Samer about his interviews with the IND: 'It wasn't too bad'
During the asylum procedure in the Netherlands, you usually have 2 interviews with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). After that, the IND decides whether you can stay or not. Samer said: 'I was nervous, but it wasn't too bad.'
Samer, a 27-year-old man from Syria, now lives in the Netherlands with an asylum residence permit. He lived in Aleppo and studied journalism before fleeing. First to Turkey, and later to the Netherlands.
The 1st interview: 'The IND employee did not go into details'
In early 2024, he had his 1st interview with the
What did they want to know? They asked about my city of Aleppo and the neighbourhood where I lived,' said Samer. 'They also wanted to know which mosque I visited and had questions about my social media.'
The 2nd interview: 'Every detail can play a crucial role in the assessment'
Samer prepared well for his 2nd interview with the IND. 'I read information on RefugeeHelp and watched a video from an IND employee about the asylum procedure,' he said. 'If I had to do it over, I would focus even more on the information I wanted to share. Every detail can play a crucial role in the assessment.'
The 2nd interview brought new questions: 'They asked about my work and personal circumstances,' Samer recalled. 'Who my colleagues were, why I came to the Netherlands from Turkey, what would happen if I returned to Syria and why I should be granted asylum in the Netherlands.'
Carel: 'The IND is doing what it can'
Carel Sonneveldt is a hearing and decision officer at the IND and interviews asylum applicants. Currently, people have to wait a long time for their interview with the IND because of a staff shortage. Next year, between 49,000 and 76,000 asylum and family reunification applications are expected, while the IND can now handle about 47,000 applications a year.
Carel said the IND is working hard to reduce waiting times. ‘The IND is doing all they can,’ he said. ‘The staff are working extra hard. I understand from management that employees are currently doing more than is expected of them.’
Practical tips for your interviews with the IND
When it's your turn for interviews with the IND, the following tips from Samer and Carel can help you prepare well:
Tips from Samer:
Collect all the information and documents you have to reinforce your case.
Get your lawyer to send all the documents to the IND.
Remain patient during the interview, even if you are asked the same question more than once.
Be clear and honest when answering the questions.
Take notes at the 1st interview. It may be months before you have the 2nd interview. The notes will help you remember what you have already said.
Tips from Carel:
List the main reasons why you left your country of origin.
Tell your story as concisely as possible. Mention names, places and dates.
Don't be afraid to say 'no' or that you don't remember something. Sometimes people find it difficult to say 'no', but it is important to keep your story factual.
Clearly explain why you do not want to return to your country of origin.
Avoid a threatening tone such as ‘I would rather stay in the Netherlands illegally for 20 years than return.’ Instead, explain what you specifically fear about being forced to return. The IND decision officer will listen carefully and needs to understand the risks you will face if you return to your country.
Mustafa Aljaradi of RFG Magazine wrote this story in collaboration with RefugeeHelp.