Asylum investigation
The asylum investigation is a conversation where you and your family are asked to tell us more about why you want asylum in Sweden. An asylum investigation for a family can take several hours, so you may be at the Swedish Migration Agency all day. You must bring with you what is called evidence to the investigation. This evidence is identity documents and other things that show that what you tell us is true.
A person from the Swedish Migration Agency is in charge of the investigation and writes down what you are talking about in a report. Sometimes there may be two people from the Swedish Migration Agency involved in an investigation, in that case one person will ask the questions and the other person writes. If you have a public counsel, they can come with you to the asylum investigation. An interpreter translates what you say so that you can understand each other. Sometimes one or more people can participate in the investigation by phone or video.
The case officer from the Swedish Migration Agency will ask you about what you have experienced in your home country and what you think would happen if you returned there. You will also be asked questions about your identities and how you got to Sweden.
You have probably heard these questions before, but now you will have more time to tell us more details than in previous conversations.
Children are also allowed to talk
The Convention on the Rights of the Child says that you have the right to speak up if you want to, and that all adults who decide things that affect children must think about what is best for the child. This means that the Swedish Migration Agency must listen in particular to what asylum-seeking children have been through. Children may have other reasons for wanting asylum than their parents have. Therefore, the case officer would like to interview you as well, if you yourself want it and if your parents agree with it. If you wish, you can bring your parents or another adult that you feel safe with.
When the Swedish Migration Agency investigates your reasons for asylum, the case officer must try to adapt the investigation to your age, maturity and health. If you cannot understand a question, you must let us know. It is also important that you speak up if you do not understand the interpreter. If you do not want to talk at all, that is okay too, the case officer can ask your parents what you have been through.
You may be asked questions about things that may be difficult or embarrassing to talk about. It is important that you tell the Swedish Migration Agency the truth, even if it is difficult. If you are asked the same question several times, it does not mean that you have answered incorrectly, only that the case officer needs more information and really wants to understand your story. If you need to take a break, you can ask the case officer for a break.
