Can I appear before the Appeals Board?
The procedure before the Immigration Appeals Board is generally in writing. The Appeals Board may, if it sees reason to, offer applicants for international protection the opportunity to appear before the board to express themselves on the substance of the case or specific aspects of it, as circumstances dictate. If the Appeals Board deems it appropriate to invite the applicant to appear before the board, an invitation is sent to the representative.
Applicants usually attend with their representative who guides them on how the hearing proceeds. The Appeals Board ensures, as far as possible, that communication with the board takes place in a language that the applicant can speak and understand sufficiently well. If necessary, the Appeals Board provides an interpreter. If the applicant speaks and understands English sufficiently well, the hearing can be conducted in English.