Description

Representing Refugee Claimants: 5 CPD Hours 

Event Date: This live webinar will be conducted on May 30, 2023, from 12:00-17:45 (Eastern Time).

There was a total of 5 hours of live, interactive webinar time.

Although you will have these events in your account indefinitely, these videos will expire for CICC CPD purposes on the following dates.

Cost: $120 for this webinar video or part of our CPD Bundle.

Instructor: Kyle Broda, RCIC, M.Ed., M.A. and Shaista Amjad, RCIC

Attendance: This event will be hosted by live webinar from our offices at 1555 Rue De La Visitation, Montreal (Quebec) H2L 3C2. A video of the event will be available 24 hours after the event is concluded.

Organization: RCICCPD by ExamPreparation.ca. 

This organization is a recognized CPD provider by the CICC and the Law Society of British Columbia.  

Registration link: https://rciccpd.ca/product/refugees/

Language: English

Agenda: This is the breakdown of the upcoming event.

Event Title: Representing Refugee Claimants: 5 CPD Hours 

Introduction

• Introducing RCIC Kyle Broda and RCIC Shaista Amjad
• Course outline and opening questions
• Refugees in the news
• Data on Refugee Claimants in and out of Canada
• IRB Designation for RCICs
• Types of refugees recognized in Canada, including Convention refugees, persons in need of protection, and humanitarian and compassionate grounds applicants
• Convention Refugees and Protected Persons as described in Canada’s Immigration Legislation
• Role of the Divisions in refugee determination and appeals within the IRB: RPD, RAD, IAD and ID
• Guidelines and Instructions: The most important resources

Steps in the initial consultation for clients already in Canada who potentially need protection

• A typical client profile who potentially need protection who books an Initial Consultation
• Common misconceptions clients have (and how to clarify these!)
• Example of typical questionnaire to be completed before the initial consultation
• Group discussion on additional questions to consider in the initial consultation
• The Top Ten Questions RCICs must ask in an Initial Consultation with a client who may be in a situation that could warrant the need for protection
• Exploring economic immigration options
• Assessing genuineness of the client’s story
• Elements to look for in determining whether or not to represent a client:
  • Location of persecution/danger
  • Cause of persecution/danger
  • Proof of persecution/danger
  • How the client found you
• Candidness in explaining the pros and cons of applying for protection
  • Example: Pakistani military police officer targeted by Taliban

• The Initial Consultation Agreement as per Section 23(1) of the CICC Code
• Managing client expectations as per Section 22 of the CICC Code
• Demonstrating cultural sensitivity as per Section 21(1)(d) of the CICC Code
• Gaining and maintaining competence as per Section 19 of the CICC Code
• Maintaining professional standards and being empathetic when clients are traumatized
• Practical tips regarding clients transitioning (or not!) into retaining your services after this initial consultation
• Examples of typical initial consultation questions from clients who potentially need protection and how to answer clearly
  • Example: Client with an aunt focussed on asylum for the wrong reasons
• The Service Agreement as per Section 24 of the CICC Code
• Fee structure considerations

Steps in providing immigration services for Refugee Claimants after the initial consultation 

• Strategies for building trust and rapport with refugee clients, including active listening, cultural sensitivity, and trauma-informed approaches
• Documentation and evidence required for a successful refugee claim, including the use of affidavits and expert reports
• Issues (and solutions!) experienced while representing clients in IRB processes
• Timeline of the ID process
• Considerations when:
  • Obtaining documents from the client
  • Organizing the submission
  • Accessing the portal
• Live demonstration of the IRB Portal
• Steps of an asylum claim:
  • Interview
  • Acknowledgement
  • Health insurance
  • Work Permit
  • Biometrics
  • Photos
  • Passport/Identification
  • Finalizing the application

Claimants at the POE

•  Officer Interviews
• Elements that can lead to detention
• Solutions that can release a client from detention
  • Bondspersons
• Live demonstration of the portal for submission of the application
• Referral and Hearings
• The true timeline vs an expedited hearing
• BOC

The RCIC as representative during the Hearing 

• Clarifying evidence and narrative
• Managing traumatized clients during the Hearing process
• Proving the BOC, IFA
• Problems that have come up in practice
• The importance of knowing the IRB Rules
  • Information sharing
  • Deadlines
  • Minister’s Intervention
  • Portal
  • Hearing postponement

Special considerations when your client’s process takes one or more years 

• Understand the importance of ongoing communication and support for refugee clients during and after the refugee determination process
• Identify resources and support available for refugee clients in Canada, including settlement services, community organizations, and legal aid clinics.
• Being the contact for ‘Canadian life.’
• Claimants who get married and/or have kids while awaiting their hearing
• Unauthorized work, study, travel

The 5 Most Common Mistakes and Practical Solutions when working with people in need of protection

Q&A 

Review and Conclusion