Refugee Border Rights.pdf

You have the right to seek safety for yourself and your family. A guide provides information to support your decisions, but it's general information and not legal advice. The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) stops many people from claiming refugee status in Canada if they arrive at any legal land port of entry, but there are three main exceptions: having family in Canada, being an unaccompanied minor, or having a valid visa or travel document. If allowed into Canada, you'll be interviewed by an officer who decides if you can start applying for refugee status. You may be given a Refugee Protection Claimant Document and a Basis of Claim form, which must be filled out and delivered to the Immigration and Refugee Board within 15 days. Entering Canada somewhere other than at a regular port of entry is not "illegal," but you may be detained. Once in Canada, you can make a refugee claim to any officer of the Canada Border Services Agency or at any Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada office. Protecting yourself involves being careful about what you say to immigration enforcement officers, as it will become part of your refugee claim file.