IRCC is changing how inland refugee claims are submitted in the IRCC Portal on November 3, 2026. People with an unfinished claim will need to answer new questions and review earlier answers, although their personal information will be saved. This is a portal change, not a relaxation of the legal or evidentiary requirements for refugee protection. A careful submission still depends on an accurate Basis of Claim form, consistent records, relevant evidence and preparation for the Refugee Protection Division process.
Know what changes on November 3
IRCC says that a person who started an inland asylum claim but did not submit it by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 2 will need to answer new questions and review old answers when returning to the portal on or after November 3. Personal information already entered will be saved. A claim submitted before that deadline does not require the new information unless IRCC asks for it.
Do not assume that a saved draft is ready simply because the personal details remain available. Reopen every section, read the current questions and compare the portal answers with the Basis of Claim form and supporting documents. A technical transition can expose incomplete answers or inconsistencies that were already present in the draft. Keep screenshots or a working copy of the information used to prepare the final submission.
Use the current guide and submit only truthful, complete information
IRCC directs inland claimants to Guide 0174 for the information required in the portal. The online process asks about the claimant and family members, the circumstances of the claim and supporting documents. Each question must be answered truthfully. Portal modernization does not make an otherwise ineligible claim eligible, and it does not guarantee referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Avoid rushing an inaccurate claim solely to meet the portal transition time. If a fact is uncertain, investigate it rather than guessing. Compare names, dates, family information, addresses, immigration history and travel records across passports, identity documents and earlier applications. Where information cannot be obtained, explain the difficulty accurately instead of creating a convenient answer or unsupported document.
Treat the Basis of Claim form as the central record
The Basis of Claim, or BOC, explains who the claimant is, who or what they fear, what happened and why return is not possible. The Refugee Protection Division considers the BOC together with hearing testimony and other evidence. The form should present a clear, chronological account in the claimant's own circumstances and answer every applicable question with as much reliable information as is available.
Each family member claiming refugee protection needs a BOC form, subject to the IRB's specific instructions for young children. Related family claims should be consistent without being copied mechanically: different people may have different experiences, knowledge and fears. Review translations and interpreter-assisted drafting carefully so the claimant understands and adopts the information submitted under their name.
Correct the BOC promptly when something material changes
If a BOC needs a correction or addition, the IRB says to send it as soon as possible. Changes must ordinarily reach the RPD no later than 10 calendar days before the hearing. Waiting until testimony to disclose an important date, event or person can create avoidable questions about why the information was missing and whether the record is reliable.
A correction should identify what changed and preserve a clear record of the earlier and updated versions. The purpose is accuracy, not rewriting the claim to match later evidence. If a discrepancy appears in an interview record, portal answer, BOC or supporting document, review the original context and address it honestly. Individual advice may be needed where the inconsistency is significant.
Build the evidence package before a hearing is scheduled
The IRB distinguishes personal evidence from country-conditions evidence. Personal evidence may include identity and travel records, communications, medical or police documents, photographs, membership records, witness information and other material connected to the claimant's account. Country evidence should add relevant information not already available in the IRB's National Documentation Package for the country.
Evidence should be sent as early as possible and normally no later than 10 calendar days before the hearing, including weekends when counting. A five-day deadline can apply to evidence submitted in response to another document. Late disclosure requires an application and is accepted only if the RPD member allows it; relevance does not automatically excuse a missed deadline.
Follow the IRB's translation and document rules
Documents must be in English or French. For a document in another language, the IRB requires the original-language document, an English or French translation and a signed translator's declaration identifying the translator, language and dialect and confirming accuracy. The IRB says it will not accept translations produced by software, artificial intelligence or services such as Google Translate.
Organize documents as one readable package with continuous page numbers, a document list and a cover page containing the claimant's identifying and file information. Keep a complete copy. Follow the submission channel assigned to the case: counsel may be required to use the My Case portal, while other claimants may have different available methods until invited to register.
Prepare for the hearing as part of the claim strategy
When the RPD schedules the hearing, the Notice to Appear provides the date, time, place and connection instructions. Keep contact information current with the RPD, IRCC and CBSA so that important notices are not missed. Request an interpreter or accommodation as early as possible, and give the required advance information if a witness or observer will attend.
A focused professional review can compare the portal answers, BOC narrative, documents, translations and anticipated hearing issues before deadlines become urgent. Parsica can assist with refugee claim preparation and representation before the IRB. Book a consultation with Leila Yazdani, RCIC-IRB, for advice based on your individual facts. No representative can guarantee referral, acceptance or any particular hearing outcome.