Sudanese Canadians say barriers to filing federal paperwork are harming efforts to get loved ones safe refuge

Some Sudanese Canadians are calling out Ottawa for rejecting their applications to privately sponsor loved ones fleeing conflict without making it clear what's missing in their paperwork or how they can fix any errors.

Samah Mahmoud is a London, Ont., immigration consultant whose own application for her sister was rejected.

Mahmoud said Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has told over 50 sponsors across the country that their submissions won't be processed because they're incomplete and resubmitting missing documents isn't allowed.

"I applied for some of my clients who have also received the similar rejection of incomplete and we have checked these applications; there's nothing incomplete as per the guidelines posted on the website.

"They just sent this general message to everyone without specifying what was missing so people can know why they were rejected. And I cannot reply to the email or do anything about it."

CBC News has seen the email that IRCC sent Mahmoud and other applicants.

Tens of thousands of people have already died in Sudan since the civil war started in April 2023. Over 12 million people have been displaced and half the population is in acute hunger, according to the United Nations, which calls it the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Earlier this year, Canada announced it will accept 160 new applications to resettle approximately 350 Sudanese refugees privately sponsored by either groups of five or community sponsors.

WATCH | Why a Canadian program for refugees from Sudan is under criticism:

After two years of war in Sudan, the federal government is being called out for being too slow in helping refugees get to Canada, including those with family here. The war has killed an estimated 150,000 people and is being called the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis."

In February, it reopened a family-based pathway it first launched in 2024 and Ottawa committed to resettling 4,700 refugees by the end of 2026. Of that total, 4,000 refugees would receive government assistance and 700 would arrive through private sponsorship.

IRCC is required to provide applicants with a procedural fairness letter — a formal ministry communication outlining specific concerns or discrepancies in an application that can influence its decision-making process — before a decision is made.

The letter is meant to give applicants an opportunity to correct mistakes or offer further explanation on specific issues. IRCC's website states the requirement for procedural fairness applies to all types of immigration applications and all aspects of decision-making.

An IRCC spokesperson told CBC in an email that its program guide specifies "a complete sponsorship application is required" during submission for an application to be processed.

"Submissions that have been identified to be incomplete, or that were received over the program cap, have been returned and will not be accepted into processing under the temporary public policy," wrote Mary Rose Sabater.

IRCC said the Sudanese private sponsorship program has reached capacity and the ministry is reviewing applications, but no decisions have yet been rendered. The ministry's program guide mentions applicants will not be contacted for missing documents or information, and a decision will be made based on the evidence submitted and on a case-by-case basis.

Asked if procedural fairness applies to this program as mentioned on its website, Sabater said that in cases of incomplete applications, "a letter will be sent to the applicants directing them to access the PR [Permanent Residence) Portal for details on which parts of their application were incomplete."

Mahmoud said IRCC's portal doesn't specify what's missing and it wouldn't allow applications to be submitted in the first place if certain documents were lacking.

She explained that for incomplete paperwork in other humanitarian programs, IRCC lists the information it needs and asks applicants to resubmit them. She has shown CBC examples of that.

"But in this one [among the over 50 Sudanese applications], they didn't even explain what was missing, which makes us doubt that there's anything missing," Mahmoud added.

Sudanese Canadians have long criticized Ottawa's humanitarian programs for Sudanese nationals for their relatively small capacity compared to humanitarian programs for other countries, lengthy and vague processing times for applications, and the high financial burden placed on them.

IRCC said "comparisons between Sudan and other crises can oversimplify complex realities," adding that in all humanitarian programs, there's also provincial capacity to support newcomers, ease of movement out of conflict zones and immigration targets set for the next two years.

Mahmoud applied for her dad, her two siblings and their kids using community sponsorship organizations in Toronto that specialize in private refugee sponsorship programs. She said they've also received similar rejections without any rationale.

"I could make mistakes too, but I've reviewed this application with community sponsorship organizations and this is their job, so it's not the first time they've applied for people," she said. "I can accept there could be one or two rejections, but so far it's over 50 rejections."

Edmonton resident Razan Nour said seven out of her eight applications to bring 12 of her cousins to Canada were denied. Their parents had died in the Sudan conflict.

Nour believes IRCC isn't acting with urgency and the delays are costing lives.

"I just feel the level of compassion or empathy is not there, and it's disheartening. It's a complete disregard to the lives of our loved ones," said Nour.

"It's almost like we have to pick and choose who we want to throw a lifeline to and save. Basically, this leaves us nowhere to help bring them here."

Many in the Sudanese diaspora face financial constraints, trying to sustain their lives here and pay for displaced loved ones, putting money away for almost two years so it can be used to support family members when they arrive in Canada.

They believe the goalposts are constantly shifting and question why that's the case for the private sponsorship program.

"They're [Ottawa] not doing this for free; we paid money for these applications and we're taking care of our families. The government is not going to do anything for them," said Mahmoud. "We just want the government to deliver what was promised."