The asylum process is based on interviews with the applicant and an assessment based on these interviews to determine if the applicant meets the criteria for international protection. Troublingly, current interviewing and decision-making methods are not entirely supported by psychological science. We are partnering with researchers and practitioners across Europe to develop and assess evidence-based asylum determination methods and train European asylum officials to improve the ways in which asylum applicants are heard and the ways their cases are assessed. 

Recent Publications

Experiences of asylum interviews by asylum officials, interpreters and asylum seekers in Finland

12.2.2025

Experiences of asylum interviews by asylum officials, interpreters and asylum seekers in Finland New paper alert by post-doctoral researcher Jenny Skrifvars and Psych-AID colleagues exploring the experiences of asylum interviews by asylum officials, interpreters and asylum seekers in Finland. Despite previous research on investigative interviewing in the asylum context, few studies have examined how the…

Developing and evaluating a training programme in legal psychology for Finnish asylum officials

31.1.2025

Developing and evaluating a training programme in legal psychology for Finnish asylum officials Read exciting new research from post doctoral researcher Jenny Skrifvars and colleagues Jan Antfolk & Julia Korkman, in collaboration with Maahanmuuttovirasto – Migrationsverket – Finnish Immigration Service Together they developed and evaluated a training programme in Legal Psychology for Finnish Asylum Officials!…