Refugee Hearing Preparation
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
Gina Marcela Salinas
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant · RCIC-IRB
Licence R712458
Verify on the CICC register →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.
Preparation consultation
We review your situation, hearing date and documents, and explain your options, fees and next steps.
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
Readiness assessment
An online self-check you can complete in a few minutes, with practical next steps.
Start nowPreparation consultation
A one-on-one session with an RCIC-IRB to review your claim, hearing date and next steps.
Book nowBOC & evidence review
A detailed review of your Basis of Claim, narrative and evidence, with the corrections to consider before your hearing.
Book nowFull preparation and representation
Comprehensive preparation, mock hearings and, where appropriate, representation before the IRB by an RCIC-IRB.
Ask for a quoteFees and scope are explained before any work begins and confirmed in a written 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.
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.
Check the CICC public register
Your story deserves to be heard clearly, honestly and with the right support.
Official resources
Learn from the source
IRB: Get ready for your hearing
The Immigration and Refugee Board’s official step-by-step guidance.
irb-cisr.gc.ca →IRB Claimant’s Guide
What claimants need to know about the process, forms and the hearing.
irb-cisr.gc.ca →Chairperson’s Guideline 7
How Refugee Protection Division hearings are prepared and conducted.
irb.gc.ca →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 Sterna Global Immigration.
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 Gutierrez, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, RCIC-IRB, licence R712458, of Sterna Global Immigration Inc., under a written 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.