Here is what you can do to properly prepare for your asylum procedure in the Netherlands
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In the Netherlands, it can take a long time before your asylum procedure starts and you get your first interviews with the IND. You may not remember all parts of your flight story as well as you do now. Below you can read how best to prepare for the procedure if you have to wait a long time.
Your personal story is becoming increasingly important
Since 1 July 2024, the IND considers your personal flight story even more important in the asylum procedure. Even more important than the situation in your country. When assessing your asylum procedure, the IND mainly looks at whether they believe your personal story. Therefore, the documents that support your personal story have also become even more important. Before 1 July 2024, they looked more at the general circumstances in your country or of your group. The IND still looks at that now, too. But your personal circumstances have become more important. It is therefore very important that you can tell your personal story to the IND in as much detail as possible.
Write down your own flight story in detail
During the 2 interviews with the IND, tell them why you are applying for asylum in the Netherlands. And why it is dangerous for you to go back to the country you came from. Sometimes it takes a long time before you have your 1st interview with the IND, then you may forget things or remember them in less detail. To make sure you do not forget important information, you can do the following:
1. Write down your flight story in detail in the correct order
Write down all the general and personal events that caused you to leave your country. Write down the dates, locations, names of people involved and other important details.
2. Read back your own story regularly to remember the important details
Over time, you sometimes forget the exact sequence of events. Or you forget details that are less important to you, but are important to the IND. Try to remember this well because you are not allowed to bring your written notes about your flight story to the interviews with the IND. So you must be able to tell your story well and know it by heart.
3. Collect evidence to accompany your flight story
Collect documents from each event you describe that support your story. These could be photographs, medical reports, official documents, newspaper articles or statements from witnesses that confirm the story. It is also important that you have the original documents. The IND is more likely to believe those.
It may still be the case that the IND does not believe your story despite these documents. Or that the documents are insufficient evidence. So having documents does not automatically mean that your asylum application will be approved. Nevertheless, the IND is more likely to believe you if you have documents that confirm your story. Especially if they are original documents. So always try to find documents that confirm your story.
Example of how to write down your own flight story in detail
About two hundred metres from the political office in the town where I am from, there is the police station. Police officers hang around there every day and check people who went to that office. I was taken aside about once a week and threatened because they knew I was from a political movement. They would say, "We are going to kill you scum and then we are done with you." And, "You lots who follow this political movement, we will finish you, we will kill you." One day a police officer pulled out his gun and shot someone I knew. The policeman said he wanted to defend himself. At times like that I was afraid because this kind of situation happened more often, and you do not know when it might happen to you.
Example of what evidence you can gather to accompany your flight story
Example of gathering evidence to accompany your flight story
One of my brothers was shot at and the other was killed. I do not know exactly why he was killed, but I think it was because he was a member of a political party like me. Therefore, I am submitting my brother's death certificate to the IND. In addition, I also have proof that we were members of that political party. There was also an article written in the newspaper about my brother's murder. After the murder, people came to my home to ask questions about my membership in that party. They later sent a threatening letter. I kept that one.
You can get help substantiating your flight story
You can ask for help from lawyers or VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN). They can give you legal advice or help you substantiate and strengthen your story. VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) will then do a
During your asylum procedure, you have rights
You have rights in the Netherlands when you apply for asylum. Is one of these rights being violated? Then report this to your lawyer or to VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) at your location. The following rights are particularly important to know during the asylum procedure:
Right to legal help
You are entitled to a free lawyer.
Right to an interpreter
You have the right to an interpreter who speaks your language. However, if one is not available and you also speak another language or dialect, the conversations may be conducted in that language.
Right to information
You are entitled to information about the asylum procedure and its progress. This means that you receive an explanation of which organisations play a role and what the different steps in the procedure are. And what is expected of you during the procedure. You will receive this information from VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN).
Right to privacy
You have a right to privacy and confidentiality during your asylum procedure. This means that the information you give to the IND and your lawyer will not be shared with others, such as the government in your home country.
Right to fair treatment
You have the right to a careful and individual assessment by the IND. The IND may not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, political beliefs or other factors.
Right to appeal
If your asylum application is rejected, you have the right to appeal the decision. You can get legal help to challenge this decision in court.