Preparing for the interview with the IND
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During your interview with the IND, you will explain why you are applying for asylum in the Netherlands. The IND also refers to this as a hearing. In this article, you can read about how to prepare, how to tell your story clearly, and which documents may be important.
Think carefully about your personal story
The
Why did you leave your country?
What happened to you personally?
What are you afraid of if you have to go back?
Who or what is threatening you?
Have you sought help in your own country?
Why were you not safe there?
How did you travel to the Netherlands?
Do you have any relatives in the Netherlands or in another European country?
Write down important events for yourself. For example, names, places and dates. If you are not sure of a date, just say so.
Write down your account of the flight and tell the truth about what you know
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
As time goes by, you may sometimes forget the exact sequence of events. Or you may forget details that are less important to you, but are important to the IND. Try to bear this in mind. Ask your lawyer or VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) what you are and are not allowed to bring to your interview with the IND.
3. Tell us honestly what you know
During your interview with the IND, you will explain what happened. It is normal if you do not remember everything exactly. For example, because it happened a long time ago, because you were under a lot of stress, or because it is difficult to talk about your experiences. Please mention this during the interview if:
You do not understand a question.
You do not understand the interpreter properly.
You are not quite sure about something.
You have forgotten something.
You need a break.
You find it difficult to talk about something.
Tell them what you know as clearly as possible. If you cannot remember something exactly, be honest about it. Talk to your lawyer or VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) about this as well.
4. Gather evidence to support your flight story
Gather documents that support your story. These could include photographs, medical reports, official documents, newspaper articles or statements from witnesses who can confirm your story. It is also important that you have the original documents. The IND is more likely to accept these.
It may still be the case that, despite these documents, the IND does not believe your story. Or that the documents do not provide sufficient evidence. So, having documents does not automatically mean that your asylum application will be approved. However, documents can help to support 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 in substantiating your flight story or your asylum application
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
Sometimes you may need extra support during your asylum procedure. This could be due to your health, your age, trauma, pregnancy, a disability or mental health issues. Please let the IND, your lawyer or VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) know as soon as possible. They can then assess what support you need.
Please note if you are in the accelerated asylum procedure
Are you going through the
So, if there is anything you do not understand, ask your lawyer or VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) for help as soon as possible.
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, citizenship, 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.