{"id":2620,"date":"2026-11-14T01:18:51","date_gmt":"2026-11-14T01:18:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/basis-of-claim-form\/"},"modified":"2026-11-14T05:02:07","modified_gmt":"2026-11-14T05:02:07","slug":"basis-of-claim-form","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/basis-of-claim-form\/","title":{"rendered":"Basis of Claim form: why it decides your refugee claim"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 13, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 13, 2026: IRPA s. 99(3.1), the new IRPR s. 159.8 and the amended Refugee Protection Division Rules (in force November 3, 2026) checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

What it is:<\/strong> your written account of why you fear return, signed as complete, true and correct.<\/p>\n

When it’s due:<\/strong> since November 3, 2026, as part of the complete claim you give IRCC within 60 days after your claim is found eligible (one 30-day extension on request).<\/p>\n

Why it matters:<\/strong> at the hearing, the member compares everything you say to it. Why a lawyer<\/a><\/p>\n

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

\n

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

The Basis of Claim, or BOC, is the written story of your refugee claim: who you are, what happened to you, who you fear and why you can’t be protected at home. You sign a declaration that it’s complete, true and correct. At the hearing, the Refugee Protection Division member compares your testimony, your documents and your border interview against it. A strong BOC doesn’t win a claim by itself. A weak or inconsistent one can lose it.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, prepares Basis of Claim narratives with refugee claimants and represents them at the Refugee Protection Division, the Refugee Appeal Division and the Federal Court; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n

Update, November 13, 2026:<\/strong> for claims referred on or after November 3, 2026, Basis of Claim changes are due 5 days after the notice to appear. Read the news update<\/a>.
Update, November 13, 2026:<\/strong> new refugee claims must be completed with IRCC within 60 days of being found eligible, with one 30-day extension. Read the news update<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Why we prepare it with you<\/h2>\n

This is the document I spend the most time on with a new refugee client. Every later step builds on it: the evidence, the hearing, any appeal. Mistakes in it are hard to undo, because a change made later invites the question “why didn’t you say this before?”<\/p>\n

When it’s due (since November 3, 2026)<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Basis of Claim deadlines<\/caption>\n
Step<\/th>\nDeadline<\/th>\nSource<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Complete claim to IRCC, including the basis of claim information and declarations<\/td>\nWithin 60 days after your claim is found eligible, for port of entry and inland claims<\/td>\nIRPR s. 159.8; RPD Rules r. 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Extension<\/td>\nOne 30-day extension, if you ask before the 60 days end<\/td>\nIRPR s. 159.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Missed deadline<\/td>\nSent to the IRB for an abandonment process<\/td>\nRPD Rules r. 65.1; see the 60-day deadline to complete a claim<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Changes after referral<\/td>\nIn writing, within 5 days after you receive the notice to appear (transitional rules for older claims)<\/td>\nRPD Rules r. 7; see changing your Basis of Claim before the hearing<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Claims already referred to the IRB before November 3, 2026 continue under the old process.<\/p>\n

Why it matters more than any other document<\/h2>\n