What happens at a special hearing?

The Refugee Protection Division can decide that a claimant’s refugee protection claim has been ‘abandoned’. This would mean that the claimant loses the right to make their refugee claim.

Here are some examples of when this might happen:

• The claimant failed to appear for a refugee protection hearing or an earlier special hearing. 
• The claimant filed a Basis of Claim Form that was not fully completed or signed. 
• The claimant failed to provide contact information or did not respond to communication from the Refugee Protection Division.