If you believe that you have been persecuted in your native country and that your life is in danger, you have the right to file a refugee claim in Canada. If you chose to make a refugee claim, it is very important that you seek out an experienced lawyer who can guide you throughout the whole process, which includes assisting you in completing refugee claim forms and preparing you for your hearing. Refugee claims can be made at the port of entry or inland, and most cases are heard by the Refugee Board within three months.
Since refugee cases are heard rather quickly, it is crucial that you obtain proof of the persecution you have suffered in your country as soon as possible. It is equally as important that you write out all the details of your story before consulting a lawyer so that the lawyer can properly assess your case and your chances of succeeding. If you decide to make a refugee claim, the lawyer will advise you as to what documents you will need in order to help corroborate your claim of persecution as well as ask you detailed questions about your case in order to prepare you for your hearing.
At the refugee hearing, the Board Member will ask you questions about your story and assess whether your life is in danger in your country of citizenship. If the Board Member accepts your claim, you will then be able to apply for permanent resident status in Canada. If your case is refused, you will have the right to appeal the decision within 15 days of when you received it. Depending on your case, the appeal would be made to either the Refugee Appeal Division or the Federal Court.
In the 30 years Robert Gertler has practiced immigration law, he has represented over 2,000 refugee claimants from countries all around the world. A lot of these claimants have not only become permanent residents but are now Canadian Citizens. Almost all of the new refugee cases that Robert Gertler receives today are referrals from former clients.