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All asylum seekers are provided with information on the asylum procedure but also on reception, accommodation, health insurance, allowances etc. They also watch a short film that presents the main steps of the procedure and the intervening actors. As they also have the opportunity to ask questions to the counselling persons, it can be stated that they are better informed and have a better understanding of the asylum process than under the old procedure. Moreover, the SEM has developed an app with general information in 12 languages on the asylum procedure, the federal asylum centres, life in Switzerland and healthcare. The text content can be read aloud. The app also contains specific information about individual asylum centres, including the times asylum seekers are allowed to go out, the distribution of pocket money and activities for adults and children (this last content can only be accessed on the asylum centre’s WLAN).[1]
The asylum procedure, as well as the rights and obligations of foreigners according to their status is outlined on the Swiss Refugee Council website, in German and in French, partially also in English.[2] The procedure is also explained on the website of the SEM, with videos.[3]
[1] The app is available at: https://asylum-info.ch/en.
[2] Swiss Refugee Council, available (in English) at: https://bit.ly/34KEc3t.
[3] SEM, available (in English) at: https://bit.ly/2L3Skhe.