Title:
The Importance of the Personal Hearing
Introduction
The personal hearing (persönliche Anhörung) is the most important appointment in the asylum procedure, as this is when applicants present in detail the reasons for their asylum claim. Many relief organisations and charitable associations offer counselling services to help people prepare for this crucial appointment.
Hearings are conducted by decision-makers at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), in the presence of an interpreter.
Applicants must attend in person or inform the office in advance if they are unable to attend and state the reasons.
Failure to appear without a valid excuse may lead to the rejection or discontinuation of the asylum application.
In the event of illness, the BAMF must be informed on the same day, and a medical certificate can be submitted later.
The hearing is not public. However, the following persons may attend:
Lawyers,
representatives of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees),
in the case of minors: their legal guardian.
Another person may also be present for emotional support, provided they can prove their identity and are not themselves an asylum seeker with a pending application.
The main aim of the decision-makers is to understand the individual reasons for fleeing and to assess the credibility of the information given.
During the hearing, the asylum seeker has the opportunity to explain:
their personal living conditions,
the route they took to reach Germany,
and what they would face if they had to return to their country of origin.
Asylum seekers should submit any evidence that supports their statements, such as:
photos,
letters and written documents,
medical certificates or expert reports.
Information and evidence that are not presented during the hearing may not be taken into account later.
The statements are recorded in writing and translated.
At the end, applicants are asked to confirm with their signature that the content of the protocol is correct.
If there are any communication problems, health issues or other difficulties, the hearing can be postponed.
Where necessary, the hearing can be conducted with an interpreter or BAMF staff member of the same gender, in order to protect persons who may have experienced violence or abuse.
The BAMF has specially trained staff to deal with cases involving gender-based violence, torture or human trafficking.
If an asylum seeker moves to a new address, they must inform both the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and the local immigration authority.
All official correspondence will be sent to the last address on record.
To ensure more reliable identity checks, the BAMF uses systems such as IDM-S for identity management.
Biometric facial recognition and fingerprints are also used as effective tools to verify the identity of applicants.
The personal hearing is a key element of the asylum process. It offers applicants the essential opportunity to present all relevant information and evidence that supports their claim.
Good preparation and a clear understanding of the procedure can significantly contribute to a successful outcome.
The editorial team of our website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors may occur or some details may be incomplete. Please treat the information contained in this article as an initial guide and always contact the competent authorities or specialised counselling centres for binding and up-to-date information.
