The interview
Each applicant for international protection is invited to an interview by the IO as soon as possible after the application is lodged. If possible the interview will take place the same day. However, if it is impossible to organise the interview the day the application is lodged, the applicant will be invited to present himself at the IO at a later date.
If the applicant is unable to attend on the scheduled date due to force majeure (illness, train strike, etc.), this must be notified the IO as soon as possible. The reasons given must be justified (e.g. medical certificate in case of illness).
If the applicant does not respond to the invitation within a period of15 days - after the date of the convocation - without valid justification, the applicant is considered to have renounced his application for international protection. In such cases, the IO may decide to issue an order to leave the territory.
- Role of the employee and the interpreter
At the beginning of the interview, the person conducting the interview explains their role , as well as the role of the interpreter.
If the assistance of an interpreter was requested when the application was registered, the interpreter will be present for the entire interview.
The interpreter's role is limited exclusively to the accurate translation of the conversation with the IO employee. The interpreter may not personally intervene in the case or give an opinion on the story. Furthermore, the interpreter cannot influence the decision that is made. They must be objective and neutral at all times and must respect professional secrecy.
If, at the beginning or during the interview, communication problems arise with the interpreter (e.g. the applicant does not understand the interpreter well enough), this should be reported immediately.
If, for personal reasons related to the flight motives, the applicant prefers a male/female employee/interpreter, this should also be stated as soon as possible. The authorities will take this into account as far as possible.
The applicant is informed in advance by the employee who is conducting the interview about the objective of the interview, how the hearing will take place and what exactly is expected of the applicant.
- Objective of the interview
The type of interview to be conducted depends on the applicant's personal situation.
- Ending the interview
At the end of the interview, the applicant's statements are read out again (possibly with the help of an interpreter). At this stage, the applicant still has the opportunity to correct, modify or clarify certain elements. Then, he is asked to sign the interview report, indicating his agreement with its contents.
However, if the applicant refuses to sign for any reason, the employee will note this in the interview report. The employee will also note the reason why the applicant does not wish to sign.
- Duty to cooperate
The applicant has a duty to tell the truth at all times and to cooperate with the authorities to the best of their ability. In addition, it is essential to present all documents (preferably original documents) as soon as possible to prove the identity, origin, story and flight motives. The applicant should make every effort to obtain supporting documentation, possibly by contacting family members or others in the country of origin or in other countries.
Any lack of cooperation, misrepresentation or attempt to mislead the authorities may negatively affect the assessment of the application.
Contact:
You can find more information about the interviews on the FAQ page by clicking on the following link: Interview at Pacheco | IBZ