{"id":2512,"date":"2026-11-13T00:30:28","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T00:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/cbsa-interview-removal-what-to-expect\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T04:15:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T04:15:00","slug":"cbsa-interview-removal-what-to-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/cbsa-interview-removal-what-to-expect\/","title":{"rendered":"Called in for a CBSA interview about removal: the different interviews and what to expect"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 12, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2019, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 12, 2026: IRPA ss. 44, 55 and 57, IRPR ss. 232 and 245, and CBSA’s removals page checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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What they are:<\/strong> interviews on the enforcement track, from the first review of your status to setting your removal date.<\/p>\n

What to know:<\/strong> the questions at a removal interview are asked on purpose. Your answers help CBSA decide whether you are a flight risk and whether to detain you.<\/p>\n

Why a lawyer:<\/strong> a lawyer usually can’t speak for you at these interviews, so the work happens before and between them. Why a lawyer<\/a><\/p>\n

Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Our immigration lawyers<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PrabhpreetPrabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
\n

Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.<\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a><\/strong> focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

A call-in letter from the Canada Border Services Agency can mean several different things. CBSA uses interviews at each stage of the enforcement process: to review a possible breach of the Act, to invite you to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment, to give you a decision, to set your removal date, and to impose reporting conditions. This guide covers those enforcement and removal interviews. It is different from an admissibility or security interview about an application you have made; for those, see {L_2170}. At removal interviews, CBSA generally does not let lawyers speak on your behalf, so in most cases having a lawyer attend is not worth the cost. What matters is preparing beforehand and acting on what happens there.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, advises people before and after CBSA enforcement interviews, and brings deferral requests, PRRAs, stays and detention reviews; this guide is by Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha.<\/p>\n

The kinds of CBSA interviews<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
CBSA enforcement interviews<\/caption>\n
Interview<\/th>\nWhy you are called<\/th>\nWhat can happen<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Minister’s delegate review<\/td>\nCBSA believes you breached the Act, for example you were out of status or failed to declare information on an application<\/td>\nCBSA may hold your passport, write a section 44 report and, in some cases, issue a removal order<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PRRA invitation<\/td>\nYou have an enforceable removal order and may be eligible for a PRRA<\/td>\nYou are given the PRRA application and deadline; the removal is stayed while it is decided (IRPR s. 232)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PRRA decision<\/td>\nYour PRRA has been decided<\/td>\nThe decision may be given to you in person or orally; you may be given a removal date<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Removal interview<\/td>\nYour removal order is enforceable<\/td>\nA removal date is set, and you are told to confirm your departure<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reporting conditions<\/td>\nUsually at the earliest stage possible<\/td>\nConditions such as reporting in person or electronically a set number of times a week<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Section 44 reports are explained in a section 44 letter for permanent residents<\/a> and a section 44 report on a work or study permit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the removal interview<\/h2>\n

Sometimes the removal date is given at the PRRA decision interview, sometimes at a later interview. You will be asked to confirm your departure by a certain date, usually with a ticket you buy yourself; if you can’t or won’t pay, CBSA buys one. CBSA’s own page says people subject to removal orders must pay their own travel costs, must surrender their travel documents, and must present themselves as directed. CBSA will typically ask:<\/p>\n