Welcome to the club.
In the first interview, no questions, just hand over the passport and any ID, 2-4 photos, give your biometrics. Finished.
In the second interview, the eligibility interview, you may be asked questions regarding your BOC, about yourself, for the officer to determine your eligibility. If determined as eligible, you will be given the claimant document (refugee ID), few papers including the conditional removal order. Some claimants will receive the claimant document without being asked any questions. Some people receive the work permit on spot, some receive the work permit even before the eligibility interview. Others may receive the work permit after the eligibility interview.
If deemed eligible, your file will be forwarded to IRB. IRB will contact you to determine whether your claim needs a full hearing, short hearing, or only the file review process. If at the end you get a positive decision, you become a protected person. Otherwise, you will have few options, if you are eligible for any.
Now to the estimated timeline for each
Take a deep breath.
Do you know how to count to 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000?
You have to learn to be patient, really patient, really really patient.
For the 1st interview (biometrics), this may take place within 1-4 months from completing the medical.
For the 2nd interview (eligibility), this again may take place within 1-4 months from the 1st interview.
For the IRB hearing/decision, this take from 9 months (if you are so lucky), up to more than 2 years.
Based on the huge backlog (over 165,000 refugee claims), it is reasonable to expect really long wait periods, but no one knows.
If you get a positive decision from IRB, you become eligible to apply for PR. This process will - again - take at least 2 years and possibly even more.
Try to look for a job, try to improve yourself, your skills. If you can't find any job, try to do some volunteer engagements.
Get yourself busy. Don't overthink. It is a long, long process.
