Pre-removal risk assessment: Virtual hearings

We now hold all pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) hearings remotely.

On this page

• If we schedule a hearing with you
• Download and practice using Microsoft Teams
• Connect to your virtual hearing
• What happens in a virtual hearing
• Privacy and security in a virtual hearing
• If you don’t show up for your hearing

If we schedule a hearing with you

After we review your PRRA application, we’ll decide if we need a hearing to finalize your application. If we decide to schedule a hearing with you, we’ll send you a “notification of hearing” letter. This letter will include:

• the date and time of your hearing
• information about the hearing, and
• a consent and waiver of liability form for you to sign

Your hearing will be remote and virtual. This means you will:

• use your own, or your representative’s, device (like a laptop, desktop computer, tablet or smartphone) to connect to your hearing
• take part in the hearing from a private place (like your home or your representative’s office)

To take part in a remote virtual hearing, you must have:

• a laptop, desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone
• high speed internet that lets you videoconference
• a private place (like your home or your representative’s office)
• a telephone (in case there is a connection issue)
• a secure home or office technology setup

If you need an interpreter, complete the “interpreter and observer” request form that comes with your notification of hearing letter. The officer must arrange for an interpreter for you if you submit this form. Before and during your hearing, the interpreter is under contract with us.

If you can’t take part in a remote virtual hearing

If it isn’t possible for you to take part in a remote virtual hearing, you can request to have either an on-site virtual hearing or an in-person hearing.

You must explain to us why you can’t go to a virtual hearing. For instructions on how to do this (submit your “accommodation request”), refer to your notification of hearing letter.

We can set up on-site virtual hearings for applicants who don’t have access to the needed equipment or private place, or have other concerns about taking part in a remote virtual hearing. With this option, you’ll use a computer at an IRCC office to take part in the hearing virtually.

We can hold in-person hearings if necessary:

• for fairness and natural justice
• to protect your health, safety, or security
• for other reasons, like vulnerabilities not already covered

Important: We’ll hold your hearing remotely unless we get an accommodation request from you.

If you want other people to join your virtual hearing

You can bring a representative with you to your hearing. An immigration representative is someone who can:

• explain or give advice on an application 
• represent you in an immigration application or hearing, and
• communicate with us on your behalf (if you’ve appointed them as your representative)

You can also ask to have observers join your hearing. This can be a family member or support person. We’ll review your request to have this person join and let you know if we approve it.

You can’t bring witnesses, unless an officer needs to hear from someone else to confirm evidence.

Download and practice using Microsoft Teams

We hold virtual hearings using Microsoft Teams. You can use Teams either:

• on your desktop (using a web browser like Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge) or
• in the Microsoft Teams application

You can download the free Microsoft Teams application, instead of using it in a web browser. The application is easier to use.

Download Microsoft Teams.

Before the day of your hearing, you should try using the Teams application. There are a lot of options in the application. It would be helpful to know what they are and what they can do.

Some of the options you have in Teams include:

• turning your camera and microphone on and off
• raising your hand (if you want to speak when someone else is already talking)
• viewing the list of people who are connected to the hearing
• sharing your screen (for example, if you want to show a digital document)

You may also want to:

• read the Getting started in Microsoft Teams page for more information about what you can do
• find out how to change the language in Teams (on either desktop or mobile), if you need to
• visit the Microsoft Teams support page for detailed information and training videos

Connect to your virtual hearing

Get your hearing invitation link

Before your hearing, we’ll email a hearing invitation link:

• to your representative or
• directly to you, if you don’t have a representative

This link will let you, your representative, and anyone else who will join your hearing, connect to the hearing.

You can connect to your hearing through this link using:

• a web browser (like Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge) or
• the Microsoft Teams application

2. Get Microsoft Teams

If you haven’t already downloaded the Microsoft Teams application, you should do this now. If you can, make sure you have time to practice using the application before your hearing.

3. Join your virtual hearing

Join your virtual hearing 15 minutes before it starts. You can find the start time in your notification of hearing letter. To join, go to the invitation email we sent you and click:

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting.

You’ll be directed to a page on your default web browser with these 2 options:

• Go to the Microsoft Teams application
  • Choose this option if you already have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your device.
• Join on the web instead
  • Choose this option if you want to connect through your web browser. If your browser is not supported this page will let you know and will suggest another browser to use.

You must:

• type in your full name (first and last name) to join the meeting and
• give Microsoft Teams access to your camera and microphone

You’ll wait in a virtual lobbyuntil a local IRCC office employee accepts you into the hearing room. If you join the meeting too early, you’ll be removed from the virtual lobby after 15 minutes. If this happens, you can reconnect to your hearing again through the link in your email.

Learn more about joining a Microsoft Teams meeting.

What happens in a virtual hearing

When the hearing starts

An officer will confirm the audio and video are working properly for everyone. Let them know right away if you:

• can’t hear or see the video properly (at any point during your hearing)
• get disconnected

Find out what to do if you get disconnected or have audio or video problems.

Then the officer will ask you (and everyone else who joined the hearing) to:

• introduce yourself on the record
• present yourself on camera and
• confirm you’re alone

Anyone who can’t take part in the hearing (like support people and family members) must also confirm they won’t do so.

The officer will also remind everyone that the hearing is confidential.

What to do during your hearing

• Have your camera turned on at all times. If you can’t keep your camera on, let the officer know at the start of your hearing. They will decide if the hearing can continue.
• Give the interpreter (if there is one) enough time to fully translate your responses while you’re speaking.
• Don’t use your cell phone unless you’re using the Microsoft Teams application to connect to your hearing. Wait until you’re on a break to use it (if you need to).
• Mute yourself and turn off your camera if you need to speak to your representative privately during a break.

If you get disconnected or have audio or video problems

You must let us know right away if you get disconnected or have problems hearing or seeing the video. To do this:

• write in the chat or raise your hand in Microsoft Teams (if you’re still connected)
• contact your representative (if you’re disconnected)

If the problem continues:

• try to reconnect through the link in your hearing invitation email
• switch to another device and connect again through the link
• call in using the telephone number in your hearing invitation email

If you still have problems or can’t rejoin the hearing:

• tell your representative (if you have one)
• call the Case Processing Agent who scheduled your hearing or the phone number in your notification of hearing letter, or
• send an email to the email address in your notification of hearing letter

The officer will:

• pause your hearing until you can reconnect, or
• reschedule your hearing for another day if you can’t reconnect

If these problems can’t be fixed you can ask to reschedule your hearing for another day. The officer may also decide to reschedule the hearing.

Privacy and security in a virtual hearing

If you connect to your virtual hearing on your own personal computer or phone, there is a risk that a third party could access your information. We have no control over how secure your personal devices are. Make sure you know how to secure your devices before you connect to your hearing.

Recording

We won’t record audio or video of your hearing. The officer hearing your case will take detailed notes of the testimony for the record.  

Nobody taking part in the hearing can record audio or video. This includes:

• yourself
• your representative
• any observer or support person

You can also take notes, if you like.

If you don’t show up for your hearing

You must come to your virtual hearing on the scheduled date and time. You must tell us right away if something happens that stops you from taking part.

If you don’t connect to your virtual hearing within 30 minutes of the start time, we will

• cancel your hearing
• send you a notice for a new oral hearing

If you don’t show up at your second hearing, we’ll declare your application abandoned and you will be removed from Canada.