In order to apply for Refugee Protection from within Canada, you must fill out and submit a number of important forms about your history, family and reason for your claim.
All completed forms must be submitted to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office at 1148 Hornby Street.
NOTE: If you made a claim at the border or at the airport, the process is slightly different. You will be interviewed at the time you arrive at the border, airport or Port of Entry and receive the application package immediately.
You will need a lawyer to help you complete the Basis of Claim (BOC) form. You might be eligible for legal aid which will provide a lawyer free of charge to help you with this process.
Our SOS staff can help you fill out the paperwork and apply for legal aid. Contact us at 604-255-1881 or email: contact@sosbc.ca
When the immigration forms and the BOC (Basis of Claim) form are complete, return them to the IRCC office at 1148 Hornby Street.
Processing hours are 8 – 10 a.m., Monday – Friday.
After submitting all the forms, you will receive a date for your eligibility interview. IRCC will provide an interpreter. This is not your refugee hearing.
IMPORTANT – There is only one opportunity for the IRCC eligibility interview. If you miss the date you will not be given another one.
Take your original ID documents and 4 passport size photos to your eligibility interview.
At the interview, the IRCC will give you:
IRCC will also take your fingerprints for identification and security purposes.