The Asylum Statement

The asylum statement

Your asylum statement must explain in a precise manner :

* Who you are
* Where you come from
* Why you have been forced to flee your country and seek the protection of another country
You must also state your fears regarding returning to your country; what serious problems for your life or your safety would you risk if you were sent back to your country of origin.
Note: "Describing situations of trouble or war which may exist in your country is not sufficient: you must describe your personal history and convince the person who reads your statement that you personally have been the victim of persecution, or that members of your family, people close to you, or comrades-in-arms have been killed or have been subject to persecution, which implies a threat to your own safety."

1. Who are you? State:

* Your full name, your nationality, your date and place of birth;

* Which country you come from, and specifically, which region, which village or which district of a town (the Ofpra will ask you questions about this subject to check if you really are from this region);

* Who are or who were your parents and your brothers and sisters (state their current situation: name, age, address of residence, occupation, marital status…);

* Any ethnic or religious group you may belong to, or membership of any minority that is subject to discrimination…;

* Your current family status: married or in a civil partnership or single, your children (age, gender), state if these members of your family are in France, remain in your country of origin, or if they are deceased.

2. Your personal history:

* Where you grew up and in what circumstances;

* Education, studies undertaken, vocational training…;

* The occupations that you held in your country, the source and amount of revenue you had (a shop, a farm, a trade, or another profession…);

* The different places you have lived and the reasons for moving;

* How your personal and family situation has evolved: your work history, how you met your partner, the birth of your children, any illnesses...;

* Any other activities: your membership of a political party, a trade union, a religious group a fellowship, an association… (describe this group, state its significance, its objectives and its characteristics);

* How you came to join this party, trade union, etc.; what was your exact role and your level of responsibility (basic or active member);

* Your participation in any protests, public meetings, collective actions, social movements, guerrilla activities… (which precise activities you participated in, when and how many times);

* According to your personal history, indicate if you have been subject to discrimination or persecution as a result of these activities, or because of your sexual orientation, your belonging to an ethnic group or your opposition to an arranged marriage…
Note: "if you have been a member of an armed group and you have committed crimes, France can refuse to grant you refugee status."

3. What incidents or dramatic events forced you to leave:

* Threats received (who? when? how?);

* Prevention of exercising your profession or occupation;

* Racketeering, confiscation of belongings, extortion, blackmail, different types of coercion;

* Physical attacks, destruction of belongings, eviction from your home;

* Arrests, violent interrogations, beatings, torture, rape (dates, circumstances, perpetrators of the violence to which you were subject…);

* Trials, sentences, periods in prison (dates, locations, precise description of these locations, persons involved…);

* Arrests, beatings and injuries, rape or murder of parents, friends, colleagues or other members of a group to which you belonged;

* Forced exodus;

* Massacre, genocide;

* What steps you took to request protection from the authorities in your country (making a complaint, initiation of legal proceedings, letters or visits from civil servants…);

* What the outcome of these initiatives was.
Note: "in cases of physical and/or psychological after-effects, it is important to provide a medical certificate, even a recent one."

4. What route did you take to get to France:

* At what precise moment did you decide to leave;

* How was this departure organised (funds raised, help received, contact made with smugglers…);

* The choice of country in which you are seeking asylum (why?);

* The exact itinerary with the dates, the different stages, the means of transport used, the cost.

5. What could happen to your if you returned to your country today:

* What changes have occurred in your region of origin since your departure;

* Do you risk being subject to the same persecutions as before? Would the threats you received be carried out;

* Do you risk the same fate as your parents or friends who have suffered or died as a result of the situation you described before or since your departure;

* Why would you not be safe in another town or another region of your country of origin
Caution: "You must state what you fear at the present moment regarding a return to your country (even if you left it a long time ago)."

6. Evidence to submit with your statement:

* You are not obliged to provide evidence of the different information regarding your asylum statement: "the main purpose is to provide a statement that is sufficiently precise, consistent and non-contradictory, to be credible and to convince the Ofpra case officer."

However, in addition to the information that you provide, do not hesitate to provide documents that add credibility (witness statements, administrative documents, press articles, medical certificates…).

Caution: never include original copies of documents in the file (only copies). You can show the originals, if you have them, on the day of your interview.

     
     Courtesy:  Juned