The conclusion as to whether or not the refugee is accepted is taken by the authorities of the resettlement country. Some countries carry out selection missions in the host country, while others do dossier selection (when a conclusion on admission is made based only on the written file). During a selection mission, interviews with the refugees are carried out.
The purpose of a selection interview is to assess factors related to the need for international protection and suitability for resettlement/humanitarian admission. Some countries may also apply additional criteria based on their national context. The interview may further explore medical conditions, specific needs or vulnerabilities, as well as confirm family composition and background information.
There may also be the necessity to examine issues related to exclusion. A part of the interview might also cover the sharing of expectations and an opportunity for the refugees to ask questions.
For more guidance, the EUAA Practical guide for planning and conducting resettlement interviews and the EUAA Practical guide for dossier examination can be consulted.
The EUAA is offering a training module on the selection phase in the context of resettlement and humanitarian admission. More information can be found here.
Providing correct information to refugees is of utmost importance from the beginning of the process. Refugees may be nervous about the procedure, and a good way to ease this nervousness is creating a safe atmosphere and keeping them informed about the selection process.
It is essential that all the family members understand the step-by-step process and that the refugees are provided with clear and consistent information on limits and possibilities.
Keeping in mind the difficult situations that refugees might have experienced, it is crucial to manage unrealistic expectations that refugees might have both in terms of being selected for resettlement and the opportunities in the resettlement country. Resettlement officers should keep the focus on realistic options and not make any commitment.
All family members should receive correct and tailored information, since the expectation and needs of women/girls/children may differ substantially from those of other family members. Information can be provided verbally before and after the selection interview, or through other way such as leaflets, posters, websites, etc.
It is a common practice for resettlement countries to brief refugees and explain what to expect from the process before the start of the interview. Content and length may vary depending on the country.
Because these types of briefings are usually provided before the start of the interview, it is important to keep in mind that the refugees may be focused on the interview and may have difficulty remembering what has been communicated to them. Thus, it is important to limit the information and to focus on the most imminent, i.e. the interview itself and the process of selection. It could, however, be useful to highlight some key messages on the procedure or on the consequences of resettlement.
The Operational Tool on Resettlement – Guiding note for preparatory briefing for refugees provides a sample of topics that may be important to highlight in the briefing session.