Can I introduce evidence at my Immigration Appeal Division hearing that the original officer never saw?

Generally, yes. Unlike judicial review at the Federal Court, which is usually limited to the record that was before the original decision-maker, an appeal at the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) is a broader, evidence-based hearing. The IAD can hear new evidence that was never in front of the original visa officer or decision-maker, including updated documents, witness testimony, and evidence relevant to humanitarian and compassionate factors that may not have existed at the time of the original decision at all.

This is one of the most important practical differences between an IAD appeal and judicial review, and it is a major reason the IAD route, where available, is usually more favourable for cases that have improved or developed since the original refusal — for example, a relationship that has since deepened, or new family circumstances in Canada.

That said, evidence still needs to be relevant, credible, and properly presented, and the IAD's own procedural rules govern how and when it must be disclosed before the hearing. Simply having new material does not guarantee it will be persuasive on its own.