Basis of Claim and Narrative

Understand the Basis of Claim Form

The Basis of Claim (BOC) form is the most important document in your refugee claim. In it, you give details about who you are and the reasons why you want protection in Canada.

To decide if you are a Convention Refugee or Person in Need of Protection, a Member of the IRB-RPD:

• reads your BOC Form,
• looks at your evidence, and
• listens to what you say at your hearing.

The Member asks you questions about your BOC Form at your refugee hearing. You may be asked questions about what you included as well as what you did not include in your BOC Form. The information should match what you put on the other forms you completed when you submitted your refugee claim.

If you can, get a lawyer or legal representative to help you prepare the BOC Form and the other documents you send in.

Complete the Basis of Claim Form

To complete your Basis of Claim form you can either fill out the paper form, or fill it out on a computer and then print it out.

When you do your BOC Form: 

• Read the instructions on the BOC Form and in the Claimant’s Guide.
• Write your answers in English or French. If you do not have strong English or French skills, find a good interpreter to help you.
• Make sure you understand each question before answering it. Your answers must be true, correct, and complete.
• Answer all questions on the BOC Form. Do not leave any questions blank.
• Write “N/A” (Not Applicable) if a question does not apply to you.
• If you are not sure about something, say this in your BOC Form.
• If you need more space to answer a question, you can attach a separate piece of paper with more information.
• Make sure the information on the BOC Form matches:
  • what you have said in any immigration interviews,
  • the information you put on other immigration forms, and
  • your narrative or any documents that you attach to your BOC Form.
• Keep a copy of your BOC Form, and every other document or form that you send in.
• You must do a separate BOC Form for each family member applying with you:
  • For children 6 years old or younger: Fill in only the “WHO YOU ARE” section of the BOC Form. A parent or the Designated Representative must sign the form.
  • For children 7 to 17 years old: Fill in all the sections in the BOC Form. A parent or the Designated Representative must sign it.
  • Children 18 years and older must sign their own BOC Form.

Understand the BOC Form narrative

You may choose to write out your story on a separate sheet and attach it to the BOC Form. This is often called your BOC narrative.

Your narrative is your chance to give more details about your refugee claim, including why you left your home country and why you feel you cannot return. You do not have to do one, but it is a good idea.

Start your narrative

Before you begin writing your narrative, look through the questions in the BOC Form. Use these questions to help you plan what you say in your narrative. You should also look through any other forms and applications you gave to the Canadian government or notes from interviews you have had with immigration officers. Your narrative should match what you said or wrote already.

Here are some other tips for writing your narrative:

• Tell the truth. Your narrative must be honest and correct. The IRB-RPD may reject your claim if they do not believe what you have said.
• If anything in your narrative does not match what you already said or wrote, explain why.
• Write about the important issues only. You do not need to repeat the basic facts (about your identity, family, education, jobs, and travel) that you put in your BOC and other forms, unless these details are important to show the risk you face in your country.
• Keep your narrative well organized so it is easy to read for the IRB-RPD Member who decides your claim.
• Remember that you need to explain the danger you would face in the future in your country and why you cannot go back, not only the events that happened in the past.
• Describe how the past events affected the physical and mental health of you and your family.

Address the legal issues in your narrative

When you write your narrative, keep in mind that the IRB-RPD Member is looking for the following information:

• What danger would you face if you go back to your country? Who might hurt you? What threats or bad treatment have you faced? Name the people or the groups. Have other people like you had the same problems? Does everyone in your country face the same danger, or just you and a certain group of people?
• Why do they want to hurt you? Is it because of your
  • race,
  • religion,
  • nationality,
  • political opinion, or
  • because you belong to a certain social group of people? (For example, women or people who identify as LGBTQ+.)
• If you belong to an organization or any group of people in danger, describe the group. If it is helpful, give details about what you did in the group.
• How would the people who want to hurt you find you if you return? Do they have a way to find you no matter where you go in the country? How will they know you are back?
• Did you ask the police or other authorities for help? What happened? If you did not ask, why not? Do you know other people like you who asked for help? What happened?
• Can you live safely in another part of your country? Why not? Do not just say that you do not have friends or family to live with.
• Why did you choose to leave the country when you did? Did you leave right away? If not, why not?
• If you went back after you left, explain why. Did you take steps to protect yourself?
• If you went through another safe country before coming to Canada, explain why you did not make a refugee claim there. If you did make a refugee claim in another country, what happened?
• Are there other reasons why you cannot return to your country? Medical reasons? Is it hard to find housing or jobs?

See Your Claim and the Legal Issues for more information.

Complete your narrative

When you have finished, go over your narrative with your legal representative carefully. Make any changes you need so your narrative is accurate and complete. If you do not have a legal representative, ask someone you trust to read it over for you.

Write your name and UCI number on the top right of each page of your narrative. Once you are happy with your narrative, you must get it translated into English or French. Ask the translator to read it back to you and listen carefully to make sure it is right. The translator will need to do a translator’s declaration.

Attach your narrative to your BOC when you send it to the IRB-RPD. Follow the IRB-RPD instructions for sending evidence.

Submit your BOC Form to the IRB-RPD

Submitting your BOC Form on the IRCC Portal

If you are making your refugee claim on the IRCC Portal, combine your narrative and your BOC Form into one PDF file and upload it onto the portal. Remember, if you do not complete and submit your application within 90 days the portal will erase your information. Make sure you upload your BOC Form and submit your application before this happens.

Submitting your BOC Form directly to the IRB-RPD

If you started your claim with CBSA at a Port of Entry, you have 45 days from the day CBSA gives you the BOC Form to send it to the IRB-RPD. If your deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, it is due the next workday (Monday–Friday). Do not miss this deadline! If you miss the deadline your refugee claim may be considered abandoned. If you need more time to complete your BOC Form you can ask the IRB-RPD for an extension of time. Be aware, there is no guarantee that an extension will be granted to you.

Your legal representative, if you have one, can use their online portal (MyCase) to send in your BOC.

If you are submitting your BOC Form on your own, follow the instructions below to send your BOC Form to the IRB-RPD office in your region:

After you send in your BOC Form

If you forgot something or made a mistake

There are two ways to make changes:

Make the change on your copy of the BOC Form or narrative and underline it. Then sign your name and date each page where you have made a change.

OR

Write a letter explaining what the changes are, where they are in the document, and why you made these changes. Sign and date your letter.

Send in your changes

Send one copy of each original page and its changed page (and your letter if you have one) to the IRB-RPD at least 10 days before your hearing. Keep copies for your own records. If the Minister’s Counsel will be at your hearing, send them a copy of these changes also.