Author
All asylum applications submitted since 1 March 2019 are processed according to the restructured Swiss asylum procedure that significantly reduced the foreseen duration of procedures. The majority of the procedures have to be concluded within 140 days (including appeal and removal procedure) while asylum seekers are accommodated in federal asylum centres located in one of the six asylum regions. If the case is a complex one requiring further clarifications and cannot be decided within 8 days after the interview on the grounds for asylum, the SEM must order that the case be assigned to the extended procedure. These procedures shall last a maximum of one year in total (including appeal procedure and enforcement of removal in case of a negative decision). After the assignment to the extended procedure, asylum seekers are attributed to a canton that is responsible for organising accommodation.
In order to compensate for the acceleration of the procedure, asylum seekers receive free counselling and free, state-independent legal representation right after their asylum application.