Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Law Firm Blog

The Refugee Hearing

The hearing (for claimants in Calgary) is held at the IRB offices at 201, 225 Manning Road NE. It may be held via videoconference despite the fact that Calgary has three RPD Members (Mr. Darcy Tkachuk, Ms. Bindu Narula, and Ms. Preeti Adhopia). An interpreter (if necessary) will be provided by the Board and interpretation can be provided by videoconference, teleconference, or in person. It is important for the claimant to check in with reception 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. The claimant should ensure that original documents are brought to the hearing for the presiding Member to review. An "Exhibit List" (at least in the Western Region) is generally provided to counsel/self-represented claimants prior to the hearing and references the Personal Information Form(s) (generally Exhibit "1"), information from CIC/CBSA (the Port of Entry materials and the referral interview), the Screening Form (which identifies important/determinative issues such as state protection and IFA) as well as the National Documentation Package containing country condition information. Disclosure of documents intended for use at the hearing must comply with the RPD Rules and should be submitted at least 20 days before the hearing. The hearing begins by the presiding Member and counsel canvassing... Read more →

Burma/Myanmar

This claim was heard today before the RPD. The claimant was a political activist. Country condition evidence was largely corroborative. The following issues were identified: credibility, political affiliation and failure to claim elsewhere. The claim was accepted by way of an oral decision at the conclusion of the hearing. The claimant was found to be credible and responses were found to be authentic. To some degree this was a sur place claim. Significant evidence was before the board as to the disappearance of a family member and membership and political activities. Read more →

Is the IRB independent?

Brandon Huntley, South African refugee, Jason Kenney, IRB, RPD Read more →