We may be able to help you. If you need a lawyer for a refugee claim, please contact us after completing your eligibility interview and submitting your Basis of Claim form. For more information on the refugee claims process, please visit Welcome to My Refugee Claim.
If you need a lawyer for a refugee appeal, please call us as soon as you have received a decision. You only have 15 days to appeal against a negative refugee decision. For more information on the refugee appeal process, please visit Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Legal Aid Alberta is NOT a free service. We provide legal services at a lower cost than a private lawyer, but you will receive a bill from Legal Aid Alberta and the opportunity for a payment plan that fits your budget.
Eligibility for a lawyer through Legal Aid Alberta is determined by a review of your income, assets, family size and the nature of your legal issue. You must meet financial and service eligibility criteria to qualify for legal aid.
Legal Aid Alberta may assist with:
A refugee claim is when you want the Canadian government to let you stay here permanently because you cannot go back to your home country, or return to the country where you were living before coming to Canada.
When you have received a negative decision from the Refugee Protection Division.
An immigration hearing to decide if someone should or should not be allowed to stay in Canada.
A type of immigration hearing for someone who was arrested by Canada Border Services Agency and is being kept in immigration detention.
After getting a negative decision and a removal order from the ID you may be able to appeal to the IAD.
When representatives from Canada Border Services Agency or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada are trying to appeal a positive decision you got from the RPD or ID.
When you were given a negative decision from the RPD but you cannot appeal to the RAD; or when you got a negative decision from the RAD.
Legal Aid Alberta does not assist with:
If you are calling about a matter before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), please contact us after your case has been sent to the IRB but before a hearing date is scheduled. If you are calling to appeal a negative decision from the IRB, you may call us as soon as you have received that decision.
You should have a letter or papers from the Immigration and Refugee Board that says your case has been sent to the Board. For example, if you are making a refugee claim you would have been given/sent a letter that says Confirmation of Referral at the top.
No, Legal Aid Alberta does not provide lawyer assistance for completing or submitting BOC forms to the Refugee Protection Division. You must complete this step and provide proof of completion that you submitted your BOC before applying for Legal Aid Alberta services.
Have your immigration papers ready for reference. Be prepared to answer questions about:
Legal Aid Alberta Contact Centre Intake Officers (CCIOs) are only permitted to speak directly to the person who needs a lawyer.
If you do not speak English or require an interpreter, please have the interpreter with you on your first application call. The CCIO will confirm that you are comfortable sharing information with your interpreter. The CCIO will not speak to the interpreter if you are not present on the call.
If you have a Designated Representative, during your first call, you must inform the Contact Centre Intake Officers (CCIOs) that you have a Designated Representative who will be helping you. Use your interpreter if needed.
The CCIO will ask if you have the Designated Representative’s permission to share their name and contact number. The CCIO will not speak to a Designated Representative if you have not already called for permission first.
My Refugee Claim: A website for people making refugee claims in Canada
Recommendations specifically for LGBTQ newcomers to Canada:
Community Resources for Newcomers and/or Refugee claimants:
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