The asylum interview can be the most important part of the asylum application process. It is your opportunity to tell your story in your own way.
Once you enter the asylum interview office, the asylum officer will greet you and ask you to stand and raise your right hand. The asylum officer will then swear you in. You will then take a seat and the asylum officer will begin asking you questions. If you don’t understand a question, say “can you please repeat the question” and if you still don’t understand the question, you can say “I am sorry but I don’t understand the question.” If you get emotional during the interview, that is absolutely fine. However, your interview is not the time to hide or be shy about telling your story.
Each asylum officer has a different style of interviewing, but generally, the below questions will likely be asked.
Contact one of our experienced immigration lawyers in New York today at (718) 407-0871 or online at https://www.prizant-law.com if you need help with Asylum Interview or any other solutions to your immigration problems.
Call or visit Prizant Law at: Prizant Law 118-21 Queens Blvd Suite 507 Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718) 407 0871
Bringing a Qualitative Representative to Your Interview
Bringing an attorney or a legal representative to your interview is one of the best ways to prepare for the interview. They will help you prepare for the interview, what to expect, and questions that might be asked.
Also, the attorney ensures that your interview is performed appropriately and that any potential legal questions that may arise are clarified.
The presence of an attorney during your interview reduces the likelihood of your application being rejected and referred to an immigration court for removal proceedings.
Note 12 – Questions during asylum interview
Hello and welcome to note 12 of 15! In the last note, we discussed how an asylum substantive interview can go. In this note, we will help you with some of the questions you may be asked during this interview. Don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed. We will do this together!
Like we said, the asylum substantive interview is the immigration office’s chance to make sure you are not lying and if your story checks out.
We will make a list of possible questions that you maybe asked so that you’re slightly more prepared! Some of these questions will look very simple but they can be tricky when asked over and over again, so try to focus on exactly what the interviewer is saying. Some of the questions will be
- When did you leave your home country?
- Why did you leave?
- Do you have any family left there? Are you in touch with them?
- Have you been to other countries? Have you tried to claim asylum there?
- What is the threat you are escaping?
- Who is making you feel unsafe?
- How did you collect your evidence?
Try to answer each question as specifically as possible, without guessing or speculating.
For example, “When did you leave your home country?” If you remember the exact date, great! But often we might not remember specific dates – especially if you are not keeping a note of it.
What do you do in case you don’t know the date? Try to be as close to the actual date – which month? What season was it? Last summer? Was it around some festival that you remember?
Be prepared for the same questions to be asked again and again – don’t get rattled. Just keep a cool head, ask for water if you need it, take a break if it feels too overwhelming and start again.
REMEMBER: Even the simplest of questions might seem overwhelming when asked repeatedly. Be prepared to be pushed just a bit.
ACTION: Try to conduct at least one to two practice interviews with your lawyer/caseworker to build your confidence.
NEXT: We will talk about asylum decision.
And don’t forget: You are valuable. You are powerful. You can do this!
The Soul Medicine team.
What Happens If Your Attorney or Representative Is Unavailable for the Affirmative Asylum Interview?
If you file a G-28, it does not prevent the processing of your application, even if your attorney is not present. Suppose the asylum office refuses your request to reschedule, and your attorney is not available to join you for the interview. In that case, you can sign a waiver and choose to continue the interview without the presence of your attorney, or you can accept the referral to the immigration court.