The 1st interview with the IND
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Your 1st interview will be with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). During this interview, the IND will ask questions about you and your journey to the Netherlands. Read below about how you can prepare for the interview.
The invitation to the interview
You will often receive the invitation for the first interview with the
The IND asks this during the interview
During the interview, the IND checks whether your information is correct. The IND will ask questions about you, your flight to the Netherlands and the reason(s) why you fled. The IND does not ask any further questions about the reasons during the interview. In a second interview you will get the chance to explain this in detail.
This is what you need to know to prepare
It is very important that you say the same thing in the 1st interview with the IND as you do in the 2nd interview. For example, about how long you went to school and when you fled. Or about other important dates in your life.
Talk honestly about your family members during the interview. If you want to apply for family reunification later, the IND will see if you have already provided information about family members during this interview.
During all interviews with the IND, you may bring notes. You can make a timeline to remember important dates. If you do not know any dates, be honest with the IND.
During the interview with the IND, you can submit documents that support your story.
An interpreter who speaks your language will be present at the interview
The IND employee asks the questions in Dutch. The interpreter translates them for you. The interpreter also translates your answers into Dutch. The interpreter is independent, does not work for the IND and has no influence on the decision about your asylum application.
Please note: Immediately say if the interpreter and you cannot understand each other well. It is important that no misunderstandings arise because the interpreter and you do not understand each other well.