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Should You Buy a Flight Ticket Before Withdrawal? Pros, Risks & CBSA View
Hi everyone,
In this thread I want to open a discussion on a question that many refugee claimants in Canada struggle with when they are thinking about ending their asylum process, also I will also share my own recommendation in this thread about whether you should buy your ticket before withdrawing your case or not. So stick with me, and let’s get started.
“Should I buy my flight ticket before withdrawing my refugee claim?”
It sounds simple… but in reality, this decision can affect how smoothly your withdrawal and removal process goes. There are pros, risks, and important CBSA considerations that people usually don’t know until it’s too late.
So let’s break it down clearly.
Why This Question Matters
When someone decides to voluntarily return to their home country, they often want to leave as soon as possible. Many think buying a ticket early will show CBSA that they’re serious about leaving.
But is it always a good idea?
Well… it depends on your situation.
✔ PROS of Buying a Ticket Before Withdrawal
1. Shows you are leaving voluntarily
CBSA generally views a pre-booked flight as a sign of good faith. It can sometimes speed up the removal process because it shows you’re not trying to delay anything. (In my own case I wanted to leave ASAP but CBSA told me not to book the ticket until they call me or send an email, so booking flight ticket in advance will not always help.)
2. Faster scheduling with CBSA
If you already have a confirmed departure date, CBSA can immediately issue you a Direction to Report for that flight.
No long waiting period.
3. Helps with personal planning
You can:
If you have no criminal issues, no misrepresentation, and no previous immigration violations, CBSA usually cooperates smoothly.
✖ RISKS of Buying a Ticket Too Early
1. Flight may NOT match CBSA’s schedule
CBSA decides when you are allowed to depart — not the airline, not you.
If they haven’t processed your file yet, they may:
2. CBSA might require an interview first
In Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, many people are required to attend a Departure/Removal Interview before CBSA signs off on the flight.
If you book too early, the interview date may be after your flight.
3. Passport may not be ready
If IRCC or CBSA is holding your passport, it might take:
4. You may lose money if withdrawal is delayed
Withdrawals are usually quick, but not always.
IRB may ask for additional confirmation or CBSA may need to review your file.
5. CBSA may prefer a direct flight
Some officers insist on:
✔ What CBSA Generally Prefers
Based on common patterns: CBSA usually prefers:
This prevents wasted money and avoids conflicting schedules.
👉 So What’s the Safest Strategy?
I would personally say that the safest and most stress-free approach is:
1. Decide to withdraw
2. Get your withdrawal accepted by IRB
3. Wait for CBSA removals to contact you
4. Confirm timing with CBSA
5. ONLY THEN buy your flight after CBSA gives you the green signal
This way:
Every case is different. Some people booked early and had no issues. Others booked early and lost hundreds of dollars.
What happened in your case?
In this thread I want to open a discussion on a question that many refugee claimants in Canada struggle with when they are thinking about ending their asylum process, also I will also share my own recommendation in this thread about whether you should buy your ticket before withdrawing your case or not. So stick with me, and let’s get started.
“Should I buy my flight ticket before withdrawing my refugee claim?”
It sounds simple… but in reality, this decision can affect how smoothly your withdrawal and removal process goes. There are pros, risks, and important CBSA considerations that people usually don’t know until it’s too late.
So let’s break it down clearly.
Why This Question Matters
When someone decides to voluntarily return to their home country, they often want to leave as soon as possible. Many think buying a ticket early will show CBSA that they’re serious about leaving.
But is it always a good idea?
Well… it depends on your situation.
✔ PROS of Buying a Ticket Before Withdrawal
1. Shows you are leaving voluntarily
CBSA generally views a pre-booked flight as a sign of good faith. It can sometimes speed up the removal process because it shows you’re not trying to delay anything. (In my own case I wanted to leave ASAP but CBSA told me not to book the ticket until they call me or send an email, so booking flight ticket in advance will not always help.)
2. Faster scheduling with CBSA
If you already have a confirmed departure date, CBSA can immediately issue you a Direction to Report for that flight.
No long waiting period.
3. Helps with personal planning
You can:
- Leave sooner
- Make travel arrangements
- Inform family
- Avoid long uncertainty
If you have no criminal issues, no misrepresentation, and no previous immigration violations, CBSA usually cooperates smoothly.
✖ RISKS of Buying a Ticket Too Early
1. Flight may NOT match CBSA’s schedule
CBSA decides when you are allowed to depart — not the airline, not you.
If they haven’t processed your file yet, they may:
- Reject your chosen date
- Ask you to rebook
- Delay your travel
- Not confirm your departure in time
2. CBSA might require an interview first
In Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, many people are required to attend a Departure/Removal Interview before CBSA signs off on the flight.
If you book too early, the interview date may be after your flight.
3. Passport may not be ready
If IRCC or CBSA is holding your passport, it might take:
- 1–4 weeks to retrieve
- Longer if your case is more complex
- Longer if you don't know which office holds it
4. You may lose money if withdrawal is delayed
Withdrawals are usually quick, but not always.
IRB may ask for additional confirmation or CBSA may need to review your file.
5. CBSA may prefer a direct flight
Some officers insist on:
- Direct routes
- No stopovers
- Certain airports
- Specific countries for connecting flights
✔ What CBSA Generally Prefers
Based on common patterns: CBSA usually prefers:
- You withdraw first
- THEN wait for them to contact you
- THEN book the flight after their approval
- OR book a ticket after discussing the date with your CBSA removals officer
This prevents wasted money and avoids conflicting schedules.
👉 So What’s the Safest Strategy?
I would personally say that the safest and most stress-free approach is:
1. Decide to withdraw
2. Get your withdrawal accepted by IRB
3. Wait for CBSA removals to contact you
4. Confirm timing with CBSA
5. ONLY THEN buy your flight after CBSA gives you the green signal
This way:
- Passport timing matches your flight
- CBSA gives you a clear window for departure
- You avoid losing money
- Everything flows smoothly
- Less stress overall
Every case is different. Some people booked early and had no issues. Others booked early and lost hundreds of dollars.
What happened in your case?
- Did you buy your ticket before or after withdrawal?
- Did CBSA accept the date you chose?
- Did you face any delays or problems?
- Were you in Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver?