The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada is a department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The IRB is responsible for making well-reasoned decisions on immigration and refugee matters, efficiently, fairly and in accordance with the law. The IRB decides, among other responsibilities, who needs refugee protection among the thousands of claimants who come to Canada annually. The IRB reports to the Canadian government through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

The operations are overseen by the Chairperson, currently Jean-Guy Fleury (appointed November 29, 2002 and Marilyn Stuart-Major as Executive Director.

Through the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the IRB consists of four tribunals which are referred to as divisions. These divisions are as follows:

• Refugee Protection Division
• Immigration Division
• Immigration Appeal Division
• Refugee Appeal Division

External link:

• Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Website (http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/index_e.htm)
• Immigration and Refugee Board Online forms (http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/forms/index_e.htm)