Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada – Vancouver, BC

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is Canada’s largest independent administrative tribunal. It is responsible for making well-reasoned decisions on immigration and refugee matters efficiently, fairly, and in accordance with the law. The Board operates as a separate entity from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Core Mandate and Divisions

The IRB resolves cases through four distinct divisions, each with a specialized mandate to adjudicate different types of immigration and refugee proceedings:

• Refugee Protection Division (RPD): Hears and decides claims for refugee protection made in Canada.
• Refugee Appeal Division (RAD): Hears appeals against decisions made by the RPD.
• Immigration Division (ID): Conducts admissibility hearings for foreign nationals and permanent residents believed to be inadmissible to Canada, and holds detention reviews.
• Immigration Appeal Division (IAD): Hears appeals on immigration-related matters, such as sponsorship applications and removal orders.

Tribunal Operations

As a quasi-judicial body, the IRB ensures that all hearings are conducted in accordance with the principles of natural justice. Decision-makers, known as members, are independent and their decisions are based on evidence and the law. The Vancouver registry serves the Western Region, managing case files and scheduling hearings for British Columbia and the Yukon.