“I did not trust them”

“My friends then told me about the UNHCR. The registration process was very complicated because there was a lack of information. No one was giving us information. I searched the address of the UNHCR on the internet, but that was it. No one gave us helpful information, they just gave us a paper and said ‘write your story’. I did not trust them at all at that time and I asked about rules and regulations. At that time I was not fluent in English. I asked how to apply for refugee status but the translation…was not clear. I could not understand what to write…One refugee saw that I too needed assistance and he gave me information and told me about the JRC. There they helped me to get my refugee stats and through my case.”

“He knew the process”

“My father knew to register with the UNHCR. It is not too difficult because he knew the process.”

“It was very hard to find”

“I studied a little about the UN, but my friend gave me information about the UNHCR. First time it was very hard to find the UNHCR, but if you ask a Thai person they can help you. I was talking to a motorcyclist because he wanted to learn English and I asked him if he knew where the UN was. He later took me there.”

“It takes a long time”

“We have friends here and they gave us all information on how to be a refugee. It is not an easy process, it is lengthy and it takes a long time. The day the UNHCR stopped working we got registered as asylum seekers.”

“I was denied refugee status”

“[A friend] told me about the UN services for the refugees where I could tell my story. I did not know where the UNHCR was. He told me that I should not be walking with my passport because if the police got a hold of it they [would] see it was a fake. I destroyed the passport and then went directly to the UNHCR and declared my case. The first time I went to the UNHCR they gave me a paper. I was denied refugee status and I appealed, and it has now been more than a year. The first time it took them 3 months to schedule an interview, but it has now been a year to process my appeal. I do not understand this.”

“I worry about my future”

“I contacted the UN. It took months for me to be a refugee and 4 months 18 days waiting in jail. I am really sad because I was recognized as an external mandate which means that I will not be resettled. Instead, I will be sent  back to [my country] and I worry about my future.”

“The process is not hard”

“My mom’s friend told me I had to register with the UNHCR. I think the process is not hard, the UNHCR gives procedures…I was a refugee after 6 months.”