Refugee Hearing Preparation

Prepare for your refugee hearing with clarity and confidence.

Guided by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant authorized before the IRB.

Your hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) is one of the most important moments of your claim. We help you understand the process, organize your story and evidence, and practise answering with clarity, so you can present your case honestly and confidently.

Atención en español e inglés · Service in Spanish and English

RCIC-IRB
Gina Marcela Salinas, RCIC-IRBGina Marcela SalinasRegulated Canadian Immigration Consultant · RCIC-IRBLicence R712458Verify with the CICC
What you will work on

Three pillars of a well-prepared hearing

Understand the process

What happens before, during and after the hearing; who will be in the room; what the member must decide; and how questions are usually asked.

Organize your story and evidence

Review your Basis of Claim form, put key events in order, and connect each part of your story with the documents that support it.

Answer with clarity

Practise explaining your experiences in your own words, with consistent dates and details, and learn how to respond calmly when you do not know or do not remember.

How it works

Your preparation, step by step

A structured path so nothing important is left to the last minute.

Take the free readiness assessment

Ten quick questions to see where you stand and what is still pending.

Initial consultation

We review your situation, hearing date and documents, and explain your options, fees and next steps in a written service agreement.

Review your BOC and evidence

We go through your Basis of Claim, identify gaps or inconsistencies, and plan the evidence and translations you may need.

Mock hearing practice

Simulated questioning so you can practise telling your story clearly and get feedback in a safe space.

Hearing-day readiness

A final checklist: documents, deadlines, interpreter, connection or location, and what to expect on the day.

Services

Support that fits your situation

Free readiness assessment

An online self-check you can complete in a few minutes, with practical next steps.

Free

Preparation consultation

A one-on-one session with an RCIC-IRB to review your claim, documents and hearing readiness.

By appointment

Full hearing preparation and representation

Comprehensive preparation and, where appropriate, representation before the IRB by an RCIC-IRB.

Written service agreement

Fees and scope are explained before any work begins and confirmed in a written service agreement, as required by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).

Free tool

Refugee hearing readiness assessment

Answer ten questions to see how prepared you are and what to work on next. It takes about three minutes.

01Do you have a copy of your Basis of Claim (BOC) form and your written narrative?
02Have you re-read your BOC recently and checked that dates, names, places and events are accurate?
03Do you know the date, time and format (in person or virtual) of your hearing?
04Do you have your identity documents (passport, national ID, birth certificate)?
05Have you gathered evidence that supports your story (reports, medical records, letters, photos)?
06Are documents that are not in English or French translated by a qualified translator?
07Have your documents been, or will they be, sent to the IRB at least 10 days before the hearing?
08If you need an interpreter, has the IRB been told which language and dialect you need?
09Have you practised explaining your story clearly, in your own words and in chronological order?
10Do you have an authorized representative (a lawyer or an RCIC-IRB), or know where to get one?
Protect your claim

Choose authorized help

In Canada, only authorized representatives may charge for advice or representation in an immigration or refugee matter: lawyers and paralegals who are members of a Canadian law society, notaries in Québec, and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants licensed by the CICC. To represent someone before the IRB, a consultant must hold the RCIC-IRB class of licence.

Unauthorized “consultants”, coaches or strategists who charge for refugee hearing preparation put claimants at risk. Before paying anyone, check their licence.

Your story deserves to be heard clearly, honestly and with the right support.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Can you guarantee a positive decision?

No. Decisions are made independently by the IRB based on the evidence and testimony in each case. Our role is to help you prepare and present your claim clearly and honestly.

Can you help me change my story so it sounds stronger?

No. We will never help anyone give false or misleading information. Preparation is about telling your true experiences clearly, consistently and completely, and correcting genuine errors through proper channels.

Do you offer services in Spanish?

Yes. Consultations and preparation are available in Spanish and English. The IRB provides interpreters for hearings when requested.

My hearing is very soon. Can you still help?

Contact us right away. Some deadlines, such as submitting documents at least 10 days before the hearing, may already be close.

Is the readiness assessment confidential?

Yes. Your answers stay in your browser and are not sent to or stored by ORBE Allende.

Ready to prepare?

Book a consultation and take the first step toward a clear, well-prepared hearing. ¿Listo para prepararte? Escríbenos.

Important. Professional immigration services described on this page are provided by Gina Marcela Salinas, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, RCIC-IRB, licence R712458, under a written service agreement and in accordance with the CICC Code of Professional Conduct. Educational content and the readiness assessment provide general information only and are not legal advice. No outcome can be guaranteed. See our Legal Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.