This is the general workflow for a potential CIL engagement. The actual steps and fees require a written scope of work; not every case is accepted, and no particular INTERPOL decision can be guaranteed.
Step 1 — Identify the immediate problem
First determine whether there is a confirmed Red Notice, a possible diffusion, a CCF decision, a national warrant or an imminent extradition event. These concepts are often confused. A national court deadline takes priority over a leisurely online consultation: a detained person or someone facing an imminent hearing should seek qualified local criminal or extradition counsel immediately.
The Procedure Navigator can help organise preliminary questions but does not confirm wanted status or constitute legal advice.
Step 2 — Check scope, authority and conflicts
We clarify who is the client, who is permitted to instruct the work, what jurisdictional matters are outside the INTERPOL engagement, and whether any conflict or confidentiality issue prevents acceptance. If another law firm is involved, we agree how responsibilities are divided. A CCF representative must comply with the Commission's own authorisation requirements, including the relevant power of attorney where applicable.
We do not encourage applicants to submit full identity documentation or sensitive case papers through an unverified public form. Secure collection should follow a defined legal and technical workflow.
Step 3 — Build the evidence chronology
| Record set | Questions we try to answer |
|---|---|
| Source-state criminal matter | What is the alleged offence, current warrant, relevant date and person's individual role? |
| Domestic and extradition decisions | What did the court actually decide, on what legal basis and with what finality? |
| INTERPOL data and CCF correspondence | Which notice or processing issue is confirmed, and are there earlier applications or decisions? |
| Political, humanitarian or private-dispute evidence | What direct, dated and reliable facts support the claimed compliance issue? |
| Translations and filing materials | Are the documents legible, traceable and suitable for the official submission channel? |
The Evidence Checklist helps applicants assemble a basic inventory without transmitting sensitive data. It is not a replacement for case-specific document selection.
Step 4 — Select the appropriate legal route
Possible routes may include access to personal data, correction or deletion, diffusion-related review, a request for urgent provisional measures where warranted, or a narrowly defined Article 42 revision after a prior decision. They are not interchangeable applications.
The Commission's competence concerns processing data in INTERPOL's system. It does not hear a full appeal on guilt, overturn a national arrest warrant or order the foreign state to abandon a prosecution. The proper choice depends on both legal criteria and available facts.
Step 5 — Prepare written submissions and verify formal requirements
We review the chronology, the relevant rules, annex references and the exact remedy requested. Written submissions should explain why the documents are material, acknowledge adverse facts where necessary and avoid speculative allegations. CCF requests now normally use the Commission's official secure portal, introduced on 26 March 2026, with exceptional alternative means only if the Commission permits them under its Operating Rules.
An applicant or authorised representative must follow the official portal's current guidance on request types, identification and representative authority. This website does not operate the Commission's portal.
Step 6 — Manage responses and time expectations
After an admissible request, the CCF may examine the record and seek information from relevant authorities. Statutory time limits for certain categories of decision start from admissibility, not necessarily the moment a person first contacts a law firm, and may be extended. If new official evidence appears while a matter is pending, its relevance and the correct submission route should be considered.
We distinguish realistic procedural expectations from promises of a particular number of days. A national arrest or extradition deadline may need a parallel immediate defence strategy throughout the CCF process.
Step 7 — Understand and implement the outcome
| Outcome | What to do next | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| CCF confirms no disclosable data or restricts disclosure | Understand the precise wording and any information limits | A negative public result or restricted response proves every national record is clear |
| CCF orders correction or deletion | Check what information the decision covers and any implementation notice | Every national police, immigration and court database automatically updates |
| CCF finds data compliant | Review the reasons and determine whether any truly new fact could meet Article 42 criteria | An automatic normal appeal is available |
| Domestic court refuses extradition | Determine the legal basis and whether it changes the INTERPOL evidence record | The refusal itself removes the global notice |
Follow-up may involve local counsel and competent national authorities, particularly where a separate warrant, detention measure or immigration matter exists. See After Red Notice Deletion.
Fees and confidentiality
The level of work varies: access enquiries, urgent proceedings and complex multilingual deletion applications demand different evidence and professional time. The site should explain the verified engagement terms and fee policy where approved, rather than fabricate a fixed market price. For guidance on cost drivers, see Red Notice Removal Cost.
Sensitive legal information deserves deliberate handling. The public tools are designed not to transmit, save or profile answers. Any further document review should use an agreed secure channel and clear instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the whole process take?
There is no reliable single duration for every case. Request type, admissibility, required documentation, consultation with authorities and potential extensions affect the timeline. See Red Notice Removal Timeframes.
Do I need proof that a Red Notice exists before contacting counsel?
Not necessarily. Where the status is unknown, counsel can discuss whether an access request is an appropriate starting point. A public website search is not definitive.
Can you represent me in an extradition court in any country?
Not automatically. Local proceedings require the appropriate local legal authority and counsel. A CCF data challenge is a separate workstream.
What if the CCF has already rejected my case?
A revised application is not simply an appeal against an unfavourable decision; Article 42 requires qualifying newly discovered relevant facts and compliance with the timing rule.
Official sources: CCF submissions, portal and mandate; CCF FAQ.