Section 1 – Refugee Claim Process
Legal Aid
This is free legal help for people with low incomes. To apply you have to show proof of your low income, e.g. welfare cheque stub.
It currently covers the cost of a lawyer for a 8 – 10 hours plus some interpretation to prepare your Personal Information Form (PIF) (pdf link Immigrat – Spanish Immigrat - Chinese).
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It may not cover additional hours to have a lawyer represent you at your Refugee Claim Hearing, or to get assistance with the Judicial Review, Pre-removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) or Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) applications. (After the decision). These require separate applications.
Application –Apply for Legal Aid as soon as you get the Eligibility Document from CIC. Go to the Legal Services Society (LSS-link to Glossary) office in Vancouver (510 Burrard St, Suite 425. Tel. 604 601 6206.) You must also show proof of income, identity and any documentation that can support your claim.
It takes about 3 –5 business days for LSS to decide if you qualify. If you do not hear from them, call or go to the office. See LSS website (www.lss.bc.ca) or consult VRSA staff for more detailed information
Questionnaire - If you come from a country with a low number of refugee claims accepted you will have to complete a merit questionnaire and give more detail about the reasons for your claim. If LSS decides you have a good basis you may be referred to a lawyer
Proof of support – If you are not receiving Income Assistance (“welfare”) and are being temporarily supported by a family member or friend, you will have to fill out a form from the Legal Aid office to confirm this.
If you have serious reasons for not being able to work with the lawyer assigned to your case, it is possible to change your lawyer once. This is a serious step and may cost you some time for the new lawyer to catch up with the information. For a general idea of what to expect from your lawyer: (pdf link Legal Aid –Spanish Legal Aid - Chinese)
IMPORTANT –
Once you get the PIF, you have only 28 days to find a lawyer, complete the form and send it. You must do this even if you do not get Legal Aid or a lawyer.
