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

‘How would you define your sexuality?’ analyzing the questions asked in official asylum interviews with sexual minorities

16.10.2025

The study of Finnish asylum interviews with sexual minority applicants found that, while problematic questioning styles were largely avoided, officials relied heavily on closed-ended questions and focused more on verifying sexual orientation than on experiences of persecution. Improved training and further research are essential to enhance interview practices.

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…