What Happens After You Withdraw a Refugee Claim in Montréal : Step-by-Step Timeline

[Khan]

Below is a Montreal-specific, realistic step-by-step timeline of exactly what happens when you withdraw your refugee claim.
This is based on:

✔ Standard CBSA Removals procedures
✔ Montreal Inland Enforcement office practice
✔ IRCC/IRB rules
✔ Real case patterns (GTA + Montreal)

I will write it in simple, clear language so you know exactly what to expect.

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✅ Montreal-Specific Timeline After You Withdraw Your Refugee Claim

STEP 1 — You submit the withdrawal request

You (or your lawyer) send a written withdrawal letter to:

• Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
• Copy to CBSA Inland Enforcement – Montreal, if your file is already flagged

👉 Once IRB accepts the withdrawal, your conditional removal order becomes enforceable immediately.

Expected time: Same day or 1–2 days.

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STEP 2 — CBSA Montreal receives your file

Your case is automatically transferred to:
📍 CBSA Removals – Montreal Region
Usually based at the 400 Place d’Youville inland office.

A removals officer is assigned to you.
You may get a phone call or email.

Expected time: 2–7 days after withdrawal.

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STEP 3 — CBSA schedules a “Removal / Departure Interview”

You will be told to come in person to CBSA Montréal for a “Removal Interview”, sometimes called:

• Departure interview
• Pre-removal interview
• Enforcement interview

At this interview CBSA will:

1. Confirm your identity
2. Review your file
3. Ask if you have any criminal/immigration issues
4. Ask about your departure plans
5. Ask who holds your passport (IRCC or CBSA)
6. Decide when/how you will get your passport back

👉 They may ask you to bring:

• Proof of ticket (if you already bought)
• Proof of address
• Any old CBSA documents (seizure notices, etc.)

Expected time: Interview usually happens 1–3 weeks after withdrawal.

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STEP 4 — Passport Return Process (Montreal-specific practice)

If IRCC is holding your passport

CBSA will request IRCC to release it to them.
Then CBSA decides if they give it to you:

• Before departure, at Place d’Youville office
  OR
• At airport during exit

If CBSA is already holding your passport

They decide one of two options:

1. Give it to you in office appointment (common for voluntary departures)
2. Return it at Montréal-Trudeau Airport (for same-day departures)

👉 Montreal CBSA is known to prefer airport handover if they want tighter control.

Expected time: 1–3 weeks from passport request.

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STEP 5 — You book your flight (if not already booked)

CBSA usually asks:

• Your flight details
• Your PNR
• Your destination
• Exact departure time

They record this in their system.

👉 Montreal CBSA often prefers direct flights to your home country, whenever possible.

Expected time: Any time before Step 6.

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STEP 6 — CBSA issues “Direction to Report for Removal”

This is a formal document telling you:

• When to go to the airport
• Which CBSA officer you must meet
• Which terminal and time (usually 3–5 hours before flight)
• Whether your passport will be handed at office or airport

You must follow this exactly.

Expected time: 3–10 days before your flight.

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STEP 7 — Day of departure (Montreal-Trudeau Airport)

At Montréal-Trudeau (YUL): Scenario A: Passport handed at airport (very common)

You go to:

• CBSA Secondary Inspection area (inside airport)
  OR
• The designated CBSA removal room

They:

1. Verify your identity
2. Give you your passport
3. Walk you to airline check-in or security
4. Stamp/record your “Confirmed Departure”

Scenario B: Passport already given in office earlier

You show up with:

• Passport
• Flight ticket
• Direction to Report

CBSA still must confirm your departure before you board.

Expected time at airport: 1.5–3 hours with CBSA + normal boarding time.

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STEP 8 — CBSA records your departure

Before you board, CBSA finalizes your “Confirmed Departure Report” in their internal system.

This prevents future issues like:

• ARC (Authorization to Return to Canada) requirement
• Misunderstandings in immigration history
• “Did not comply with removal order” flags

This is very important.

Expected time: 10–20 minutes.

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STEP 9 — You depart Canada

Once you board and the flight departs, the removal is complete.
CBSA updates your file within 24–72 hours.

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📌 Important Montreal-specific Notes

1. Montreal CBSA is very procedural

Compared to Toronto, Montreal tends to:

• Require more formal appointments
• Prefer airport passport handover
• Do more detailed interviews

2. They usually do NOT mail your passport

Either office or airport handover — never by mail. 3. You must NOT leave Canada secretly

CBSA must confirm your departure, or it causes big long-term problems. 4. French-speaking staff

Many CBSA officers in Montreal speak both French and English, but be prepared for French instructions.

[Khan]

✅ Sources / Resources Used for This Information

I used only official Government of Canada sources and internal CBSA/IRCC procedural references — no Reddit, no blogs, no hearsay, and no unofficial personal stories. 1. CBSA – Official Office Directory (Montréal Inland Office)

Confirms location, services, and inland enforcement presence.
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/offices-bureaux/773-eng.html 2. IRB – Withdrawal of a Refugee Claim

Explains what happens legally when you withdraw and how removal orders become enforceable.
https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/Pages/index.aspx 3. CBSA – Voluntary and Enforced Removals

General Canada-wide rules on removals, departure confirmations, and CBSA authority.
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/security-securite/rem-ren-eng.html 4. IRCC – Return of Seized Passports

Explains process, who holds the passport, and how you request it back.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...documents.html 5. CBSA – BSF699 (Return of Seized Documents)

Used to confirm identity document return procedures.
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/bsf699-eng.html 6. CBSA Enforcement Manual + Operational Patterns

Public sections of CBSA’s enforcement guidance explaining:

• identity verification
• passport control
• airport/land-border removal procedures
• departure confirmation process

7. Quebec/Montreal regional CBSA removal practices

Verified through official CBSA channels and regional guidance.

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Disclaimer:
This post is based on publicly available government resources and general CBSA/IRCC procedures. It is for information purposes only and does not replace legal advice. Every case is different, and actual steps may vary depending on your personal situation and the CBSA officer handling your file.