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Canada extends judicial review deadline to 75 days. Learn how a judicial review immigration lawyer can guide applicants through IRCC refusal challenges.
On May 14, 2025, the Federal Court of Canada confirmed a significant procedural update that directly affects immigration refusal cases. The deadline for filing an application for leave and judicial review has been extended from 15 days to 75 days for decisions made outside Canada. This amendment alters the legal landscape for applicants facing visa refusals, inadmissibility decisions, or delays from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
A judicial review immigration lawyer now plays a more complex and time-sensitive function in advising clients on the revised timeline, available remedies, and procedural requirements.
Understanding how this 75-day window impacts the legal course—and how to act within it—has become a central concern for those navigating immigration refusals.
Judicial review allows applicants to challenge immigration decisions that appear to be procedurally unfair or legally unreasonable. However, this is not a re-evaluation of facts. The Federal Court does not substitute its opinion for that of the original decision-maker. Instead, the focus remains on whether the decision aligns with the law and procedural fairness.
Previously, individuals whose immigration applications were refused outside Canada had only 15 days to initiate the application for leave and judicial review. Missing this window meant losing the chance to challenge the decision, regardless of merit.
The expanded 75-day timeframe gives more breathing room, but also raises expectations regarding document preparation and procedural correctness. Early consultation with a judicial review immigration lawyer can determine if the case warrants legal intervention or if alternative remedies exist.
As of May 14, 2025, applicants challenging immigration decisions made outside of Canada now have 75 days—up from 15—to apply for leave and judicial review at the Federal Court. The 15-day deadline still applies to decisions made inside Canada.
This procedural change followed growing legal pressure regarding administrative fairness and access to justice. The tight 15-day deadline, particularly for applicants outside Canada facing time zone differences and document retrieval delays, created significant hardship. The Federal Court acknowledged this burden and responded with the extension.
Although the deadline has been adjusted, the legal rigour required for filing remains unchanged. The leave stage still requires a detailed affidavit, a notice of application, and legal arguments within a specific framework. Legal help for immigration judicial review applications is now even more crucial under this extended timeframe, as strategic errors can still result in dismissal.
The extended judicial review deadline benefits a range of immigration applicants, including:
In all such cases, judicial review remains the only legal avenue to challenge a decision where no appeal right exists. A judicial review immigration lawyer assesses whether the decision involves reviewable legal errors, prepares the case, and files it within the applicable deadline.
The extension alters the procedural flow for applications related to decisions made outside Canada.
The basic stages remain the same:
The new deadline provides additional time for document collection, case development, and strategic discussions. However, it does not reduce the level of scrutiny applied by the court. Submissions must still meet evidentiary and procedural standards, which is why legal help for immigration judicial review cases remains indispensable.
The legal process demands more than technical filing. A judicial review immigration lawyer offers informed analysis of whether IRCC’s decision involved legal errors, breached procedural fairness, or failed to consider relevant evidence.
Proper legal counsel:
For applicants facing complex or emotionally charged refusals, having a legal advisor equipped with litigation experience and knowledge of immigration law is not merely helpful—it is strategic.
The 75-day extension may reflect broader concerns within Canada’s immigration system. Backlogs, inconsistent reasoning, and prolonged processing times have triggered growing scrutiny. The Federal Court likely recognized that extremely short timelines to challenge IRCC decisions placed unfair procedural pressure on applicants who were already navigating a burdensome system.
While this update does not resolve the underlying causes of refusal or delay, it provides applicants and legal counsel with a more realistic opportunity to address grievances. Judicial review remains an essential tool for holding immigration decisions to account—but only if used properly.
Even with more time, applicants must act carefully and methodically.
The following tips can guide early steps:
Immigration refusal decisions can have significant consequences, including lost opportunities, family separation, or reputational harm. Delaying action, even under the revised 75-day window, could jeopardize the chance to seek review. Contacting a judicial review immigration lawyer as soon as a decision is issued can make the difference between a dismissed application and a case proceeding to a hearing.
For candidates abroad or in Canada, understanding timelines and Federal Court procedures is complex. The Law Office of Tià Sherene McCalla provides clear, experienced guidance at every step, from legal analysis to full court representation.
The extended deadline offers a broader window, but not a second chance. Immigration decisions can carry life-altering consequences, and judicial review remains a serious legal undertaking. Those who act quickly, prepare carefully, and consult experienced legal counsel are more likely to present a strong case.
Contact The Law Office of Tià Sherene McCalla today, and speak with a lawyer to understand judicial review for immigration decisions in detail.
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