Amid growing legal uncertainty and rising anti-LGBTQI+ policies in the United States, many individuals are considering seeking asylum in Canada. This toolkit supports LGBTQI+ individuals who are exploring the possibility of entering Canada from the U.S. It provides accessible information on the asylum process, with special focus on the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) and its exceptions, which govern so much asylum-seeking today, along with a curated list of legal, housing, health, and community support services. The toolkit also includes maps showing land ports of entry along the Canada–U.S. border, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offices, social service providers, and Pride centres. By disseminating information and location-based resources, our toolkit aims to equip LGBTQI+ asylum seekers with helpful tools to navigate their journeys.
Legal Disclosure
The information in this guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration and refugee law, especially at the Canada–U.S. border, is complex and varies case by case. We strongly recommend that you consult a licensed immigration lawyer or accredited legal representative before taking any action. Haven is not a legal clinic and does not staff lawyers. As such, we are unable to provide legal advice. Using this guide does not create a lawyer-client relationship, and we are not responsible for any decisions made based on its contents.
Toolkit
Data Structure
The toolkit is compiled as a live PDF with embedded hyperlinks to Haven’s website and resources across Canada and the U.S.. We strived to make it accessible by presenting the asylum-seeking process in chronological order with visual and text-based information. The maps in the PDF toolkit were created using QGIS, while the interactive map was created on Google Maps.
Data Source
Our data is sourced from various government and organizational websites. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provide information on asylum claim processes. They also provided the spatial data for the locations of IRCC offices, CBSA offices, and land ports of entry. We consulted official statements and policy updates from the White House to reflect recent changes in the U.S. immigration policy.
We drew on analysis from media and nonprofit organizations, including the Gazette and Nonprofit Quarterly. For guidance on the asylum-seeking process, we referred to resources developed by advocacy organizations such as the Canada Border Clinic, Kinbrace, and the BC Refugee Hub.
The structure and content of this toolkit were inspired by materials from Kinbrace, the BC Refugee Hub, the Canadian Council for Refugees, the FCJ Refugee Centre, and the Canadian Bar Association, among others.
Resource Map
Information Cards
Tarjeta de Información [SPANISH]