How long does it take before a decision is made on a refugee protection claim?
New legislation was passed in Parliament in June in a bid to speed the processing of refugees. Under the new guidelines, claims are to be heard within 60 to 90 days and illegitimate claimants are to be moved out within two years. Citizenship and Immigration Canada notes, however, that the changes will be implemented within the next 12 to 18 months. In 2008-09, the average processing time for each claim was 16.5 months and the processing cost of each claim totalled $4,100. In some cases, a decision can be reached within six months, according to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
