"Asylum Claim in Canada: Claim at the Airport or After Entry?"
- Thread starter CanadaSC
- Start date
Thank you so much for your reply. At the airport, do they offer any hotel for a couple of months?
yes, they do a hotel and a car with a driver and food as well of course. and free trips to Niagara and other attractions as well
The Canadian federal govt does not manage or guarantee accommodation for asylum seekers. It's mostly done through non-profits at provincial or municipal levels who manage shelters, etc. The hotel accommodation you are referring to was probably during COVID era due to quarantine requirements.
If you don't have a place to stay, you will probably be sent to a shelter. IF your claim is admitted and referred to IRB, the govt assistance program called RAP (which is managed through Service Provider Organizations) will take a few weeks to kick in. IF eligible for RAP as a govt. assisted refugee, the claimant could receive emergency housing.
It's not really as rosy as it appears and the process will test your patience and cause more suffering in some cases. If CBSA determines the claim as not valid, they will issue a TRP and allow entry in to Canada with a removal date. You can apply for PRRA but you won't have any govt assistance so if you don't have any money, you are screwed.
You can try refugee housing finder websites like these: https://refugeeshousedhere.ca/
Also, take time to read these.
https://help.unhcr.org/canada/how-to-apply-for-asylum-new/what-happens-after-you-claim-asylum/
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2017/03/claiming_asylum_incanadawhathappens.html