Urgent immigration deadlines

Overview

Urgent immigration deadlines

Canadian immigration deadlines arise from statutes, tribunal rules, court rules and individual letters. The shortest controlling deadline should be identified before gathering the ideal evidence or requesting government notes.

Preserve appeal and court time

IAD notices can be due in 15, 30 or 60 days depending on the matter; Federal Court immigration deadlines are generally 15 days for Canadian matters and 60 for overseas matters. Confirm the rule for the actual decision.

File protective proceedings where appropriate.

Protect temporary status

Extensions must be filed before expiry to create maintained status. Restoration is generally limited to 90 days and does not normally authorize work or study while pending.

A passport expiry can shorten a permit unexpectedly.

Respond to letter-specific dates

Procedural fairness, medical, biometric, passport and additional-document letters each state their own deadline and upload channel. Ask for an extension before expiry with evidence of efforts.

A web form sent elsewhere may not count as the required response.

Treat removal as immediately urgent

A CBSA reporting date, removal interview or scheduled removal may require rapid Federal Court stay analysis. Judicial review alone does not stop removal.

Keep the removal direction, itinerary, decision history and proof of harm together for review.