How to start a refugee claim during COVID-19 IRCC office closures

Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  offices are closed during the COVID-19 emergency. IRCC has suspended in-person intake and eligibility interviews until further notice.

1) If you need to start a claim for refugee protection in Canada, send an email to: IRCC.RefugeeClaim-Demandedasile.IRCC@cic.gc.ca  Include your name and “I intend to make a refugee claim.”

2) You will receive an email response asking for more information:

• Family Name on your country of origin documents/ Nom de Famille:
• Given Name on your country of origin documents/ Prénom:
• Name you use if different than your country of origin documents
• Date of Birth/ Date de naissance:
• Country of Birth / Pays de naissance:
• Country of Citizenship / Citoyenneté:
• Marital Status / État matrimonial:
• Gender / Genre: IRCC uses 3 gender identifiers:  M male, F female or X other, but requires the Gender listed on the documents from country of origin to start a refugee claim.  You can indicate “Current Gender” and “Gender on Country of Origin passport”  
• Passport Number (if available) / Numéro de passeport (si disponible):
• Visa Number (if available) / Numéro du visa (si disponible) :
• Electronic Travel Authorization Number (if available) / Numéro d'autorisation de voyage électronique (si disponible):
• Current Address/ Adresse actuelle:
• Telephone Number / Numéro de téléphone:
• Correspondence Language (English or French) / Langue de correspondance (anglais ou français):
• Language Spoken (if not English or French) / Langue parlée (si ce n'est ni l'anglais, ni le français):
• Scanned copy/photo of passport biodata page, page with entry stamp, as well as identity document (if available) / Copie numérisée/ photo de passeport avec la page contenant les données biographiques, la page avec le cachet d'entrée, ainsi que toute autre pièce d'identité (si possible):

3) IRCC will send an Acknowledgement of Claim  (AOC) to applicants by email. (check your spam filter!) The AOC, or pink slip,  is the document people need to access basic health coverage (Interim Federal Health) and Income Assistance.

4) You will also receive instructions on how to have a medical exam. During COVID-19 you do not need to wait for the eligibility interview before getting your medical exam.  The sooner you go, the sooner your work permit can be processed. The doctor will have the forms to complete.

5) Then, contact Rainbow Refugee  info@rainbowrefugee.ca  with INLAND in the subject line to get a referral to a lawyer experienced with  LGBTQI+ refugee claims.  This lawyer will help you contact legal aid.

6) Work with  your lawyer and attend a Rainbow Refugee virtual drop in to get help with your application so that it is ready when offices re-open. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/applying-refugee-protection-canada.html 

6) Full applications are not being accepted or required at this time.

More Information or Help:

• Check IRCC website for updates: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/claim-protection-inside-canada/apply.html

• Use the web portal to  https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/web-form.asp  to request instructions or clarification

• Rainbow Refugee is holding virtual meetings to assist new refugee claimants with this process. Email info@rainbowrefugee.ca  with INLAND UPDATES in the subject line to receive updates.

• MOSAIC is a Settlement organization with LGBTQI+ friendly staff and services. You can email refugeeclaimant@mosaic.org for assistance.