{"id":46104,"date":"2014-03-18T20:14:29","date_gmt":"2014-03-19T00:14:29","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-02-14T17:19:04","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T22:19:04","slug":"what-are-some-other-differences-between-hc-application-and-refugee-claim","status":"publish","type":"publications-page","link":"https:\/\/www.cleo.on.ca\/en\/publications-page\/what-are-some-other-differences-between-hc-application-and-refugee-claim","title":{"rendered":"What are some other differences between an H&C application and a refugee claim?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
H&C Applications<\/strong><\/th>\nRefugee Claims<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
H&C applications Refugee claims An H&C applicant does not usually get an interview. IRCC almost always makes a decision based on the written application.<\/td>\nA refugee claimant has the right to a hearing at the IRB unless their claim is not eligible.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Being well-established in Canada, with a work history and strong family relationships, increases an applicant’s chances of success.<\/td>\nBeing established in Canada is not relevant to a refugee claim.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IRCC must consider any H&C reasons an applicant should be allowed to stay. They cannot look at risks in the same way the IRB does when it decides a refugee claim. But a situation that puts someone at risk may also cause hardship and support an H&C application.<\/p>\n

For example, a woman who is at risk because of an abusive spouse in her home country may be able to show H&C reasons she should not be forced to return.<\/td>\n

The IRB only considers risks that fit into the “Convention refugee” and “person in need of protection” definitions..<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IRCC must consider the best interests of any child under the age of 18 who could be directly affected by their decision.<\/td>\nThe IRB decides a claim based only on whether a claimant fits the definition of a Convention refugee or person in need of protection.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Making an H&C application does not give an applicant the right to stay in Canada until IRCC decides.<\/p>\n

But if they are approved at the first stage, then they can stay while IRCC considers their application at the second stage.<\/td>\n

A refugee claimant can stay in Canada until the IRB decides their claim.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
An H&C applicant can apply for a work or study permit after their application is approved at the first stage.<\/p>\n

An H&C applicant does not get health-care coverage through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).<\/p>\n

But they may be able to apply to IRCC and ask that the IFHP pay all or some of an urgent or essential health-care cost.<\/td>\n

A refugee claimant who is waiting for the IRB to decide their claim, can apply for a work or study permit, or both.<\/p>\n

A refugee claimant gets health-care coverage through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

An H&C applicant and their family members must meet all the conditions for permanent residence, at the second stage. These conditions include certain health standards and the ability to support themselves financially.<\/p>\n

In some cases, they may need to ask IRCC to excuse them from a condition that they do not meet. For example, from the condition that they can support themselves financially.<\/td>\n

A successful refugee claimant can apply for permanent residence as a protected person. In that category, they do not have to meet all the usual conditions to get permanent residence.<\/p>\n

For example, they do not have to show that they can support themselves financially, that they meet the usual health standards, or that their family members meet these conditions.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

An H&C applicant who is successful at both stages becomes a permanent resident. There are situations when a permanent resident can lose that status and be forced to leave Canada. For example, if they commit a crime that is considered serious under immigration law.<\/td>\nA successful refugee claimant gets the status of a protected person and will, in most cases, also become a permanent resident. But if they lose their status as a permanent resident, they might not be forced to leave Canada. This is because they still have the status of a protected person. In most cases the law does not allow a protected person to be sent back to a country where they would be at risk.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A successful H&C applicant who becomes a permanent resident does not risk losing their permanent resident status only because they travel to or get a passport from their country of nationality.<\/td>\nA person could lose their status as a protected person and permanent resident if they voluntarily go back under the protection of the country they claimed refugee protection against. This could happen if they travel to or get a passport from that country. They could then be forced to leave Canada.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
An H&C applicant must pay a fee to apply.<\/p>\n

An H&C applicant who is successful at the first stage pays an additional Right of Permanent Residence Fee.<\/td>\n

There is no fee to make a refugee claim.<\/p>\n

A protected person pays a processing fee to apply for permanent residence but does not pay a Right of Permanent Residence Fee.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\n

There are more differences between an H&C application and a refugee claim. These differences can be important to a woman’s situation. It is important to get legal advice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-46104","publications-page","type-publications-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat are some other differences between an H&C application and a refugee claim? - CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario \/ \u00c9ducation juridique communautaire Ontario)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cleo.on.ca\/en\/publications-page\/what-are-some-other-differences-between-hc-application-and-refugee-claim\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What are some other differences between an H&C application and a refugee claim? - CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario \/ \u00c9ducation juridique communautaire Ontario)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"H&C Applications Refugee Claims H&C applications Refugee claims An H&C applicant does not usually get an interview. 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