Refugee Claim Timeline - Question 2024

[mathantoniolli]

Hello all,

I previously posted back in January, but I wanted to update my timeline and ask for advice from anyone going through a similar process. I haven’t received a hearing date yet, and I’m wondering if this timeline still looks “normal”.

Timeline:

• Jul 5, 2024 – Arrived in Canada (tourist visa)
• Jul 8, 2024 – Applied for asylum inside Canada (submitted forms and BoC)
• Jul 11, 2024 – Email confirming tourist visa cancellation
• Jul 25, 2024 – Eligibility interview scheduled
• Aug 2, 2024 – Medical exams
• Aug 3, 2024 – Medicals passed
• Aug 16, 2024 – Eligibility interview (I didn’t attend due to personal issues)
• Aug 22, 2024 – Received “Confirmation of Referral” letter from IRB
• Aug 23, 2024 – Called IRCC and was told my case was referred and still eligible
• Aug 26, 2024 – Work permit approved
• Sep 1, 2024 – Work permit delivered
• Sep 3, 2024 – SIN received
• Oct 9, 2024 – Background check completed
• Jan 16, 2025 – Call-in notice for appointment at Ottawa IRCC
• Jan 21, 2025 – Attended appointment in Ottawa: biometrics, photos, passport collected, documents issued (including Brown Paper, for some reason, they gave me 6 years expiration date for the Brown Paper).

I was very well assisted by a senior officer (it was not a regular employee, she came from the back office and the other employees were asking her to sign and stamp documents all the time), she told me she had personally read my file and believed my case was strong (though I know she’s not the decision-maker) and that’s the reason she referred my case without the Eligibility Interview.

• May 5, 2025 – Delivered my full binder with evidence in person at the IRB Toronto office
  While I was there, they informed me that my file was actually located in the Eastern Region (Montreal office) and that my documents would be sent to Montreal. I explained that I’ve always lived in Toronto and didn’t understand why my file was assigned to a different region.

I followed their advice and contacted the IRB Montreal office the same day, left a voicemail, and on May 6 they called me back. They asked for confirmation and advised me to send a fax requesting the transfer. I sent the fax, and two hours later they called to confirm that they received it and were processing the request.

On May 8, 2025, I received a letter by mail (called Notice Of Decision) stating that my file had officially been transferred to Toronto, with a new case number.

I have never received:

• Any hearing date
• Any Minister’s intervention or non-intervention letter
• Any less complex case letter
• Any further instructions

I just want to know if this waiting time is still within normal expectations. Should I expect to receive a notice from the Minister before my hearing is scheduled?

Would really appreciate if anyone has insight on similar timelines.

Thanks so much!

 

[canuck78]

Hello all,

I previously posted back in January, but I wanted to update my timeline and ask for advice from anyone going through a similar process. I haven’t received a hearing date yet, and I’m wondering if this timeline still looks “normal”.

Timeline:

• Jul 5, 2024 – Arrived in Canada (tourist visa)
• Jul 8, 2024 – Applied for asylum inside Canada (submitted forms and BoC)
• Jul 11, 2024 – Email confirming tourist visa cancellation
• Jul 25, 2024 – Eligibility interview scheduled
• Aug 2, 2024 – Medical exams
• Aug 3, 2024 – Medicals passed
• Aug 16, 2024 – Eligibility interview (I didn’t attend due to personal issues)
• Aug 22, 2024 – Received “Confirmation of Referral” letter from IRB
• Aug 23, 2024 – Called IRCC and was told my case was referred and still eligible
• Aug 26, 2024 – Work permit approved
• Sep 1, 2024 – Work permit delivered
• Sep 3, 2024 – SIN received
• Oct 9, 2024 – Background check completed
• Jan 16, 2025 – Call-in notice for appointment at Ottawa IRCC
• Jan 21, 2025 – Attended appointment in Ottawa: biometrics, photos, passport collected, documents issued (including Brown Paper, for some reason, they gave me 6 years expiration date for the Brown Paper).

I was very well assisted by a senior officer (it was not a regular employee, she came from the back office and the other employees were asking her to sign and stamp documents all the time), she told me she had personally read my file and believed my case was strong (though I know she’s not the decision-maker) and that’s the reason she referred my case without the Eligibility Interview.

• May 5, 2025 – Delivered my full binder with evidence in person at the IRB Toronto office
  While I was there, they informed me that my file was actually located in the Eastern Region (Montreal office) and that my documents would be sent to Montreal. I explained that I’ve always lived in Toronto and didn’t understand why my file was assigned to a different region.

I followed their advice and contacted the IRB Montreal office the same day, left a voicemail, and on May 6 they called me back. They asked for confirmation and advised me to send a fax requesting the transfer. I sent the fax, and two hours later they called to confirm that they received it and were processing the request.

On May 8, 2025, I received a letter by mail (called Notice Of Decision) stating that my file had officially been transferred to Toronto, with a new case number.

I have never received:

• Any hearing date
• Any Minister’s intervention or non-intervention letter
• Any less complex case letter
• Any further instructions

I just want to know if this waiting time is still within normal expectations. Should I expect to receive a notice from the Minister before my hearing is scheduled?

Would really appreciate if anyone has insight on similar timelines.

Thanks so much!

Normal processing. Your file will be assessed whether it considers less complex or not. That may take many months. Many are receive hearings 2.5 years after claiming asylum and given when you applied and how backlog keeps growing wait period until you receive a hearing may take longer. Surprised they transferred your file out of Montreal since there was no good reason for the transfer. The location of processing is often different than the province where you are residing. They are unrelated.