if the ‘honeymoon’ phase of your sponsorship is over - there will also be moments that you don’t enjoy about life here in Canada. You may be missing home, family and familiar foods, etc. This is normal and we hope you will be able to surround yourself with new friends and new experiences to help get through any rough patches. Do not hesitate to reach out to your Local Committee or to us with any questions or concerns - we are here to help!

STUDENT LOANS FOR YOUR SECOND YEAR

As you move on with confirming your course load for the coming semester, please make sure to know the provincial rules and regulations on student loans in your province. For example, you may want to take a part-time course load in your second semester, but we encourage you to check out the rules for student loan eligibility first. The student loan programs in some provinces may require that a student takes a full-time course load during your first year in order to be eligible for provincial student loans during your second year. Consult the Financial Aid Office on your campus as well as your Local Committee in order to get proper information relevant to your province.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• Monitor your Permanent Resident (PR) card processing (and, if necessary, update your information). To avoid the possibility of your PR card being sent to the wrong address or getting lost, ensure to update any contact information with the Canadian government office processing your PR card (IRCC). You can track the progress of your application as well as provide any address updates with IRCC through their online web form.

REQUIREMENT TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY OF SPONSORSHIP

It is a requirement of the Canadian government’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program that sponsored students are living in the community where you are sponsored. It is acceptable that a sponsored person is temporarily outside of the community of sponsorship for various reasons, including for winter holidays or summer employment, for example. However, please note that after these short breaks, all SRP students should return to live full-time in the community where they are sponsored and remain living in that community for the duration of the 12-month sponsorship. If you have any questions about this, please contact the WUSC office.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 2ND YEAR  

Now that you have completed 6 months under your 12-month sponsorship, it is a good time to begin reviewing financial assistance options if this will be needed for your 2nd year of studies. We encourage you to talk to your Local Committee to find out if your institution offers any ongoing financial support to SRP students. It is also important to learn about the timelines in your province or institution for applying for student loans and other scholarships and bursaries. We encourage you to visit the financial aid office or website of your campus for more specific information. 

Here are some useful links to general financial assistance resources:

• Student Financial Assistance general information

• Links to provincial or territorial financial assistance offices

• Government of Canada Scholarships

• Universities Canada Scholarships

HOW TO SPONSOR A FAMILY MEMBER

Many of you may have friends or extended family members (i.e. parents, siblings, cousins, etc.) living as refugees and you may be interested to know how you can try to sponsor them to Canada. Click here to find out how you can do this.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• Monitor your Permanent Resident (PR) card processing (and, if necessary, update your information). To avoid the possibility of your PR card being sent to the wrong address or getting lost, ensure to update any contact information with the Canadian government office processing your PR card (IRCC). You can track the progress of your application as well as provide any address updates with IRCC through their online web form.

We remind you to begin to research your options for financial support during your second year. Check out the advice provided last month about student loans. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• We remind you to research your options for financial support during your second year. Check out the advice provided in Month 6 about student loans. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• We remind you that it is a requirement to live in your community of sponsorship. Check out the advice posted in month 6. 

TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF CANADA

Click here to read more about travel outside of Canada. 

END OF SPONSORSHIP CHECKLIST

As your 12-month sponsorship will soon be ending, below is an ‘end of sponsorship’ checklist of some important items to be sure to discuss with your Local Committee in the final months of your sponsorship:

HEALTH

• Are you registered with a family doctor? Or, do you know how to see a doctor or nurse practitioner in the clinic on campus or in a ‘walk-in’ clinic in the community?

• Do you need counselling or any other mental health support? If so, do you know how to get the appropriate referrals?

• Do you know how to contact emergency services in cases of emergency?

• Do you understand that your benefits through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) will end after month 12? 

• Do you know what you are entitled to through your provincial health insurance?

EDUCATION

• Are there any specific educational needs that need to be addressed before the end of the sponsorship period?

• Are you registered for your next academic term? Do you have your class schedule?

• Do you need support to find volunteer opportunities in your field?

EMPLOYMENT

• Have you considered the option of part-time employment during the next academic year?

• What support do you need before the end of the sponsorship period to assist you with finding employment or self-employment?

HOUSING, FINANCES, AND OTHER

• If you need to relocate to another house or apartment, have you found suitable accommodation?

• Do you know when and how to pay your rent, and any other household bills (e.g. utilities, hydro, phone, internet, cable etc.)?

• Do you need any further assistance with budgeting or banking? For example, are you comfortable taking care of your finances on your own? Do you know how to transfer money electronically? Do you understand the benefits and risks of having a credit card?

• Do you know how to travel within the city? Are you comfortable taking public transportation? 

• Do you have all of the documents that you require? Do you require assistance with the application process for any remaining documents (e.g. refugee travel document, travel loan, PR card)?

• Do you know how to get help with filing your taxes next year (March)?

• If you have moved, do you need help to change your address with government agencies, on your cards and documents, etc.?

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• As the end of your 12-month sponsorship approaches, you are reminded about the Travel Loan that you will be required to start repaying to the Canadian government after your sponsorship ends. You can read more about this loan here or on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada website. 

• You are reminded to talk to your Local Committee about the financial support for your sponsorship as some Local Committees put funds aside to assist SRP students with the repayment of the Travel Loan. 

END OF SPONSORSHIP SURVEY

You are approaching the significant milestone of living in Canada for one year. We want to learn from you about your sponsorship experience. Please click here for the end of sponsorship year survey. Thank you in advance for responding to the survey (which should take approximately 30 minutes). This helps us make continuous improvements to the SRP for future students! 

FROM SRP STUDENT TO STUDENT LEADER!

Congratulations that you will soon be reaching the end of the one-year sponsorship period.  As you know, the goal of the 12-month sponsorship is self-reliance - we hope you feel ready for more independence and ongoing success in your life in Canada!  We hope that throughout the sponsorship period, the support and encouragement provided by the Local Committee has helped you feel confident about building your future. We encourage you to become involved in the WUSC Local Committee as a Student Leader, helping to welcome the next generation of SRP students.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• Please do take a half-hour to complete the End of Sponsorship survey to share your experience and ideas with us. We will use your recommendations and insights to strengthen the Student Refugee Program going forward. Please click here to complete the survey.

Congratulations on coming to the end of your sponsorship year in Canada and on all the achievements you have already accomplished! It has truly been an honour to have welcomed you into the WUSC family. We would love to keep in touch with you as your studies and life in Canada continue so please do not hesitate to contact us if you ever have news to share, or would like any support from us. Wishing you all the best in your future studies and other projects!

CHANGING ADDRESSES

If you have moved/will move to a new accommodation, please update your address and contact information so that we can communicate with you in the coming years. We would like to keep in touch and continue sending you opportunities that are relevant to you as SRP alumni.