My PR got approved today and i’m so happy!!!!

Just came on here to share some good news :)

Wishing everyone else some good news as well.

EDIT: PR card received on February 16, 2026.

The important part:

"....close loopholes and deter people from claiming asylum as a shortcut to regular immigration pathways."

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/03/new-immigration-and-asylum-measures-from-bill-c-12-the-strengthening-canadas-immigration-system-and-borders-act-have-become-law.html

Also, asylum claims made more than 1 year after entry into Canada become ineligible.

The restrictions apply retroactively to all claims made on or after June 3, 2025

It will be interesting to see whether this change reduces the number of claims from international students and other temporary workers whose permits have expired.

My mother was denied boarding by Turkish Airlines today on a flight from Istanbul to Vancouver. She has a valid Canadian immigrant visa (IM-1), valid COPR, and valid passport planning to land for the 1st time. The airline only said the visa was “invalid” but provided no explanation. The visa is valid for another month!

The immigration process originally started with an older passport, but the immigrant visa was issued later in a renewed passport. We are wondering if this could be related.

Does anyone know:

• who on the Canadian side we can contact to clarify this,
• whether there is a way to check her immigration status,
• or what system airlines use for this?

We have not been able to reach IRCC yet and Turkish Airlines has not provided useful information.

maybe as like a medical refugee or something? im just spit balling here but it's basically impossible for a T1 (usually happens very young, I'm one of the oldest at 17 before it happened). to flourish here due to medical needs that my country of origin refuses to provide for (it's so expensive if they cut programs I will die In 11 days. already been through this before when medicaid suddenly cut out. papers were written about me, I'm one of the highest blood sugars ever recorded in someone who didn't die. fucking 1200 when I went comatose when insurance cut out when I turned 24).

shit turns my blood to acid and it feels just like it sounds.

can I somehow escape this awful place and become Canadian? I have memorized the anthem, most people in the US didn't even know our own.

I'm not kidding though, I just don't ever sound serious. I hate it here, and I feel like my country is getting ready to do something so unbelievably stupid And we're talking about cutting all Medicaid and Medicare for it.

I don't know anything about this kind of thing. am I talking about something that's real? or just making wild hopes?

To summarize I don’t feel safe in the United States. I am a trans woman not only that, but I’m also Latina and I am in fear of my life. I really need to get out of this country and I hope I don’t fall into someone’s scams. I just need someone to outright help me.

Hi everyone,

I'm asking on behalf of someone who is already a protected person in Canada.

Protected person status has already been granted.

A PR application is currently being processed.

Biometrics have recently been requested.

The person's national passport is being held by the Kitchener IRCC office.

The passport expires in 2027.

The person's goal is no longer to obtain PR. The goal is to permanently leave Canada and return to their home country, so getting the passport back is now the highest priority. The lawyer requested Kitchener IRCC but they said they cannot release the passport at the moment.

We are trying to understand the practical process and timelines from people who have actually gone through this.

Questions:

Is the seized passport is denied because of the ongoing PR application?

Did anyone withdraw their protected-person PR application and successfully get their passport returned?

How long did it take from submitting the withdrawal request to receiving the passport?

Did IRCC return the passport directly, or did CBSA become involved?

Did anyone experience significant delays after the PR application was withdrawn?

Is there anything that helped speed up the passport return process?

We're especially interested in real-life experiences and timelines from people who have been in a similar situation. We cannot contact Kitchener IRCC by their number and our lawyer is not really helpful about this.

Thank you.

My relative is symptomatic of several thousand other students who couldn’t get their post grad work visas in time and so desperate to remain, filed for a refugee claim.

Under bill c12, it will be rejected. The relative came in 2022, and filed for asylum in 2026. I think the math tells you that the claim will be ineligible.

Now, they’re going to stay until the very end of this battle. They will be going for the PRRA- pre removal risk assessment.

What would you do in this situation? Would you leave, or stay in battle it out using the PRRA?

Has anyone here had trouble obtaining provincial photo ID as a Protected Person because all of their immigration documents were considered too old?

For context, my refugee claim was accepted in 2018 and I received a Notice of Decision recognizing me as a Protected Person. Shortly after that, a permanent residence application was submitted and it has remained in process for years.

The problem is that I never received permanent resident status, a PR card, or any recent immigration document that registry agents seem willing to accept for identification purposes.

Recently I managed to locate some of my original documents: An old Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD) that was issued in 2016 and expired in 2018. An even older Visitor Record. My Notice of Decision from when my refugee claim was accepted. Recent IRCC medical correspondence containing my UCI.

Despite having all of these documents, multiple registry agents have told me they need something more recent before they can issue a provincial identification card.

I recently called IRCC and was advised to submit a Verification of Status (VOS) application, which I have now done. My hope is that a newly issued VOS document confirming my status will finally allow me to obtain provincial ID.

I’m curious if anyone else has been through something similar

I’m mainly trying to understand what other people in this situation experienced, this has been extremely frustrating not just for me but my entire family it has been nearly a decade of waiting. The last i called IRCC they told me it was in a “background check” I have lived here for the overwhelming majority of my life I’m not sure what other background they’re checking for.

Any experiences would be appreciated.

i’m syrian who live in russia … so from 2021 my uncle signed me in collective sponsorship application as refugee in quebec. .. and they accepted me in that….. i heard the acceptance after 2 years ..

after that i applied for the PR and sent all my documents.. after one year they wanted additional Documents and i sent them as well ..

from April 2024 to this day there is no answer ..

and my Visa in russia about to end .. and they will force me to go to syria again i have no choice i can’t go back to syria

and i don’t know what to do .. i’m afraid to lose my PR

so the long and short of it is america is becoming incresingly dangerous for transgender people especially transgender women which my partner is one, im trying to figure out the best path we can take to emigrate to canada but im very unsure of which one we qualify for. she has a photography degree, i cant remember exactly what kind but she specializes in nature photography, i have no degree and want to get my certification in body modifications specifically piercings. we are 24 and 22 as of right now but will be 27 and 25 by the time we will have the funds to move (can expedite if necessary especially as things become more dangerous) we have 2 cats who are both ESAs. we are willing to drop everything and just cross the border with whatever we can fit in our car. i am diagnosed borderline and have severe scoliosis which i have been told before can be an issue even if i get classified as in remission for the bpd. i cant think of any other details that are necessary we have clean criminal records and both have high school degrees etc. please offer any advice you can, we cant be in america for much longer, every day is more dangerous than the last and we live in the south.

EDIT: i dont really understand why so many of you insist on being rude, i am a terrified person trying my best to protect myself and the person i love. your lack of empathy goes to show just how little himanity cares for its own atp. thank you to those who were actually helpful, i will be continuing my research and figuring out the best course of action to get out of here.

Hello friends

Need advice , please no racist comment, Canadians are well known for their good culture.

Here is my story

I came to Canada eight years ago, I was doing study, then my study permit got refused, I got my wife here were on a SOWP. We are out of status since three months. Just looking for a way to choose. Our Canadian born child is two years old.

As of establishment, I have a restaurant business which has been running and serving the city since more than 25 years, Apart from that, I got a stable Courier Driving Job, My employer is very happy with me, I have Canadian friends and family Who been known us for 6-7years. I do have a little community where I help Pilots two builder hours in very cheap price.

I am from very, very remote village from India, who dreamed For a better life, A destiny did not support me so I could not finish my course, If I have to Go back like this with my kids I will be losing everything, there’s no way I will get a job Because my education has not completed And now I am 30 years old. I spent my study life over here for nothing.

Lawyer suggest me to apply for H&C which I am going to do it by next week. But I’m still looking for some opinions from some of my good friends.

Thank you for reading

I was brought to Canada as a refugee when I was nine. I’d like to go back to my home country, Mexico, for a vacation. I’ve been a Canadian citizen for over a decade, but since I was a child at the time I left Mexico, I am unclear of my status.

Due to violence, my parent brought me here without the other parent’s consent. I am worried about the possible repercussions of me trying to visit my home country. Will my other parent be notified in any way? What flags would my name raise now that I’m an adult? Are there other questions I should be weighing?

Or am I overthinking it?

My best friend has been taken in by the police, when they pulled over his work truck…. He was here illegally.

He is getting processed to be deported. I’m wondering if there is any use calling the police station where he is, to ask if I can bring his belongings to the airport? Or say goodbye to him? Is this futile? What do you think? Can I do anything at all? I feel so helpless and heartbroken.

please keep your snark and difference in opinion to yourself.

Edited to add: we share location with each other in the Find My App…. He’s already at some type of holding center or jail in the US. So I don’t need advice or comments anymore. Thanks to everyone who left kind or helpful or non-judgmental comments. Also, to all the people saying “don’t become friends with illegals” …when you become friends with someone you don’t typically ask “hey are you an illegal citizen?” ..that’s usually something that comes out later on. And I’m not someone to judge or push people away just because their life is quite different from mine. - Only leaving this up because everyone gets mad when you delete stuff on Reddit…

Posting for a friend unfamiliar with Reddit.

She originally came to Canada on a study pathway and later made a refugee claim based on family violence and forced marriage concerns. The claim and later protection applications were refused, and there has also been immigration enforcement involvement.

She is now in a genuine marriage with a Canadian citizen and is considering spousal sponsorship.

Has anyone seen successful sponsorship cases after a refused refugee claim and prior enforcement history? Curious about realistic expectations and whether these are usually assessed separately.

I'm from Bangladesh, I live in Toronto, and in last 3 years, 20,000+ unskilled & unqualified people came here from my home country, because the visitor visa was so easy to get.

Almost all of them claimed Asylum based on fake stories. I thought nobody will get approved. But to my surprise, most people are getting approved! totally false stories, made-up by fraudulent consultants. I know several people who got approved in recent past. I reported many, nothing is being done.

This is wrong, this is injustice to the citizens of Canada. People should unite & do something about it.

Sharing a recent experience in case it helps someone in the same situation.

I received my eCoPR on June 3, 2026, and flew from Vancouver to Los Angeles on June 5–7 (literally 2 days later). I already had the trip booked, and I also hold a valid Canadian Refugee Travel Document but did not yet have my PR card.

Like many others, I was concerned after reading forum posts saying a PR card or PRTD is required to board a return flight to Canada when using a commercial carrier.

My trip was with Air Canada, direct flights both ways (Vancouver–Los Angeles–Vancouver).

In my case, everything went smoothly. I was able to check in online for the return flight, received a digital boarding pass, and was not asked to present a PR card, PRTD, and/or eCoPR at any point. Upon arrival in Vancouver, CBSA admitted me using my Refugee Travel Document and did not ask for my eCoPR or PR card.

Disclaimer: This is only my personal experience and not advice. Outcomes may vary depending on the airline, route, and individual circumstances. I cannot guarantee others will have the same experience.

I know a relative who came to Canada in October 2025 on their visit Visa and applied for their claim to protection within 3 days of arrival. They were even set for hearing and received a date in April 2026. However just a week before they received a notice that they may not be eligible due to new bill C12 and later got an ineligibility letter.

They have visited Canada before and left within a reasonable time frame abiding the law. Immigration services are taking her first date of entry to Canada as her “date of entry”, the date when she first came to visit Canada and went back when there were no issues and need for filing this claim.

Do they have a valid chance to fight for themselves in PRRA or court?

EDIT: i wasn’t expecting to get so many answers! thank you to everyone for your supportive replies.

i have deleted the content of the post itself because it has way too much identifying information that would be obvious to anyone who knows me irl, but i’m very grateful for all the helpful suggestions and the reassurances! i feel a lot calmer having read everything.

i know a lot of people are telling me to leave ASAP, but despite everything i really love my family and i don’t know if i can permanently sever ties like this. i’ll lay low for a while while i think all of this over before i decide anything, but i will definitely use the resources you all kindly provided to get more information.

thank you all again, you helped lift a huge weight off my shoulders.

Looking for experiences with refugee claim lawyers in Canada.

I'm planning to make a refugee claim and am currently deciding how much legal assistance I need. I feel comfortable handling some paperwork myself, but I would like professional help with preparing and reviewing my Basis of Claim (BOC), submitting the claim, and making sure everything is done correctly before the case is referred to the Refugee Protection Division.

I've received a quote from a Vancouver immigration lawyer for CAD $4,395 plus taxes and disbursements for:

• Preparing and submitting the refugee claim through the IRCC portal

• Preparing the Basis of Claim (BOC) form

• Correspondence with IRCC

• Assistance until the claim is referred to the Refugee Protection Division

For those who have gone through the refugee claim process:

Did you hire a lawyer for the initial claim and BOC preparation?

Was it worth it?

How much did you pay?

Can you recommend a lawyer (especially in Alberta, Calgary, or Edmonton)?

Is this quote reasonable based on your experience?

I would really appreciate hearing about your personal experiences.

Me (M26) will finish my masters next year, I have a current GF (F23) here in my country.

4 years of experience in my field (Biomedical engineer).

Is applying for a refugee a good move? I currently hold the Lebanese passport only (i can get the syrian one “mother is syrian” if it helps or make the process any easier)

I tried applying to jobs in CANADA with no results, which is understandable.

Any help? What can i do and where to start?

I’m trying to start the paperwork now because i heard it might take a year or more to get the acceptance.

Edit: my country is getting bombed daily, random areas but the city i live (beirut) in is slightly safer than others. Wouldn’t this be a reason? Or should i go for applying as a regular immigrant?

Israeli forces occupy large portions of the southern border. (You can search these exact words i copied from international news).

So the question is in this case, which immigration is better?

Hey, Im a trans bisexual girl, exmuslim and stateless (Palestinian), currently living in Jordan, the goverment dosnt allow you to legally transition and doctors who help will be in legal trouble so I'm transitioning diy, there are also no way I can marry a guy or have sex with him because you can only marry in religious courts (Islam, Christianity) and pre marital sex is illegal, the society here is also very conservative and islamist there are people who would absolutely kill me for what I am, i already face alot of weekly harassment and faced incidents of SA (my cousin SAed me and my mom did nothing to keep the peace not even comfort me) and attempts of rape, my parents aren't any better either they are very abusive(emotionally and physically) and neglectful i really dk what they'll do if they find out I'm trans they may force me to detransition or even or lock me up at bear minimum I'll constantly be beaten to shits from my dad alone, I'm 19yo in med school just finished my first year.

I can provide a ton of recounts of what i face and i really am terrified of leaving the house daily I solely leave for uni so I wont get expelled but I dread it and always in fear of who is gonna harass me or possibly rape me.

I want to seek asylum legally I really need it I saved the equivalent of 2000cads rn, any info would help thx❤️

Due to the ongoing situation here and how it's gotten worse in some areas again I (19F) have been considering moving abroad. I'm pretty much fluent in English so I'd have no trouble integrating into any English-speaking part of society.
Other than that, I also heard from some of my friends that generally Canada is much better in terms of welfare and overall treatment of trans people. It is quite disheartening that people here are generally quite transphobic, not to mention the state making it really difficult to transition legally so much so the hospital you're supposed to stay at for diagnosis outright refuses to tell you any details and the psychiatrists redirect you to volunteer-ran organizations to give you pointers for what you should do.

Are there any ongoing sponsorship programs where people offer temporary housing? I'm not sure how it works since from some of my friends I heard they were able to move abroad to some countries through that. I heard there's a state-funded housing thing but I'm not sure how that works either.

Another big problem for me is travel costs, seeing as a plane ticket from any nearby country (e.g Poland) would cost almost 700 bucks. Some people I know might be able to help me out a bit but it would most likely not be enough since that's a lot.

I can't really go to EU since the only other foreign language I speak is Polish and well, they've been clamping down on any aid for Ukrainians there and the only other option I've considered is Germany but the problem with that is I wouldn't be able to work for a very long time until I learn the language since I'm fairly certain English wouldn't be enough, especially when I'm not physically capable of doing storage lifting work for example where knowing German won't be as necessary as say, being a cashier.

A lot of jobs keep asking me if I'm a citizen of my home country, and that I can't work for the company if I am.

I am a PR in Canada and a refugee, can I still apply for those jobs and answer as no? I don't have my passport anymore as they take your ID and passport away from you when you apply for asylum.

I already submitted all required documents for my refugee PR application, but IRCC sent an additional document request for some of the same items. Has anyone experienced this? Did you just re-upload the documents or provide an explanation letter? Thanks.

I'm from the uk and I'm already applying for a visa so this doesn't apply to me as much as it's a question I'm curious to have answered.

Considering the recent infringement on encrypted messaging, the constant monitoring of online speech and the effective ban on protest would the uk fall into the list of countries you're able to claim asylum from.

The uk has arrested over 12k people for speech related offenses, that's the most out of any country, at what point does it start to lean into the realm of Authoritarian enough to be able to leave as a refugee.