Take care of yourself
Take care of yourself the day before your hearing (for example, make sure you get enough sleep).
Expect questions
Be ready to answer questions about your claim. For example, you may be asked why you did not make your inland claim earlier than you did.
Members are people too
The Member at the IRB-RPD decides your claim. Each Member is different, each claim is different, and the mood at some hearings can be different than others. But every decision should be fair.
Be honest
If you do not know something, or you are unsure, say so. Never make up an answer. Try to give as much information as you can to help the Member understand your story.
Work with an interpreter
The IRB-RPD will get you a free professional interpreter in your language and dialect for your hearing. Even if you understand English or French, it is a good idea to have an interpreter to avoid mistakes. The interpreter makes sure that everyone in your hearing understands each other clearly. Before your hearing starts, speak with your interpreter to make sure that you understand each other well. When you talk during the hearing, speak in short phrases for the interpreter.
Virtual hearings
Most refugee hearings are virtual (videoconference) hearings. You will need:
- Reliable, secure, high-speed internet
- Microsoft Teams software
- A quiet and private space
If your hearing is scheduled as a videoconference, you can ask IRB-RPD for an in-person hearing. Some hearings are both.