OΙΚΟΓΕΝΕΙΑΚΗ EΠΑΝΕΝΩΣΗ FAMILY REUNIFICATION REGROUPEMENT FAMILIAL
I am under 18 years old and I entered Greece alone. What can I do? If you are under 18 years old and you are not accompanied by your parents or any other relative or person who is legally responsible for looking after you, you are considered an unaccompanied child and, according to Greek law or practice, the official authorities must immediately notify the competent Public Prosecutor for Minors (District Attorney) for your protection. The Public Prosecutor will accordingly actĂĽ as an iterim guardian and will seek to appoint a guardian who will be responsible for you and will act in your best interest. There are public authorities and independent organizations that can provide you with useful information with regard to the appointment of a guardian.
Is there a place where I can stay? There are several Centres for hosting unaccompanied minors in different cities across Greek territory, where you can be referred to for stay. There you could have access to shelter, food, health care, education and vocational training. You will also receive free legal assistance and information about the asylum procedure under Dublin Regulation.
Can I apply for international protection (asylum)? Yes, you can, if you wish to seek protection based on one of the grounds mentioned in the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention 1951 on the legal status of refugees. Once you lodge this application, you’ll be officially considered as an asylum seeker and the protection of your fundamental rights are ensured from the Greek state.
What is the “Dublin procedure”? It is an official procedure foreseen under European Law (Dublin Regulation) that establishes which member state is responsible for the examination of an application for international protection. Only one single country can be responsible for considering your request for protection.
In which countries is it applied? This law is applied throughout a geographical region that includes 32 countries . For the purpose of this leaflet, we are calling these 32 countries as countries that fall within the scope of the Dublin Regulation.
Will I be fingerprinted, if I apply for asylum? When you lodge an application for asylum-international protection, if you are 14 years of age or older, a picture or image of your fingers will be taken and transmitted to a fingerprint database called ‘Eurodac’. Your fingerprints might be checked at some point to see if you have applied for asylum in the past or in order to see if you were previously fingerprinted at the borders of Greece. If it is discovered that you have already applied for asylum in another Dublin country, you may be sent to this country, if it is in your best interests for you to return there. This country will then be responsible for examining your application for international protection. Your fingerprints will be stored for 10 years. After 10 years, they will be deleted automatically from the database.
What is family reunification? The Dublin system provides special provisions for unaccompanied minors in the context of international protection. When an unaccompanied minor lodges an application for international protection, the presence of family members or relatives in the territory of another member state of the EU is considered as a crucial element for making an official request for family reunification with the rest of the family. Of course, the lodging of such an application must be evaluated in the context of the best interest of the child principle, which is a fundamental humanitarian principle provided by the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and is legally binding for all European member states. Applications for family reunification of minors with family members are given priority and must be carried out by the relevant authorities as quickly as possible. In the case of Greece, the relevant authority is the so-called “Dublin Unit” which is situated at the premises of the Asylum Service-Regional Office of Attica.
Which are the family links eligible for family reunification? If you think that your mother, father, brother or sister, aunt1 uncle2, grandmother or grandfather may be present in one of the other 32 Dublin countries you have to inform the official authorities immediately. If we have sufficient information about them, we will search for your parents or relatives in any of the above countries. If we manage to find them, we will try to reunify all of you in the country where your parents or relatives are present. 1. Your mother’s sister or your father’s sister 2. Your mother’s brother or your father’s brother
Are there any other prerequisites for lodging an application for family reunification? The authorities will have to act always in your best interest of the child. This means that it is necessary to: • check whether it is possible to bring you together with your family in the same country; • make sure that you will be safe and secure, especially from people that may want to treat you badly or exploit you in any sense; • make sure that you can grow up in a safe and healthy environment, and that you have food and shelter and that your social development needs are met; • take your views into account – for example, as to whether you would like to stay with a relative or would prefer not to do so. You might also be submitted to medical tests (DNA samples) in order to establish the relationship with your family links abroad. In the case of tests carried out for first degree relatives, the state provides them for free. For second and third degree relatives, there are specialized private clinics that carry out such tests but they are not free of charge. In some cases of minors hosted in Centres for Unaccompanied Minors, and depending on their vulnerability, there are private donors (individuals or companies) that help carry out these tests quickly and efficiently.
How long will it take until you know whether you will be transferred in another country, in order to be reunited with your family link? The Dublin system provides special provisions for unaccompanied minors in the context of international protection. When an unaccompanied minor lodges an application for international protection, the presence of family members or relatives in the territory of another member state of the EU is considered as a crucial element for making an official request for family reunification with the rest of the family. Of course, the lodging of such an application must be evaluated in the context of the best interest of the child principle, which is a fundamental humanitarian principle provided by the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and is legally binding for all European member states. Applications for family reunification of minors with family members are given priority and must be carried out by the relevant authorities as quickly as possible. In the case of Greece, the relevant authority is the so-called “Dublin Unit� which is situated at the premises of the Asylum Service-Regional Office of Attica.
When and where should I apply for international protection in Greece? The competent authorities are the Regional Asylum Offices and the dispatched units of the regional Asylum Office. If you have a family link in one countries of the EU, you may lodge an application for international protection together with the family reunification request. If the necessary documentation and contact details of the relatives are already in hand, these are given as well. If the authorities question your age, it is possible that a doctor will want to examine you to see if you are truly younger or older than 18 years old. Keep in mind that you consent is needed in any case.
Which is the procedure followed in Greece? You may be body searched and your personal belongings may be searched. The Asylum Service will determine a date for your interview and then you will receive your international protection applicant’s card, which is be valid for up to six months. You must carry this card with you at all times. When you submit your application, the competent authorities are obliged to inform you, in a language that you understand, regarding the procedure, your rights and obligations while being an international protection applicant, as well as the deadlines that apply throughout the procedure. Your representative or counsellor will be invited and he may be with you during the interview. After the interview, the Asylum Service will decide whether it will grant you refugee status, grant you a status of subsidiary protection, or reject your application. When a decision upon your application is issued, the Asylum Service will notify you to receive it. You will be notified based on the contact information you have declared, either by a telephone call, a letter, a fax, or an e-mail. The Asylum Service must notify the decision to you with the assistance of an interpreter in a language that you understand.
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Where can I get information and legal assistance? There are numerous organizations that could offer you legal support and assist you throughout the aforementioned procedure. Please contact us.
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