In-person Hearings at the Immigration and Refugee Board

As of January 18, 2021 all in-person hearings at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) will be held virtually until further notice. The IRB has decided to close the in-person format countrywide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the rate of COVID-19 infection varies from province to province. The IRB says that they will probably be closed to in-person Hearings until at least early September. Hearings will only proceed using remote technology. Even documents for the most part can only be served remotely.

The IRB includes the Refugee Protection Division, the Immigration Appeal Division, the Refugee Appeal Division, and the Immigration Division.