Immigration and Refugee Board — Refugee Appeal Division — filing and document preparation
Preparing and filing the appeal, application or response before the Immigration and Refugee Board — Refugee Appeal Division.
What is included
- Reviewing the refusal, removal order or claim and the reasons given
- Preparing and filing the notice of appeal, appeal record or claim documents
- Gathering identity, relationship, country and other evidence, with translations where needed
- Preparing written submissions, and preparing you and any witnesses to testify
- Representing you before the Board's division at the step the service covers
What is not included
- Filing fees, translations, transcripts, professional reports and other disbursements
- A judicial review or appeal in the Federal Court or Federal Court of Appeal, which needs a lawyer
- Later stages, such as a further appeal or extra hearing days, unless agreed in writing
- Attending a hearing when the service covers documents or advice only
Who this service is for
- Sponsors whose family sponsorship was refused
- Permanent residents facing a removal order or a residency obligation finding
- Refugee claimants and people appealing a refugee decision
- People held in immigration detention, and their families
Information to have ready
- 1The refusal letter, removal order or decision, with reasons and the date you received it
- 2Passports, immigration documents and any letters from IRCC or the CBSA
- 3Evidence of relationships, residence or the risk you face, as applies
- 4Names of witnesses, and any documents not in English or French
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
The fee is $900 plus 13% HST ($1,017.00 in all) for the work described on this page. Court, tribunal or government fees and other disbursements are extra. We confirm the scope and the fee in a written retainer agreement before any work starts.
What happens when I check out?
You book a time for your intake call, then save a card on Stripe's secure page. Nothing is charged today: the card is only charged later, for an invoice for work already done, as your retainer agreement sets out. A licensed paralegal confirms the details, checks for conflicts of interest and, if we can act for you, sends the retainer agreement. Fees paid before the work is done are held in our trust account.
Can a licensed paralegal represent me at the Immigration and Refugee Board?
Yes. Licensed paralegals in Ontario may represent people in proceedings before the Board. Applications to IRCC that are not part of a Board proceeding, such as permanent residence or humanitarian applications, are outside what a licensed paralegal may do, and we can refer you to a lawyer for those.
What if my appeal is dismissed?
The next step is often an application for leave and judicial review in the Federal Court, which needs a lawyer. Those deadlines are very short, so speak with us right away and we can refer you.
Can the Immigration Appeal Division consider humanitarian grounds?
In many appeals, yes. The Division can often weigh humanitarian and compassionate factors, such as the interests of any child affected, though the law excludes some cases.
General information only, not legal advice. NEO Legal Services Professional Corporation is a licensed paralegal firm regulated by the Law Society of Ontario.
Important limitations
- No outcome can be guaranteed; the tribunal or agency decides
- Federal deadlines are strict, and late filings may not be accepted
- Some steps, such as a Federal Court judicial review, are outside a licensed paralegal's scope
- Some federal work may be outside what a licensed paralegal is permitted to do, such as a Federal Court judicial review or a government application that is not part of a tribunal case; before any work starts we confirm that your matter is within that scope, and we can refer anything that is not to an Ontario lawyer.
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