[0:01] Welcome to Moving Forward Together, Family and Immigration Law Podcast.
[0:06] Welcome back to Moving Forward Together Family and Immigration Law Podcast.
[0:10] I'm Evan Mack, and today we're still with Ms. Mary Mamoka of Zoom, a law.
[0:14] Mary focuses on asylum and special immigration juvenile status cases,
[0:18] helping individuals seek protection to the U.S. immigration system.
[0:22] Her background is in both law and public health.
[0:25] It gives her a unique perspective on advocating for people facing difficult and
[0:29] often life-changing circumstances.
[0:32] Today we're talking about asylum interviews.
[0:34] Mary will explain what applicants should expect during the interview process,
[0:38] how to prepare, and what can help them present their case clearly and accurately.
[0:43] Welcome back Ms. Mary.
[0:44] Thank you for having me again.
[0:46] So, Mary, to start, what is the purpose of an asylum interview,
[0:50] and why is it such an important part of the asylum process?
[0:53] It's a really important process, or part of the process,
[0:56] because that is when the officer at U.S.A.S.
[1:00] is going to determine to grant you a asylum or not, or deny you asylum,
[1:04] which would send you to immigration court.
[1:07] And so, it's really important that you prepare.
[1:12] You don't want to obviously over-prepare or make yourself more nervous,
[1:17] although it isn't her wrecking process for many individuals.
[1:21] What you typically want to do is make sure
[1:25] that you have a clear understanding of the dates and the facts,
[1:32] not to say that someone who experienced the persecution wouldn't remember,
[1:37] but because as I said in the previous episode,
[1:41] it is sometimes a year, you know, a multi-year process
[1:46] from failure asylum application to getting the interview,
[1:51] and then there's also all the trauma that comes with the persecution that you experience,
[1:56] oftentimes, many people forget what exactly happened.
[2:00] So, it's important that you take the time to reflect as difficult as it may be
[2:05] to kind of remember the key points.
[2:07] What kind of documents and information should applicants bring to an asylum interview?
[2:12] So, the interview notice itself will let you know that you can actually submit
[2:18] any additional proof or evidence about seven to ten days before the USCIS interview,
[2:25] which is what we recommend to do, just so the officer already has the time to review the documents,
[2:30] and it will kind of streamline the interview itself.
[2:35] But you can submit supporting documents such as any letters that you may get from family and friends
[2:43] who are aware of what happened to you to also corroborate your claim,
[2:48] any hospital records if that was something that happened to you
[2:55] if you were in the hospital for whatever reason,
[2:58] if you felt any police reports, you want to obtain those,
[3:01] if there are pictures, text messages, recordings, things of that nature.
[3:06] What types of questions are typically asked during an asylum interview?
[3:10] What have you seen?
[3:11] So, typically the officer will want to start off with making sure that the asylum application
[3:18] is true and up-to-date.
[3:21] They'll want to make sure that the background information is cracked, your name,
[3:25] your address, where you were born, what date did you enter?
[3:30] They'll also want to update that information, since again, it might be a few years
[3:35] after filing the asylum application, then you get your interview,
[3:39] go on to update things like your employment history and your address history.
[3:44] And then once that's done, that's when they typically start asking questions
[3:47] regarding your claim for asylum to have a better understanding of what happened to you.
[3:52] How can someone prepare for one of these interviews without feeling like they have to memorize
[3:56] a story or remember the things you said in those past traumas and things like that?
[4:00] Yeah, so we do typically think that it's best to at least review your asylum application.
[4:08] You do not want to lie, you do want to make anything up.
[4:12] But again, like I said, it is difficult to remember some facts, some little key components
[4:19] that you might think are not important, but may actually make a lot of difference.
[4:24] So, again, we do recommend reflecting, looking over your past application,
[4:30] maybe even talking to friends and family that were there.
[4:34] Again, not to make anything up, but just to really jog your memory.
[4:37] If an applicant needs an interpreter, how does that work during the asylum interview?
[4:42] So you can bring an interpreter with you, and it's definitely needed if you can't speak English fluently.
[4:49] You need to bring an interpreter so you can make sure that your points come across
[4:53] and you give yourself the best chance possible to explain are you your claim for asylum?
[4:59] The interpreter has to be at least 18 years old. They can't be your attorney or representative.
[5:06] They can't be someone who works for your country of citizenship.
[5:11] So it really should be an unrelated third party.
[5:15] And you do want to make sure that they have a very good knowledge of your fluent language
[5:23] because USCIS will have their own interpreter on the line, making sure that they're interpreting correctly.
[5:29] What is the asylum officer evaluating during this interview when deciding whether someone qualifies for asylum
[5:35] or they don't? They're really evaluating whether your claim is strong enough.
[5:40] It's a really difficult process. More often than not, people will be denied asylum.
[5:48] You know, they are really looking to see whether this was actual persecution or just day-to-day crime.
[5:56] Which is hard to say, but it's just the truth of the matter.
[6:00] What usually happens after the asylum interview was over, you know, you've provided all your documents,
[6:05] you have your interpreter, if you need to, and all these things happen, what happens after that?
[6:09] You typically are able to just go home that day. You won't get the decision the same day.
[6:14] It will either be mailed to you or the officer will let you know a date and time for you to come back to get your decision.
[6:21] If you're granted asylum, then that's amazing.
[6:24] You are able to stay in the country and then you're able to apply for a green card after a year.
[6:31] If you are denied, then you are sent to court proceedings where you have to argue your case all over again.
[6:38] So with that being said in your experience, do you have an example that helps kind of illustrate how that careful preparation
[6:45] made a difference in an asylum interview?
[6:47] What it really helps is against streamlining the process.
[6:51] If you're able to get all of the evidence in advance, then that will allow the officer to go straight into the main points.
[7:00] It'll make the interview probably shorter, but it'll also give you a little bit more confidence in a situation that can be clearly very stressful.
[7:10] So to kind of put a nice little bow on this difficult topic, can an attorney attend an asylum interview in what role can they play during that process?
[7:20] Yes, an attorney definitely can attend. They can't answer any questions on your behalf.
[7:26] But sometimes it is helpful if a clarifying point needs to be made or you want some questions to be asked that may have not been asked.
[7:38] And an attorney is all out to do that towards the end to make sure that some points are come.
[7:43] Some points are made and to clarify anything that might be a little cloudy.
[7:50] It's good stuff. Nice information. Thank you so much for your time, Miss Mary.
[7:54] Thank you.
[7:55] That wraps up today's episode of moving forward together family and immigration law podcasts to learn more about Miss Mary and the legal services she provides at Zuma law.
[8:04] Visit zumalegal.com. Thank you so much for listening. Don't forget to like, leave a review or subscribe to the show so you don't miss the next episode.
[8:11] And we'll see you all next time.
[0:06] Welcome back to Moving Forward Together Family and Immigration Law Podcast.
[0:10] I'm Evan Mack, and today we're still with Ms. Mary Mamoka of Zoom, a law.
[0:14] Mary focuses on asylum and special immigration juvenile status cases,
[0:18] helping individuals seek protection to the U.S. immigration system.
[0:22] Her background is in both law and public health.
[0:25] It gives her a unique perspective on advocating for people facing difficult and
[0:29] often life-changing circumstances.
[0:32] Today we're talking about asylum interviews.
[0:34] Mary will explain what applicants should expect during the interview process,
[0:38] how to prepare, and what can help them present their case clearly and accurately.
[0:43] Welcome back Ms. Mary.
[0:44] Thank you for having me again.
[0:46] So, Mary, to start, what is the purpose of an asylum interview,
[0:50] and why is it such an important part of the asylum process?
[0:53] It's a really important process, or part of the process,
[0:56] because that is when the officer at U.S.A.S.
[1:00] is going to determine to grant you a asylum or not, or deny you asylum,
[1:04] which would send you to immigration court.
[1:07] And so, it's really important that you prepare.
[1:12] You don't want to obviously over-prepare or make yourself more nervous,
[1:17] although it isn't her wrecking process for many individuals.
[1:21] What you typically want to do is make sure
[1:25] that you have a clear understanding of the dates and the facts,
[1:32] not to say that someone who experienced the persecution wouldn't remember,
[1:37] but because as I said in the previous episode,
[1:41] it is sometimes a year, you know, a multi-year process
[1:46] from failure asylum application to getting the interview,
[1:51] and then there's also all the trauma that comes with the persecution that you experience,
[1:56] oftentimes, many people forget what exactly happened.
[2:00] So, it's important that you take the time to reflect as difficult as it may be
[2:05] to kind of remember the key points.
[2:07] What kind of documents and information should applicants bring to an asylum interview?
[2:12] So, the interview notice itself will let you know that you can actually submit
[2:18] any additional proof or evidence about seven to ten days before the USCIS interview,
[2:25] which is what we recommend to do, just so the officer already has the time to review the documents,
[2:30] and it will kind of streamline the interview itself.
[2:35] But you can submit supporting documents such as any letters that you may get from family and friends
[2:43] who are aware of what happened to you to also corroborate your claim,
[2:48] any hospital records if that was something that happened to you
[2:55] if you were in the hospital for whatever reason,
[2:58] if you felt any police reports, you want to obtain those,
[3:01] if there are pictures, text messages, recordings, things of that nature.
[3:06] What types of questions are typically asked during an asylum interview?
[3:10] What have you seen?
[3:11] So, typically the officer will want to start off with making sure that the asylum application
[3:18] is true and up-to-date.
[3:21] They'll want to make sure that the background information is cracked, your name,
[3:25] your address, where you were born, what date did you enter?
[3:30] They'll also want to update that information, since again, it might be a few years
[3:35] after filing the asylum application, then you get your interview,
[3:39] go on to update things like your employment history and your address history.
[3:44] And then once that's done, that's when they typically start asking questions
[3:47] regarding your claim for asylum to have a better understanding of what happened to you.
[3:52] How can someone prepare for one of these interviews without feeling like they have to memorize
[3:56] a story or remember the things you said in those past traumas and things like that?
[4:00] Yeah, so we do typically think that it's best to at least review your asylum application.
[4:08] You do not want to lie, you do want to make anything up.
[4:12] But again, like I said, it is difficult to remember some facts, some little key components
[4:19] that you might think are not important, but may actually make a lot of difference.
[4:24] So, again, we do recommend reflecting, looking over your past application,
[4:30] maybe even talking to friends and family that were there.
[4:34] Again, not to make anything up, but just to really jog your memory.
[4:37] If an applicant needs an interpreter, how does that work during the asylum interview?
[4:42] So you can bring an interpreter with you, and it's definitely needed if you can't speak English fluently.
[4:49] You need to bring an interpreter so you can make sure that your points come across
[4:53] and you give yourself the best chance possible to explain are you your claim for asylum?
[4:59] The interpreter has to be at least 18 years old. They can't be your attorney or representative.
[5:06] They can't be someone who works for your country of citizenship.
[5:11] So it really should be an unrelated third party.
[5:15] And you do want to make sure that they have a very good knowledge of your fluent language
[5:23] because USCIS will have their own interpreter on the line, making sure that they're interpreting correctly.
[5:29] What is the asylum officer evaluating during this interview when deciding whether someone qualifies for asylum
[5:35] or they don't? They're really evaluating whether your claim is strong enough.
[5:40] It's a really difficult process. More often than not, people will be denied asylum.
[5:48] You know, they are really looking to see whether this was actual persecution or just day-to-day crime.
[5:56] Which is hard to say, but it's just the truth of the matter.
[6:00] What usually happens after the asylum interview was over, you know, you've provided all your documents,
[6:05] you have your interpreter, if you need to, and all these things happen, what happens after that?
[6:09] You typically are able to just go home that day. You won't get the decision the same day.
[6:14] It will either be mailed to you or the officer will let you know a date and time for you to come back to get your decision.
[6:21] If you're granted asylum, then that's amazing.
[6:24] You are able to stay in the country and then you're able to apply for a green card after a year.
[6:31] If you are denied, then you are sent to court proceedings where you have to argue your case all over again.
[6:38] So with that being said in your experience, do you have an example that helps kind of illustrate how that careful preparation
[6:45] made a difference in an asylum interview?
[6:47] What it really helps is against streamlining the process.
[6:51] If you're able to get all of the evidence in advance, then that will allow the officer to go straight into the main points.
[7:00] It'll make the interview probably shorter, but it'll also give you a little bit more confidence in a situation that can be clearly very stressful.
[7:10] So to kind of put a nice little bow on this difficult topic, can an attorney attend an asylum interview in what role can they play during that process?
[7:20] Yes, an attorney definitely can attend. They can't answer any questions on your behalf.
[7:26] But sometimes it is helpful if a clarifying point needs to be made or you want some questions to be asked that may have not been asked.
[7:38] And an attorney is all out to do that towards the end to make sure that some points are come.
[7:43] Some points are made and to clarify anything that might be a little cloudy.
[7:50] It's good stuff. Nice information. Thank you so much for your time, Miss Mary.
[7:54] Thank you.
[7:55] That wraps up today's episode of moving forward together family and immigration law podcasts to learn more about Miss Mary and the legal services she provides at Zuma law.
[8:04] Visit zumalegal.com. Thank you so much for listening. Don't forget to like, leave a review or subscribe to the show so you don't miss the next episode.
[8:11] And we'll see you all next time.
