I applied for asylum in Greece but have to leave and go to another European country, will I be sent back to Greece?
The good news first. The last two years there have been very low numbers of people returned to Greece and most were single healthy young men! However, despite the difficult conditions in Greece, people who have continued their journey from Greece to another EU country according to law can face forced return back to Greece. This is a risk for people who have been fingerprinted in Greece or claimed asylum there, as well as people who got positive decisions in Greece and were given refugee status. Currently, the majority of the dozens annually returned, concern people who had asylum in Greece. The risk of a forced return depends on the person (your particular characteristics including gender and any vulnerabilities, your fingerprints and asylum status in Greece) and the country you move on to (different countries have different policies about returning people to Greece, and this is something that is always changing). It also depends on the willingness of Greece to accept you back. As the situation can always change to the worse, if you leave Greece after being fingerprinted here (and possible also claimed asylum and received a positive decision), it is vital if possible to document the reasons you left (i.e. difficulty to survive, attempts to build a life, possible dangers you faced, separation of family members across two countries etc) and explain these upon claiming asylum somewhere else. It is also important to take a good lawyer in the country you move to in order to help explain the general and personal problems you faced in Greece and the reality you would face if you returned.
You cannot be sent back if Greece doesn’t accept you back or if you can prove that you faced inhuman and degrading conditions in Greece and you are at high risk of being exposed to them again if sent back and authorities and courts take this into account. That is to say you had no secured access to water-food-shelter, you were exposed to human rights violations while in Greece (i.e. push backs, no access to the asylum system and/or reception conditions, degrading detention conditions, police violence etc.), you could not access your rights (i.e. social welfare, education, medical care), faced violence, discrimination, exploitation etc.
Attention: Other EU governments have always had a strong interest in sending refugees back to Greece in order to decrease arrival numbers. The current low of forced returns is not only due to Greece’s denial of
cooperation but also a result of the successful struggles of refugees, lawyers and supporters in front of national courts, in church asylum or antideportation campaigns. You always need to seek up-to-date information on latest developments in order to better estimate the risks, take your decision on where to build your life and prepare yourself to fight for your right to stay in Greece or elsewhere.
Attention: If you move to another EU-country while holding a protection status (asylum) from Greece, you won’t get automatically a refugee recognition and you cannot just “exchange the Greek asylum with another”
of the new country you arrived. As you are allowed to travel legally within Europe for up to three months, and in case you want to stay you have to again apply for asylum from the beginning. Once the problem not to be returned to Greece is solved, you will have a new examination of your asylum claim in the new country with a new decision, which can also be a different decision than the decision that was taken in Greece. In some European countries there may be other options for a legal stay - other than a new asylum application, please seek advise in the country you are from competent lawyers or legal advisors.
Remember: Women and even more vulnerable women are less in danger of being returned to Greece, so there is usually less reason to worry. BUT you still always have to be prepared to explain and if possible prove the problems you faced in Greece in a specific interview held for the admissibility procedure in the European country you flee to!