Mandamus in Canadian Immigration
A&M Canadian Immigration Law Corporation
Mandamus in Canadian Immigration
In Canadian immigration,
delays can sometimes be as harmful as refusals. Applicants may wait months —
even years — for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the
Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to make a decision on their case. When these
delays become unreasonable and cause hardship, the legal remedy of mandamus may be available.
A writ of mandamus is
an extraordinary remedy from the Federal Court of Canada that compels an
immigration authority to perform its legal duty — in other words, to make a
decision when it is unlawfully delaying one.
What is Mandamus?
Mandamus is a judicial
order that directs a public authority (such as IRCC or the IRB) to act
where:
- The authority has a clear duty to decide, and
- It has failed to do so within a reasonable
timeframe.
It does not decide the
outcome of your application (approval or refusal). Instead, it forces IRCC/IRB
to process and decide your application in accordance with the law.
The 8-Part Test for
Mandamus
The leading case Apotex
Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), [1994] 1 FC 742 (CA) established an eight-part
test that applicants must satisfy to succeed in mandamus.
- Public legal duty to act – IRCC/IRB must have a clear duty under the law
to make a decision.
- Duty owed to the applicant – The duty must be owed specifically to you,
not the public in general.
- Clear right to performance – You must have met all conditions of your
application (e.g., submitted documents, paid fees, completed
biometrics/medicals).
- No discretion left – The authority must not have the option to
simply refuse to act; they must eventually decide.
- Ministerial act required – The duty involves making a decision, not a
broad policy choice.
- No other adequate remedy – Reapplying or waiting longer is not
sufficient. Mandamus must be the only effective remedy.
- Practical value in granting mandamus – The order must have a real effect (e.g.,
forcing IRCC to decide within a set period).
- Equitable relief appropriate – The Court must be satisfied it is fair to
order IRCC to act, balancing your rights with administrative realities.
In practice, Federal Court
judges often condense these into three core questions:
- Does IRCC/IRB have a legal duty to decide?
- Has the applicant done everything required and
been waiting unreasonably long?
- Is mandamus the only practical solution?
When is Mandamus
Available?
Mandamus is considered when:
- Permanent residence applications are stuck in processing for years.
- Work permits or study permits are unreasonably delayed despite biometrics and
medicals being complete.
- Refugee hearings are not scheduled within a fair period.
Security Checks and
Mandamus
What Security Checks Are
Security checks are part of
Canada’s admissibility process under IRPA. They may involve:
- CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) – screening for terrorism, espionage, or
national security risks.
- RCMP – criminal record and law enforcement database checks.
- International partners – Interpol or allied country databases.
Why They Cause Delays
- IRCC depends on external agencies, which
may take months or years.
- Complex travel histories, military service, or
work in sensitive sectors often trigger extended reviews.
- IRCC rarely shares details, citing security
confidentiality.
How Courts Handle Delays
- Security screening is recognized as necessary.
- But delays must still be reasonable. In Conille
v. Canada (1999 FC), the Court warned against leaving applicants in
“administrative limbo.”
- Courts weigh the length of delay, the
transparency of updates, and whether the delay is proportionate to case
complexity.
Outcomes
- DOJ Consent: Often the Department of Justice agrees to resolve the delay,
committing IRCC to act within a set timeline.
- Court Order: A judge may compel IRCC to decide or provide evidence of progress.
- No Guarantee of Speed: Sometimes the Court accepts the delay but
requires IRCC to give regular updates.
The Mandamus Process
- Demand Letter – Lawyers usually begin with a written demand to IRCC/IRB.
- Application for Leave and Judicial Review – Filed in Federal Court, requesting an order
of mandamus.
- DOJ Response – The government may argue the delay is justified (e.g., by
security checks or workload).
- Court Decision or Settlement – Many cases resolve through DOJ consent, with
IRCC committing to process within a timeline. If not, the judge decides.
Case Law and Legal
Standards
- Apotex (1994 FCA): Established the 8-part test for mandamus.
- Conille v. Canada (1999 FC): Confirmed IRCC has a duty to process
applications within a reasonable time.
- Baker v. Canada (1999): Reinforced fairness obligations in immigration
decision-making.
- Vavilov (2019 SCC): Clarified that decisions must be reasonable and
justified — including how delays are handled.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Mandamus only forces IRCC/IRB to decide. That decision could still be a refusal.
If your case has been pending far beyond IRCC’s posted processing times, with no updates or valid reason, mandamus may be appropriate.
This is a common defense. Courts will still assess whether the delay is reasonable. If the file is stalled for years without progress, mandamus may succeed.
Yes. Only lawyers can
represent clients in Federal Court. Mandamus requires legal submissions
grounded in case law.
The DOJ may agree to settle before a hearing, committing IRCC to decide within a fixed timeframe (e.g., 90 days). This is a common resolution.
Mandamus is a powerful but
extraordinary tool in Canadian immigration law. It ensures IRCC and the IRB
cannot leave applicants in administrative limbo. While it does not
guarantee a positive outcome, it guarantees action — forcing the government to
fulfill its legal duty to make a decision.
If you have waited
unreasonably long despite meeting all requirements, seek consultation with us
to determine whether mandamus is the right path. With the 8-part test from
Apotex as the legal standard, mandamus ensures accountability, timeliness,
and respect for the rule of law in immigration processing.