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Finnish Immigration Service interviews asylum seekers more often over a video connection

Publication date 23.3.2021 13.26
Press release

Holding an interview over a video connection means that the employee of the Finnish Immigration Service is at the agency while the asylum seeker takes part in the interview at the reception centre or detention unit over a video connection. We reserve a separate room and the necessary equipment for taking part in the video interview for the asylum seeker. The counsel and interpreter also participate in the interview over a video connection.

At first, interviews are arranged over a video connection in a few reception centres and detention units.

Holding the interview over a video connection does not affect the content of the interview 

The content of the interview is the same and does not depend on whether the interview is held over a video connection or in such a way that the employee of the Finnish Immigration Service and the asylum seeker are in the same room. We arrange video interviews because of the coronavirus situation and for other well-founded reasons. Such reasons include a long distance or the asylum seeker's placement in a detention unit. 

All asylum seekers are not interviewed over a video connection 

We decide separately for each case how the asylum seeker is interviewed. For example, unaccompanied children are interviewed primarily at the Finnish Immigration Service. 

If an asylum seeker is accommodated at a reception centre, we ask for his or her consent before arranging the interview over a video connection. The interview is held at the premises of the Finnish Immigration Service if an asylum seeker who is accommodated at a reception centre asks for it and has a well-founded reason for it.  

Invitation will state where the interview is held 

The reception centre or detention unit will give the asylum seeker an invitation to the interview as well as instructions concerning interviews that are held over a video connection. 

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