Questions asked of an activist from Burma, by an Asylum officer:

You say you joined the NLD. What attracted you to that party?

How did you join? what was the process? do they accept anyone?

What emotions did you have about events in your country?

You say your country is dangerous. Did you ever voluntarily return there?

What motivated you to write the anti-government articles?

Does your government have Informers/Spies/Infiltrators [ISI] in the USA?

how did they find out you wrote the articles?

What words did the policeman say? he spoke in what language?

are you more famous today, than you were 4 years ago? or, are you less famous, and the government has forgotten about you?

What were your duties at the political party? sit at a desk and make phone calls? send emails?

Has the government looked for you, or inquired about you, since you departed?

do you know what happens to other family members of activists?

what would happen if you return?

MANDATORY QUESTIONS ASKED OF EVERYONE

   tell me all of your international travel

did you do any crimes? ever get arrested?

ever been given any weapons training? did you ever do a hijacking or set off explosives?

ever work for government? the police or military?

ever give "material support" to a "terrorist organization"?

ever give "material support," even if under duress, or under coercion?

ever pay $1 at a roadblock or checkpoint?

 May 2021: questions asked of a pro-democracy activist by Asylum Officer:

Did anyone help you prepare your application? how was it prepared? did someone read the entirre application back to you in your native language?

Are you aware of the contents of your application? is everything in it true?

How did you meet your lawyer? How many times did you meet with him?

Can you repeat page one of Form I-589 without looking at it? Let's see:

what is your name? use any other names? address? phone number? POB? DOB?

ethnic group? religion? 

When did you last leave your country? when did you last enter the USA?

Tell me your complete travel history!

Can you repeat pages 2-3 of Form I-589? Let's see: name and date of birth of spouse?

name and date of birth of each child? Tell me the international travel of each member of your family!

= = 

Can you repeat page 4 of your application? Let's see:

your last address in your country? you lived there from when to when?

tell me all of your addresses in USA, and all addresses for past ten years

Tell me all your education

tell me all your employments? Where do you work today?

tell me the name of your father/ your mother/ each sibling

Why are you seeking asylum? Who do you fear?

after two hours of questions, the officer asked, "Is there anything else?" Yes? what?

 Questions asked by Asylum Officer of an activist from China:

Tell me about all of your international travel!

Give me a photocopy of every page of your passport, including the blank pages!

Tell me about the international travel of each member of your family!

You say your government hates you, and wants to  imprison you? Really? When you wanted to depart from your country, you went to the airport, and showed them your passport with your name in it, but you were not arrested? why not?

Do you know your own history, perfectly? 

You departed from your country five years ago? your government has forgotten about you, correct?

You say you have a strong anti-government political opinion? How did the government find out that you had that opinion?

You say you are an activist who was imprisoned. Do you personally know anyone else, similar to you?