Core family = In European law there are different rights connected to the core family (wife and husband and minor children) and others for the broader family (parents of adults, adult siblings, adult children, uncles, aunts, cousins etc.)
Family name/ last name = During the asylum procedure you will be asked for your personal information from the very beginning. This includes your “name”, your “family name/last name”, your “fathers name” and your “mothers name”. The “name” is for example Maryam, Aida, Huda, Jenny. It is given to one individual by her/his parents. The “family name/last name” in Europe is often attached to all of the core family, also passed on by our parents to us and sometimes changed/ taken newly after marriage. In some countries outside of Europe this idea of family names/last names doesn’t exist, but people hold their “name” plus the “names” of their fathers and grandfathers.
“Credibility” = this is whether the Asylum Service trust what you’re saying and believe you, based on the information you provide (when answering questions in interviews and in any documents submitted as part of your case). In order to succeed in your claim for asylum, you should be internally consistent (not contradict yourself) and externally consistent (if the Asylum Service search online or ask experts, will what you say be backed up and verified?) Not everything from your personal story can be verified by external sources, so it’s important to be clear and detailed in order to be believed. If you state facts / events and hand in documents that contradict each other (for example in the dates or other information), then you may not be considered
credible. If you are generalising and not sharing a lot of information but only a summary of your story while looking bored or amused this is also not helpful. On the other hand, if you are able to explain the main events, your thoughts, beliefs etc. with detail and in your own personal way while also showing your emotions honestly, you are more likely to be considered credible. Try to remember anything relevant with all your senses including what you saw, smelled, heard, felt to be able to describe well.
Psychological problems = Psychological problems refer to mental conditions that may show themselves in symptoms such as stress, problems to sleep, often feelings of fear or panic, pain or numbness of body that have no physical origins, fainting not connected to any physical disease or neurological condition, hearing voices, severe ruminations etc. Only the difficulties you may have experienced on your way to Europe may be sufficient to cause you such symptoms.In Europe, it is very common for people to see psychologists (who are qualified professionals keeping information confidential) in order to cope with negative experiences and feelings or symptoms that cause you to feel bad. As you may come from a country where it is uncommon to seek therapy from a psychologist or even perceived shameful it is crucial to understand that talking openly about psychological problems is crucial and helpful for your asylum procedure, for your mental health and it won’t deprive you from any rights - it will also not deprive you from your rights as a parent!
Are you fine? = When being asked if you are fine during the asylum procedure, this is not just meant as an act of polite conversation but it is a question meant to understand if you have any sickness and/or psychological problems. This is important information as it may determine if you are vulnerable and it will allow the case worker to understand how to treat you during the interview and how to estimate your credibility.
What is your religion? = In Greece, you can choose to be religious or not and you can also choose what you believe in. The question within the asylum procedure is asked from that perspective of freedom of choice. It is meant to understand your current religiousness or non-religiousness or choice of religion. So even if you have been born into one specific religion, or if your country only allows specific religion(s), you should freely state your current choice/religious belief or your doubts on the topic, if you haven’t cleared your
mind on that yet. It is especially important, if you have converted your religion, to state your current chosen religion.
To which ethnic group/nationality do you belong? = Please name both your ethnic and national origin from fathers and mothers side. Both may be relevant to your case.
Where are you born? = Be specific even if you come from the smallest village on earth. Google map finds them all! State the village/city name, the region or prefecture, the country. If they cannot understand where the place is, show it on google maps yourself.
When did you leave your home country? How long did you stay in X (transit country)? = The lawyer/asylum service case worker here wants to understand the date (day) you crossed the border from your home country and stepped on another countries territory. Specify when you left your home town or village in order to escape and separately when you actually left your home country’s territory. When asking how long you have been in one country you may have crossed on your way to Greece such as Turkey, the lawyer/case worker wants to know the period from the date you actually managed to step your feet on the country’s territory (earth) until the date you stepped on the next country’s territory. Periods you have been in one country attempting (repeatedly) to move on to the next country are still considered days/weeks/ months you were actually still there. For example: “I managed to reach Turkey in 5. May 2023 and I stayed there for around 20 days. In these 20 days I was trying to leave Turkey for about 14 days, crossing the border to Greece but being sent back several times.”
Attention: It is not important to remember exact days (if you cannot), but at least months or seasons and years.
Attention: The chronology of events that lead to your escape from your home country but also of your journey to Greece are important to be clear, so that the Asylum Service / your lawyer understands your reasons of persecution better and that they believe you (credibility). Importance of exact terms and information = If you have been “tortured”, use the term and don’t say instead I experienced “violence”. If you survived “rape”, try to use the term even if it’s hard to say it out loud. If you speak about your second husband, clarify that you married twice.
Attention: Anything connected to your story may be of importance. The more carefully you listen to the questions and answer precisely, the better for you! Your lawyer or the case worker of the asylum service or the translator do not know anything about you beforehand. Help them understand for your own sake!
Attention: Only the words coming out of your mouth will be written (recorded) in your case. You have to speak and explain to increase your chances to be well understood. What is maybe a common experience or
“normal” for you, may be something absolutely unknown and new to the person sitting in front of you.