Canada has begun issuing formal notices to tens of thousands of refugee claimants warning they may be ineligible for asylum under newly tightened immigration rules, prompting concern among applicants and advocacy groups.
An immigration expert told The Australia Today that these letters may have also been issued to some applicants from India who have claimed asylum on the basis of alleged or unsubstantiated Khalistan-related grounds after arriving here on international student or visitor visas.
As per CBC, approximately 30,000 individuals have received what are known as “procedural fairness letters” from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
These letters inform applicants that their claims may not meet eligibility requirements and give them a limited window to respond with additional information.
Officials stressed the notices are not immediate deportation orders but part of a standard process that allows applicants to address concerns before a final decision is made.
The move follows the passage of Bill C-12, which significantly tightens the timeframe and conditions under which asylum claims can be lodged. The law applies retroactively to claims made after June 3, 2025, and affects individuals who entered Canada as far back as June 2020.
Under the updated rules, claimants who waited more than one year after arriving in Canada to file for asylum may be deemed ineligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Others who crossed irregularly from the United States and failed to lodge a claim within 14 days could also be barred.
Letters seen by media outlets warn some applicants that they “must leave Canada as soon as possible” if found ineligible, or risk facing a deportation order. However, many may still apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA), which allows officials to evaluate potential risks if the individual is returned to their home country.
Canadian authorities say the reforms are aimed at improving efficiency and addressing backlogs in the asylum system. But critics argue the retroactive nature of the law and the scale of the notices could leave vulnerable individuals in legal uncertainty.
The development marks one of the most significant shifts in Canada’s refugee processing system in recent years, with thousands now racing against time to justify their eligibility or prepare for possible removal.
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