Immigrant and refugee women who are abused by their sponsor face particular
difficulties in accessing personal safety and protection. If these women do
not have permanent resident status, or are at risk of deportation for other
reasons, the consequences of leaving an abusive sponsor can complicate their
immigration status.
Who is this guide for?
This guide is written for service providers working with any client who:
- is an immigrant or refugee woman;
- has been sponsored to come to Canada by a partner/fiancé/spouse under
the family class sponsorship guidelines;
- is experiencing abuse by her sponsor; and
- wants to separate from her sponsor but is at risk of deportation.
This guide contains information about the legal process for service providers
who are supporting women through the immigration process. It contains information
to help you prepare your client for the legal process and explain how the process
works.
It provides:
- information about the immigration process
- information about legal and financial aid
- information about work and education permits
- important contacts and services
- a glossary of important terms
This guide is organized into typical scenarios. Look at the table of contents
to find the scenario that best matches your client’s situation.
While the service information in this guide is specific to British Columbia,
the general information will be useful for any service provider across Canada.
Language: English.
Format: This guide is available for download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format
[255 KB, 55 pages].
crisis counselling, settlement counselling, women, community publications
