will i qualify for legal aid in canada for my refugee application?

[hamasi]

i have a question,i want to claim my refugee application in canada,ON, but i have few questions.how can i know if i'll qualify for legal aid or not? because i arrived canada 2 monthes ago,by visa,and i want to apply next week,i have about 15china visa and usa visa in my last 10 years.i have no bank account,i have no income,i had my busines in my back country but dont have now,i will claim an application for under protection refugee,does any body have same situation?i'd be glad if someone help me.thank u

 

[szaib002]

I think you can apply. They will assess your case and see if it is a winning case I guess and approve. Otherwise, you need to cover the costs yourself. Also, don't wait too long to apply. You have already been here 2 months and that would negatively affect your case.

 

[hamasi]

i know its a negative point for me,but i scared to apply,maybe wjat if they reject?you mean if the immigiration belive that i will win the hearing,they will set me a legal aid lawyer?

 

[szaib002]

No, if the legal aid clinic believes you can win the hearing. I mean you won't know the results until you apply right? I know it could be hard being away from your home and loved ones in a totally different place and then on top of that fear of being rejected and being sent back to a place where you are on a risk of being persecuted. However, applying as soon as possible is important. Try to contact some organization which assists asylum seekers.

 

[canuck78]

No, if the legal aid clinic believes you can win the hearing. I mean you won't know the results until you apply right? I know it could be hard being away from your home and loved ones in a totally different place and then on top of that fear of being rejected and being sent back to a place where you are on a risk of being persecuted. However, applying as soon as possible is important. Try to contact some organization which assists asylum seekers.

Legal aid will assess your financial position. That is the major criteria for an initial application.

 

[zardoz]

Legal aid will assess your financial position. That is the major criteria for an initial application.

At least in Ontario, they assess the case as well.

http://www.legalaid.on.ca/en/getting/type_immigration_supportref.asp
"If you are financially eligible and your matter has merit, LAO may pay to:"

 

[canuck78]

At least in Ontario, they assess the case as well.

http://www.legalaid.on.ca/en/getting/type_immigration_supportref.asp
"If you are financially eligible and your matter has merit, LAO may pay to:"

Yes there are limited resources so makes sense. They seem to have really drawn the limit with appeals partially because it may not be clear whether the applicant has a valid case upon initial interview. Some asylum seekers may of course be reluctant to share their whole story right away.

 

[hamasi]

and do you know how many days i have after calling the immigration to hire a lawyer? or i should take a lawyer before?

 

[Curiousmind04]

i have a question,i want to claim my refugee application in canada,ON, but i have few questions.how can i know if i'll qualify for legal aid or not? because i arrived canada 2 monthes ago,by visa,and i want to apply next week,i have about 15china visa and usa visa in my last 10 years.i have no bank account,i have no income,i had my busines in my back country but dont have now,i will claim an application for under protection refugee,does any body have same situation?i'd be glad if someone help me.thank u

Yes you will most likely qualify my family and I did and we had been in Canada over 2 years without status(we had a good explanation as to why we took so long to apply- we came to Canada one after the next due to financial difficulties.) We had no bank account, no income except occasional work under the table, one child born while out of status etc etc. We called give them our reason for needing a lawyer and gave details of why we fled our country etc we had to give our story so they could fit us within the right category (the lady we spoke with even gave us some tips as to what would make our case strong before a judge as she realized we had been through alot as a family). In one day we were given legal aid certificate and a list of legal aid lawyers to choose from. The lawyers aren’t waste of time lawyers and the lawyer we chose was highly recommended not a flimsy one. Long story short legal aid covered everything until the end and today we are all Permanent Residents Glory to God.

 

[hamasi]

Yes you will most likely qualify my family and I did and we had been in Canada over 2 years without status, no bank account, no income except occasional work under the table, one child born while out of status etc etc. We called give them our reason for needing a lawyer and gave details of why we fled our country etc we had to give our story so they could fit us within the right category (the lady we spoke with even gave us some tips as to what would make our case strong before a judge as she realized we had been through alot as a family). In one day we were given legal aid certificate and a list of legal aid lawyers to choose from. The lawyers aren’t waste of time lawyers and the lawyer we chose was highly recommended not a flimsy one. Long story short legal aid covered everything until the end and today we are all Permanent Residents Glory to God.

but im here for 2monthes and i came canada withe a legal tourist visa that i get last year,i showed i have about 20,000$in my account(it was for one year ago as well)i have massive travel history(like 25travels).
and may i ask your nationality?

 

[Curiousmind04]

but im here for 2monthes and i came canada withe a legal tourist visa that i get last year,i showed i have about 20,000$in my account(it was for one year ago as well)i have massive travel history(like 25travels).
and may i ask your nationality?

I’m from Jamaica and I think you should apply now, it would make you scared thinking about your travel history etc but the longer you wait the harder it would be. We were able to apply after 2 years because we had a reasonable explanation. My family fled one by one because of financial difficulties etc I honestly don’t think you have anything to worry about once you have a well founded fear, you should take the steps necessary now. Call them give them your plea and have faith. We too came on a tourist visa and over stayed our time while fighting to get our family out of our country. So please don’t doubt yourself just pick up the phone first thing tomorrow and call LAO be ready to tell them about your situation as to why you want to file for refugee and need a lawyer. If you have no money now that’s understandable no matter how much you had when you came here. Once you are successfully approved then your lawyer would complete your application and you will then mention your addresses over the years ( including where you traveled) so for now stop worrying about travel history. Again have faith.

P.S two months is nothing to worrying about adding more months on that will be the problem.

 

[hamasi]

I’m from Jamaica and I think you should apply now, it would make you scared thinking about your travel history etc but the longer you wait the harder it would be. We were able to apply after 2 years because we had a reasonable explanation. My family fled one by one because of financial difficulties etc I honestly don’t think you have anything to worry about once you have a well founded fear, you should take the steps necessary now. Call them give them your plea and have faith. We too came on a tourist visa and over stayed our time while fighting to get our family out of our country. So please don’t doubt yourself just pick up the phone first thing tomorrow and call LAO be ready to tell them about your situation as to why you want to file for refugee and need a lawyer. If you have no money now that’s understandable no matter how much you had when you came here. Once you are successfully approved then your lawyer would complete your application and you will then mention your addresses over the years ( including where you traveled) so for now stop worrying about travel history. Again have faith.

P.S two months is nothing to worrying about adding more months on that will be the problem.

oh,i really do appreciate bro,you made me cry,thank you for the confidence and positive energy you sent me,god bless you and your family.

 

[canuck78]

oh,i really do appreciate bro,you made me cry,thank you for the confidence and positive energy you sent me,god bless you and your family.

You have nothing to lose by calling legal aid. They will either accept your case or refuse it and then you will know you have to hire a lawyer yourself.

 

[hamasi]

I’m from Jamaica and I think you should apply now, it would make you scared thinking about your travel history etc but the longer you wait the harder it would be. We were able to apply after 2 years because we had a reasonable explanation. My family fled one by one because of financial difficulties etc I honestly don’t think you have anything to worry about once you have a well founded fear, you should take the steps necessary now. Call them give them your plea and have faith. We too came on a tourist visa and over stayed our time while fighting to get our family out of our country. So please don’t doubt yourself just pick up the phone first thing tomorrow and call LAO be ready to tell them about your situation as to why you want to file for refugee and need a lawyer. If you have no money now that’s understandable no matter how much you had when you came here. Once you are successfully approved then your lawyer would complete your application and you will then mention your addresses over the years ( including where you traveled) so for now stop worrying about travel history. Again have faith.

P.S two months is nothing to worrying about adding more months on that will be the problem.

i called,it took about one hour,and i qualified for e legal aid.thank you

 

[hamasi]

My personal opinion, based on the fact that you were eligible to get visit visa, you might be well off and have good life there. Most of the tourists applying asylum here, are not in real danger. Real danger is someone hiding in the basement, no food, fear or death, don't have phone or internet to come into forum and chat.
Lot of people just think, canada is a dreamland. 20000 dollar might be a huge money for a business and respected life in your home country.
I saw people came here claimed asylum, took 3-4 years to get PR then another 5 yrs for citizenship. working 10$ job, barely able to eat, taking social assistance. It's a low life. Doesn't matter it's canada or not. Would you stand out in a line to get handout food? same person taking handout food here? It's same, it's shameful. They way you look at your servant there, people would look same way here.
Once you realize, you might not have time and money to go back. You will think, I lost everything and my country people don't know what I am doing here. lets stay here. May be I will buy 200$ BMW, 1985 model., take a picture of the logo and upload in facebook and people would say, I drive BMW, but a good pontiac worth more than that but no one back home would understand. Some might a I work in a multinational company here in canada but in fact he/she is a janitor at walmart. Please think . I am telling you , you might a highly respected and richer life there than 90% of the immigrants here.

it was your personal experience,and not a rule,the situation from a case to another case is completely different bro,just help together,and god bless all of us