Video asylum interviews in COVID times
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, personal interviews of applicants for international protection at the CGRS were stopped in March. They were started again in June. To improve the safety of staff and applicants, a video with practical instructions was created.
On 13 March it was decided to suspend the interviews at the Office of the Commissioner general for Refugees and Stateless persons (CGRS) in order to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
From 8 June onwards, personal interviews gradually resumed. The health of staff, applicants for international protection, interpreters, lawyers and other visitors remains a priority.
That's why the following protective measures were taken:
- Applicants are invited at staggered hours.
- Applicants have to wait outside until they are allowed to enter for their personal interview. The waiting room of the CGRS remains closed.
- Wearing a face mask is mandatory on the way between the reception desk and the interview room. Wearing a face mask is not mandatory during the interview.
- Plexiglass screens is installed between all the persons present in the interview room.
The CGRS created an interesting video about these protective measures. In this video we follow an applicant for international protection from the arrival at the CGRS until the departure.