Integrated refugee management
Asylum and refugee protection
Content
Content
Content .........................................................................................................................................................................................3
Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................................................4
Phase 1: Arrival and registration ......................................................................................................................................7
Phase 2: The Asylum Procedure .................................................................................................................................... 15
Phase 3: Integration or Return ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Imprint ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
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Introduction
Introduction
In 2015, many asylum seekers arrived in Germany. Some went on to other EU countries, while
many others have stayed in Germany. This situation has created major challenges in public
administration at the federal, state, and local levels. To address and manage these challenges,
the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has meanwhile implemented an integrated
system for refugee management. The heart of this system are the arrival centers. At the arrival
center, many previously separate steps in the asylum procedure are now bundled into one
integrated process. Whenever possible, the entire asylum procedure takes place „under one roof“
in the arrival center. As a result, the arrival centers are now the doorway to the asylum procedure in Germany – and to all relevant social services. Meanwhile, there is now at least one arrival
center in each of Germany’s 16 federal states.
Integrated refugee managment
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The integrated refugee management system has three phases
Phase 1: Arrival and registration
Phase 1: Arrival and registration
Arrival
The following rules apply for all asylum seekers who arrive in Germany: On arrival, they have
to report for registration immediately. They can do this directly at the border or later within
the country. At the border, people apply for asylum with the border police or authorities, who
then transfer the asylum seekers to the nearest initial reception facility, which is connected
to an arrival center.
The refugees who wait to apply for asylum within Germany can apply with law enforcement
officials, such as the police, with the local Foreigners Registration Office (Ausländeramt), at an
initial reception facility, or at an arrival center. In any case, the asylum seekers first go to the
nearest initial reception facility. It is connected to an arrival center, where the asylum seekers
are registered so they can begin the asylum procedure.
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Arrival center
Phase 1: Arrival and registration
Biometric Identifier Process & Dublin Check
In the arrival center, employees enter the data of the asylum seekers into a centralized
Germany-wide computer system. This step gives all relevant public authorities access to the data
they need for their specific tasks. The data only have to be entered once and are then available
at all times for checking and processing.
In addition, at the arrival center or in an initial reception facility, the asylum seekers are allocated to one of the states. Each individual is asked to state his or her country of origin. Then
their data are entered – in anonymous form – into the “EASY” system. (EASY stands for “First
allocation of asylum seekers” from the German term Erstverteilung von Asylbegehrenden.)
This information is used to select the specific state and the competent reception facility for
each asylum seeker or family group.
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Phase 1: Arrival and registration
Central data system
Biometric identifier process
Phase 1: Arrival and registration
In parallel, the asylum seekers also provide their personal data, a photograph, and their fingerprints as biometric identification. These data are also stored centrally in a Germany-wide system,
and any available identity papers are thoroughly checked for authenticity.
The authorities also check whether the individual asylum seeker is a “Dublin case,” that is, whether
Germany is responsible for the asylum procedure, and whether the individual has a previous
criminal record, or if there are any other concerns about the individual and security. This early
biometric identification process makes sure that all asylum seekers can be clearly identified at
all times.
After the identification process and the security checks, the asylum seeker receives a “proof of
arrival” card – Ankunftsnachweis. The proof-of-arrival card is the first official document that
entitles the holder to stay in Germany. Equally important: it entitles the asylum seeker to receive
social services, such as food, shelter, and medical care.
Application processing in the arrival center
For the asylum application process, the Federal Office for Refugees and Migration or the BAMF
uses a systematic cluster approach. For asylum seekers from certain countries of origin, this
cluster approach shortens the overall process to only a few weeks. The core element here is to
assign the asylum seekers to one of four groups or clusters. The exact classification depends
on three main criteria: in addition to the country of origin, the other two criteria are: the expected
complexity of the application process and the travel itinerary.
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Phase 1: Arrival and registration
It is the cluster that determines which applications are processed in the arrival center:
§ Cluster A: Asylum seekers from countries of origin that receive a high rate of protection
(50 % or higher)
§ Cluster B: Asylum seekers from countries of origin that receive a low rate of protection
(up to 20 %)
§ Cluster C: Complex profiles or situations
§ Cluster D: Dublin cases
For asylum seekers in cluster A or B, the complete asylum procedure takes place “under one roof”
in the arrival center.
Classification of
the asylum seekers
Phase 1: Arrival and registration
For cluster C or D – a complex situation or case profile, or a Dublin case – the application interview takes place at the arrival center, but the application is then sent to the responsible field
office of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (or the BAMF), if needed.
In addition to processing new applications for asylum, the initial arrival centers have also
started (as of the summer of 2016) to conduct interviews for backlogged asylum applications.
This reduces the workload of the BAMF field offices in the given region.
Cluster C / Cluster D
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Asylum procedure
Phase 2: The Asylum Procedure
Phase 2: The Asylum Procedure
The asylum procedure itself comprises the application filing, interview, obtaining further
information, if necessary, and the preparation and delivery of the asylum decision.
For the asylum seeker, the application filing step begins with the creation of an electronic file.
An interpreter assists the staff responsible for the asylum procedure in the arrival center
with recording the necessary data. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees can work with
interpreters on site or also via video conferencing – in order to prevent capacity bottlenecks
and complete the asylum procedure faster and more efficiently. Furthermore, digital solutions
are also used throughout the asylum procedure to make it faster and more secure and efficient.
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Phase 2: The Asylum Procedure
At the personal interview, a trained decision maker records the reasons for the asylum application in a structured template and evaluates them.
The personal interview
Phase 2: The Asylum Procedure
After the interview, the decision maker requests any further information that may be needed for
the asylum decision, for example, a medical certificate. As soon as the decision makers have all
the information required, they decide whether to grant or deny the request for asylum and then
prepare the asylum decision.
Depending on the type of decision, the asylum seeker will remain in Germany and will be
assigned to a municipality (a local city or town) for integration. Otherwise, the asylum seekers
are transferred to another EU country or are returned to their country of origin, which is the
responsibility of state-level authorities.
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Integration
Integration course
First meeting at job center
Local guides
Organizations, clubs and
associations, citizens
Phase 3: Integration or Return
Phase 3: Integration or Return
For asylum seekers whose applications have been granted, the goal of this phase is to integrate
them into society (including the education system and/or the labor market) quickly and effectively.
The BAMF offers all refugees whose applications are granted the opportunity to attend an integration course to learn the German language and to learn more about the way of life and culture in
Germany. The BAMF also offers this course to asylum applicants whose processes are still pending
but have good prospects of being granted long-term residence in Germany.
Integration means seamless inclusion in Germany’s education and training system and into the
labor market. For this reason, during the asylum application process, the Federal Employment
Agency (or BA) asks those asylum seekers who have good prospects of being granted long-term
residence to complete a short description of their education and work experience. This information will later serve as the basis for the first interview between the individual and a customer
advisor at the local job center.
In addition, at the municipal level, cities and towns are expanding or setting up structures for
local guides. These guides assist the asylum seekers in getting oriented and settled locally –
for example, when going to the local Foreigners Registration Office. Many organizations, clubs,
and individual citizens are already actively supporting the integration of asylum seekers
and will continue to be important partners for the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
(or the BAMF) and the Federal Employment Agency (or the BA).
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Phase 3: Integration or Return
Asylum seekers who receive a negative decision return to their countries of origin either
voluntarily or are deported by the responsible authorities. For Dublin cases, the asylum seekers
are transferred to the relevant EU country that is responsible for their application.
Return / transfer
Conclusion
Conclusion
The only solution for the significant challenges in the current refugee situation is an integrated
one. The new integrated refugee management system therefore combines both public and private
elements. On the one hand, better processes and structures at all levels of public administration,
and, on the other hand, individual efforts by private citizens and groups, who also make a major
contribution to integration.
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Imprint
Imprint
Integrated refugee management
Editor
Federal Office for Migration and Refugees
Frankenstraße 210,
90461 Nürnberg
E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.bamf.de
Reference source
Publications office of the Federal Office for
Migration and Refugees
www.bamf.de/publikationen
As of
March 2017
Imprint
Printed by
Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, Nürnberg
Revision
KonzeptQuartier® GmbH, Fürth
Editorial office
Public relations, internal communication Division
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www.bamf.de