This guide provides information specific to using Microsoft Teams video conferencing technology to have a refugee hearing.
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Virtual hearings
A virtual hearing at the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is a refugee protection hearing, or the hearing of a Minister’s application to cease or vacate refugee protection, where participants use the Microsoft Teams software to connect to the hearing using their own devices from a private place like their home or counsel’s office. Claimants or protected persons may also access hearings from an IRB office if they lack the space and technology to do so elsewhere.
This guide provides information specific to using Microsoft Teams video conferencing technology to have a refugee hearing. For more general information about having a refugee hearing at the IRB, please see the RPD
Claimant's Guide.
Scheduling the virtual hearing
What participants need for a virtual hearing
In order to have a virtual hearing, participants should meet the following requirements:
Have a laptop, desktop, tablet computer, or smartphone with a camera (webcam) and access to high speed internet sufficient to reliably videoconference.
Alternatively, any claimants or protected persons who do not meet the above requirements but still want a virtual hearing may ask to connect to their hearing from an IRB office using an IRB computer.
How to request that a hearing be scheduled to proceed from an IRB office
For the foreseeable future, the RPD is only holding remote hearings. Claimants who do not want to have a remote hearing can advise the RPD of this when we are scheduling their claim. The RPD will then defer their hearing until on-site hearings generally resume at our offices.
Furthermore, if any party has an urgent or particularly sensitive case that requires an on-site hearing without delay, they can write to us to explain why they cannot proceed with a remote hearing and why they cannot wait to have the hearing until on-site hearings generally resume at IRB offices. The RPD will review each application on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please read the IRB's
announcement on remote-only hearings and RPD
Practice notice on scheduling virtual hearings.
Please note that this approach to scheduling is currently under review and may be revised in future.
How to change the format of an already-scheduled hearing
Once a hearing has been scheduled and the parties have received the Notice to Appear for the hearing, if any party, including the Minister, wishes to change the hearing format from a remote hearing to an on-site hearing at an IRB office, they should write to their
regional RPD registry office. Parties should state in their written application:
- why the hearing cannot proceed remotely
- whether the party wishes to proceed virtually using a computer at an IRB office or wishes to proceed in-person at an IRB office in the presence of other participants
- if the party wishes to proceed from an IRB office before on-site hearings generally resume at our offices, please explain why the case is urgent or particularly sensitive
The application must be made in writing, without delay, and must be received by the Division no later than 10 days before the date fixed for the next proceeding. As set out in the RPD
Practice notice on scheduling virtual hearings, the RPD will consider the circumstances of each request on a case-by-case basis.
Connecting to the virtual hearing
How parties receive information about connecting to the virtual hearing
The RPD is conducting virtual hearings using the Microsoft Teams videoconferencing technology. Microsoft Teams allows participants to connect to the hearing using their own devices, from their private premises or counsel’s office. Virtual hearings using Microsoft Teams are set up using email addresses. In advance of the hearing, the IRB Registry will send a hearing invitation link to counsel’s email address. Counsel should then share this link with each claimant, protected person, observer, or witness. This link will allow these participants to connect to the hearing.
How a witness or permitted observer connects to the virtual hearing
A witness or observer can participate in the virtual hearing via telephone or videoconferencing using Microsoft Teams. Normally, it is best to have the witness or observer connect to the hearing using Microsoft Teams. It is also possible to phone a witness or have a witness phone into the hearing to the phone number that will be associated with the hearing.
How to download the Microsoft Teams app
For a better user experience, it is recommended that you download the free Microsoft Teams app rather than use the web-based Microsoft Teams interface. For instructions on how to download the free Microsoft Teams mobile app, follow
Microsoft’s instructions.
Microsoft Teams is available in the language of your choice. To change the application’s language, click on your initials on the top right of the screen, select “Settings”, go to “General Settings”, scroll down, and select the language you want.
How to connect to the virtual hearing
- Participants can join a Microsoft Teams hearing by clicking on the purple ‘Join Microsoft Teams Meeting’ link included in the hearing invitation.
- Participants can watch a video showing each of the steps for how to click on this link and access the hearing on Microsoft Teams
on the help section of the Microsoft Teams website.
- All participants will normally wait separately in a virtual lobby.
- Registry staff will go online approximately 15 minutes before the hearing start time to greet the parties, answer any logistical questions, and ensure that the connection is working. Please wait patiently and do not exit the lobby if you are not immediately admitted. If you have joined the meeting early, the lobby may time out. If this occurs, please re-join the meeting.
What the buttons in the Microsoft Teams software do
During a virtual hearing using Microsoft Teams, participants will see the following options:
- Click on the
show participants icon to see a list of all the participants in the hearing
- Click on the
show conversation icon to see the chat window on the side of the screen
- Click on the
hand if you want to get the attention of the Member
- Click on the
ellipsis (…) for more options, including to check device settings, change the background, and turn off incoming video
- Click on the
camera icon to turn your video on and off
- Click on the
microphone icon to mute or unmute yourself
- Click on the
share icon to share all or part of your screen for other participants to see, for example if you want to show others a document
- Click on the
red phone icon to end the meeting when the hearing is finished
The web browser version of Microsoft Teams only displays the video of the person speaking. To prevent this,
pin those you want to see by clicking on ‘show participants’, clicking on the ellipsis next to the participant you want to pin, and selecting ‘Pin’.
How to check that your audio and video are working in advance of the hearing date
Participants should test the link that they receive to the virtual hearing in advance of the hearing date. While it is not necessary to download any particular software, for the best experience participants should download the Microsoft Teams app in advance of the hearing, and ensure they are familiar with the microphone, webcam, and speaker on their device.
In order to have a virtual hearing, one should have access to an internet connection that is stable and fast enough to facilitate reliable videoconferencing. Public networks, such as those in cafes, should not be used to access Microsoft Teams for the hearing. Normally, the speed of your network should be a minimum of 1.5 Mbps. You can test the speed of your network by
running a speed test on Google.
How virtual hearings are recorded
Counsel, parties, observers, and witnesses are prohibited from recording, by any means, the virtual hearing, including by taking photos or screenshots; all recording is to be done by the IRB.
The IRB will record the audio and video of the hearing through the Microsoft Teams recording function. When ‘recording’ is turned on in Microsoft Teams, each participant will receive an alert and see a red dot that indicates that the video and audio are being saved.
Participating in the virtual hearing
Tips to avoid technical problems
We do not recommend using a smartphone because of their small screens. If you do use a phone, do not hold it in your hand throughout the hearing, but instead position it in front of you in a stable position such as on a table.
Ensure you are in a quiet, distraction-free location, with good lighting, and minimal background noise. Use an appropriate camera angle and background for your video.
Privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of testimony
At the beginning of the hearing, the Member will have the participants introduce themselves and confirm that they are alone in their locations. The Member will remind all participants that the hearing is fully confidential. Participants should note that:
- All parties should normally be visible on screen throughout the hearing. This includes claimants, protected persons, their counsel, and counsel for the Minister. If this will not be possible, the party should bring this to the Member’s attention at the beginning of the hearing and the Member will be able to decide whether the hearing can continue virtually.
- The Member will ask observers, such as any IRB staff, UNHCR Representatives, support persons, or family members, to introduce themselves on the record, present themselves in front of the camera, and confirm that they will not participate in the hearing by any means.
- Claimants should not read from their Basis of Claim (BOC) form or from their notes during the hearing without obtaining permission from the Member.
- Witnesses must not communicate with anyone (other than their counsel) about their evidence during the hearing and during any breaks.
- Witnesses should ensure that the interpreter has enough time to fully interpret their responses to questions. To do this, witnesses should pause often to let the interpreter translate.
- Claimants, protected persons, and witnesses should not use their cell phones during the hearing if they are not using the Microsoft Teams app on their phones to connect to the virtual hearing. Claimants and protected persons may use their cell phone to communicate with their counsel at other times, for example during a break.
Audio and video quality during the virtual hearing
At the beginning of the hearing, the Member will confirm that the quality of the audio and video is adequate for all participants. Participants should alert the Member immediately if they experience any problems with video or audio quality during the hearing, including if they cannot see or hear other participants clearly, the connection begins to lag, they miss anything that is said, or they are disconnected during the hearing.
It is important that witnesses feel that the environment from which they are providing testimony is sufficiently private and confidential that they can freely give their testimony. Participants are to ensure, as best they can, that there will be no interruptions or distractions for the duration of the hearing. If disrupted by someone or something during the hearing, parties should advise the Member.
If issues that affect the fairness of the hearing arise and cannot be addressed, then the parties may request, or the Member may decide, that the virtual hearing be converted to an in-person hearing at an IRB office at a later date.
What to do if you have a connection or audio issue during the virtual hearing
If a connectivity or audio issue arises during the hearing, a participant should bring this to the attention of the Member immediately. If the connectivity issue persists and a participant is disconnected from the call, they should:
- Try reconnecting by clicking on the hearing invitation link again
- Try connecting from another device, such as a smartphone
- Call in using the telephone option in the email from the IRB with the hearing invitation link
- Call the IRB at the phone number provided by the Registry staff during check-in or the phone number on the Notice to Appear
How counsel and claimants can have private conversations during hearing breaks
It is expected that counsel and their clients will normally communicate with each other by phone during hearing breaks if they are not located together. The Microsoft Teams software indicates when it is recording, and parties should confirm that the Member has stopped the recording during any break when they are having a private conversation. Where a participant is accessing their hearing from an IRB office, the microphone connected to the computer has an off switch that they can press to ensure that their conversation during a break is private.
How to show the Member a document during the hearing
Participants can share their screens during the hearing using Microsoft Teams. For example, during submissions, counsel may wish to share their screen to point the Member to a part of a case they are looking at. Similarly, the Member may wish to show a document on the screen to the claimant. Participants can do this using the
share icon in Microsoft Teams. The help article on
‘showing your screen during a meeting’ on the Microsoft Teams video training website describes the process for doing this.
How counsel can get a Confirmation of Appearance form
For counsel in Quebec who require it, you can ask the Registry staff who set up the Microsoft Teams connection to provide you with a Confirmation of Appearance form following the hearing. If requested, Registry staff will send you a Confirmation of Appearance by fax or through the IRB portal, if you are registered, about 24 hours after the hearing.
If you did not request a Confirmation of Appearance before the hearing started, please submit a written request to the RPD Registry by fax (514-283-0164), by epost Connect, or by
email. Please note that requests submitted via email must be in the form of a PDF attachment. The subject line of the email must state the RPD file number, the date of the hearing, and the type of request (i.e. Confirmation of Appearance form). In your written request, please specify the duration of the hearing.
Getting help
If you have any questions, please contact the IRB Registry at the phone numbers listed on the IRB’s
contact information web page. Faxes and emails should be sent to the fax number and email address included in the Notice to Appear for a virtual hearing for the case.