What is an asylum story?
An asylum story is a personal and detailed account of an individual who seeks asylum in a foreign country. The story describes the reasons why the person is seeking asylum (e.g. persecution or fear of persecution in their country of origin, etc.).
What is an asylum interview?
As part of the asylum application process in France, an interview is conducted with OFPRA. OFPRA (French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) is the French agency responsible for examining asylum applications in France.
What are some tips for preparing your asylum story and interview with OFPRA?
In order to maximize your chances of obtaining international protection, it is recommended to prepare well for the interview with OFPRA. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
- Gather all relevant supplementary documents establishing your story: before the interview, you should gather all documents that could help support your application (e.g. your passport, ID card, evidence of persecution or danger in your country of origin, marriage certificate, photos or videos of your country of origin, testimonials, medical evidence and any other supplementary document).
- Familiarize yourself with the procedures and eligibility criteria for refugee status and typical questions that OFPRA may ask you during the interview.
- Practice speaking about your story in a clear and coherent manner. The OFPRA interview is often very detailed.
- Prepare yourself mentally. The OFPRA interview can be a difficult and emotionally charged moment. • Be respectful, courteous and calm.
- It is also important to be honest and not to invent facts. Contradictory information can be interpreted as a lack of credibility and can harm your application.
- If possible, be accompanied by a lawyer specializing in asylum law or a representative of a refugee aid association.
- Stay informed of the status of your asylum application following your interview.
