The processing of asylum applications is being streamlined in a number of ways

The Finnish Immigration Service is dealing with the queue of asylum applications and improving the processing of asylum applications in a number of ways. The technical systems are being developed, for example, to automate previously manual stages of work. The ways of working are being revised, especially when it comes to asylum interviews, to make the interviews effective but still maintain their high quality.

Last autumn, the Finnish Immigration Service received over 32,000 new asylum applications for processing. The Asylum Unit was already working on development projects, but due to the exceptionally large number of applications the implementation of the projects was speeded up in order to deal as effectively as possible with the applications in the queue.

Automation saves time and money

Today, the Finnish Immigration Service processes all asylum applications electronically.

In the Asylum Unit, the management system for immigration affairs has already been developed so that applications are steered directly into so called work queues. This speeds up the processing of applications, as, for example, applications that are manifestly unfounded can be processed quickly. The system for booking interviews has also been improved. The system automatically sends out an invitation to the asylum seeker when an interview has been booked for him or her.

In the Euro-Auto project, a direct channel for data transmission is created between Finland’s own system and the connection server of the European Eurodac system. Previously, information was updated in the Eurodac system using a separate programme. From now on, the authorities will be able to save time as the update is done automatically.

Effective but high-quality interviews

The initial stage of the processing of asylum applications was transferred from the police to the Finnish Immigration Service already in the beginning of March. Earlier, there had been plans to transfer the responsibility as late as at the end of 2016. Now, the initial hearing to determine the identity and travel route of the asylum seeker and the asylum interview are done at the same time. This also speeds up the processing of applications, but changes the way interviews are carried out.

The Asylum Unit is working to develop the interviews as well as the skills of the Senior Advisers who carry out interviews, to shorten the length of the asylum interviews but maintain their high quality. To support the interviews running more smoothly, changes are made to the information system. The experts at the Asylum Unit familiarise themselves with the interview practices of other EU countries and examine best practices for asylum interviews.

The Flow and Euro-Auto projects receive funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union.

Further information for the media

The Flow project:

Laura Cupic, Project Manager, Asylum Unit, tel. 0295 430 431, e-mail: forename.surname@migri.fi

The Euro-Auto project:

Mia-Maria Mäkelä, Project Manager, Asylum Unit, tel. 0295 430 431, e-mail: forename.surname@migri.fi