Asylum officer questions asked September 2025, of an activist from the Ivory Coast:

Do you remember what your WRITTEN STATEMENT is? How did you prepare it? did anyone help you? how did he help you? He looked at your statement, put it into chrono-logical order, and made it shorter?

Can you repeat page one of Form I-589, without looking at it? when did you last depart from your country? when enter USA?

Your wife is the same ethnic group and religion as you? How come she did not suffer physical harm?

Were you harmed or threatened in your country? [being threatened is harm, isn't it? YES. This is an awkward question from the officer? 

How many times were you harmed? You say you were harmed every day, because everyday there was a risk or danger of being arbitrarily arrested? Every day there was a "threat" of being arrested? So, you suffered emotional harm every day? 365 days in a year? So, in 2024, you suffered harm 365 times?

How many times did you suffer physical harm? When was the first time? the last time? which was the worst ?

A man hit you? what was he wearing on his feet? pants? shirt? head? what insignia or emblems or letters were on his shirt?

What words did he say? why did he hit you? What weapons did he have? Using his baton, he hit you on your right leg? on your upper back? where else? any blood come out? did you seek medical care? why not?

Who harmed you? He worked for whom? Why do you think that? How did he harm you? [you already answered this question, but I am asking again, for some reason]

You were harmed physically? Were you harmed in any other way? Emotionally? Any effects of it, today, in September 2025?

"Partisan" is a word in English? what does it mean to you?

What were your injuries?

A threat can be direct and personal: a man stands in front of you, and says, "If you give me bad answers, I will hit you on the head with my baton"?

That threat is direct, personal, and verbal?

Is this a threat: "You will see what can happen."?

A man stands in front of you, in a uniform, with a gun. He says, "Stop protesting." That is an indirect threat? He did not say, expressly, out loud, "I will hit you," but you believed he might do that?

You were harmed physically in 2024? tell me about it. Tell me about your emotional harm in 2023. Do you notice that I am not asking questions in chronological order, and that I am repeating questions? So what: answer anyway!

Every event happened in a certain month, year, and city? Can you put month/year/city in your answers? Do you know your own history? can you repeat it? Do I know the contents of your Written Statement better than you do? Is that embarrasssing to you?

Why did you join the GPS party? what was its platform? What did you do for the party? If someone made a video of you, doing your work, what would be in the video? You sitting on a chair, listening to someone else talk? You sitting at a desk, typing into a computer? You marching and chanting on the street?

After the soldier hit you, did you report that to the police? why not? Were the police able to protect you? Was there another government entity that could protect you?

A man in a T-shirt hit you? How do you know he worked for the government? Does the government hire homeless men, on a part time basis, and tell them to beat up protesters?

What would happen if you return to your country, tomorrow? Why would that happen?

Your government hates you? So why did they re-new your passport? Why did they let you depart from the airport? How much was the bribe you paid? how did you pay the bribe? did you hand him cash, in public?

Is your government still interested in you? Have they contacted your family in the last six months? So, they have forgotten about you, yes?

What are your political activities in the USA? does your government know what you are doing here? How would they know? Did you receive any threats, here in the USA?

did you ever give food, shelter, or transportation to a member of a violent group? What is "material support"? If you don't know what it is, how can you answer questions about it?

Did you ever violate the laws of your country? Do you need a permit, to have a protest?

 More questions, August 24th, of a Burmese activist:

What are "Country conditions" reports? Does the Department of State publish reports about your country? I read them, but you do not? Those reports know more than you do, about your country?

"Country conditions" reports from 2023 say that no one was forcibly drafted into the Military? Yes? that is true? 

Where do you get information from ? What news sources do you have? Do you spend less time than I do, reading about your country?

What is a "similarly-situated" person? You are a Christian, non-Bamar woman? Did such a person suffer harm recently? You are a Bamar man, under the age of 35? Did such a person suffer harm recently?

What is wrong with the Burmese military? Don't all countries have armies, and conscription systems? Why do you say that the military commits "inhuman acts"? What do you mean?

How long must you serve in the military? Just for two years, correct?

What is your political opinion? How did you express it in Burma? How did you express it in USA? you did not join a political party? you have no membership card? why not? Isn't your political opinion important to you? Who told you to protest at the Embassy? Who told you to write a letter to the Ambassador?

You went to a protest in August 2025? how many people were there? did anyone notice you were there? who organized the protest?

You sent a letter to the ambassador? why? was your name on it? weren't you afraid of consequences? Can you prove that your letter was delivered? who told you to write the letter? who mailed it? from where? Did anyone tell you to mail it? Your lawyer told you to do this?

How do  you know that your country is angry at you, specifically? What is special or particular about you?

How would government know if you return to your country? can't you live safely in Mandalay, or in Irrawaddy? or someplace other than Yangon?

Do you know of any "similarly-situated" persons who returned to Burma, and were arrested? how did you learn about them?

How would your government be able to harm you? Are they really capable of harming you? Do you believe your government hates you? does it want to punish you?

A soldier pointed his rifle at you. Did he hate you? Did he want to punish you? Was he looking for an excuse to harm you? Why would he target you, particularly?

Mr. Aung was grabbed off of the sidewalk, and forced into the military? How was he harmed? did he suffer a gross invasion of his personal rights?

Did you receive a text from your father? can you open your phone right now, and look for it?

What does NLD stand for?

Your uncle paid a bribe of 500,000 kyats? What was his monthly salary? So, paying 500,000 = one third of his monthly salary? Is it normal for someone to be carrying 500,00 around, in his pocket, when he goes shopping?

How was your WRITTEN STATEMENT prepared? Your lawyer told you to write down your story; you wrote a long story, and then the lawyer made it shorter? 

Your lawyer had an assistant, named Amy? How did you meet Amy? what did she tell you? how much money did you pay her? did she make promises to you? what did she do? She helped to translate? she helped me to make my story shorter, and more relevant?  Is Amy a lawyer? where is she located? ever meet her in person? Who told you to pay her? what did she do for you? she sent  you questions, and asked you to answer?

Your brother went to a police station or was it a military station? Is there an important difference between the two? Each wears a uniform, has a gun, and hates? and wants to punish? 

 Asylum officer questions asked, of a Burmese activist, on August 24, 2025:

Tell me about all of your international travel: for each country visited, what was your immigration status? why not apply for asylum there? did you ever return to the country that you say is dangerous? [that would be your own country] Why would you voluntarily return to a dangerous place?

When did you last depart from your country? What was your last address? Where did you live for each month, for the las 60 months? Let's spend 30 minutes on your addresses, OK?

Why didn't you apply for asylum sooner? why the delay? why delay your departure from your country? why the delay?

When did  you learn about asylum? When did you decide you wanted to apply for asylum?

Tell me about the international travels of your brother: when did he depart, why? where is he now?

Your uncle still lives in Burma? why hasn't he been arrested? He is a minority, isn't he?

Why are  you seeking asylum? What do you mean, "I fear my government"? Why is government angry at you? What are their reasons? More than one reason? 

Were you harmed in your country? how many times? How many times did you suffer physical harm? Which was the worst time?

How many times were you threatened? What do  you mean, "Every day in Burma is a threat"? How many times were you directly, face-to-face threatened?

February 2025 in Yangon: how were you harmed? What impact did that event have on you? Are you still impacted by that event? Ever have "intrusive thoughts" about it? Flashbacks? Nightmares? 

A soldier points his rifle at you. Is that a big deal, or a small deal? Why is that a big deal? What thoughts went through your mind?

Who harmed you? Why? What did he believe about you, as he harmed you?

You suffered harm in December 2024 in Mandalay? who harmed you? How? why? What did he believe about you, when he harmed  you? What thoughts went through your mind? What impact did that event have on you? Does it still, even today, have an impact on you?

Was there a direct, personal, verbal threat? What words were said? Or, was it an indirect threat?

You say you are not a Bamar.? So what? does the soldier care if you are Bamar or not? How does he know your ethnic group? Does your group suffer more than the Bamars?

Can you tell me the event in two sentences? I want to talk about your addresses for 30 minutes, but your harm only for ten seconds, so, you must be brief. If you don't get to the point in five seconds, I will stop listening, and I will interrupt you.

Were you the victim of random violence? The same harm that everyone suffers? Or, because you are not a Bamar, you suffered more harm? What is special about you? Why were you, in particular, targeted?

Does that event, two years ago, still cause you to have repeated, intrusive thoughts about it? In other words, you think about it today, from time to time, even though it is unpleasant? Who wants to have repeated, unpleasant thoughts about the same event?

If you return to your country, what would happen? Who would harm you? Why? What is special about you?

 Asylum officer questions asked of a Burmese activist on August 12, 2025

Tell me about all of your international travel: how long in each country; what was your immigration status there; why not seek asylum there?  After visiting Bangkok, you returned to the country that you say is dangerous? You voluntarily return to Burma, the country you now say wants to arrest you?

Did anyone help you fill out I-589? how did he help you? How was your "Written Statement" prepared? You wrote a long version in Burmese, then, using Google translate, put it into English? You gave it to your lawyer, and he made it shorter?

Can you repeat page one of Form I-589, without looking at it? When did you last depart from Burma? When you enter USA?

You say your government is angry at you, and wants to arrest you? So how come they gave you a passport? How come they let you travel outside of your country? How come you were not arrested at the airport as you departed?

How many times did you apply for visa to enter USA? Does the application ask if you had ever been arrested? Does the application ask how long you planned to stay in USA? Did you have a face-to-face interview at US Embassy? The official asked you if you had ever been arrested? The official asked how long you planned to stay in USA? You lied? Why did you lie?

Did you suffer any physical harm in Burma? how many times? which time was the worst? What happened? Were you hit with a baton? Punched with a fist? Kicked with a heavy military boot?

Who hit you? What was he wearing? Were there emblems or insignia on his arms? any numbers or letters? What words did he say? What else did he say? WEAPONS and WORDS! What weapons and what words?

When you first saw him, What Thoughts Went Through Your Mind? Is "anticipation of harm" sometimes worse than the actual physical harm? For example, getting hit on the head, once, or sitting on a chair for 30 minutes, and you fear at any time maybe he will hit me on the head? Which is worse?

What is your political opinion? What is the platform of the DLC party? What do they want? Did you join it? Why not? What was attractive to you about that party? 

Did you ever express your political opinion in your country? How did you express it? Did anyone notice that you expressed it?

There was a big protest in downtown Mandalay? How did you hear about it? how did you get to the protest? What did you do at the protest? Did you walk anywhere? Carry any banners or posters? Chant any slogans? Distribute any literature? What were you protesting against?

Was the protest violent? Did anyone throw rocks?

Who arrested your brother? Why?

What does section 505A of the Burmese Code say?

Is your government still interested in you? Anyone search for you, recently?

If you return to your country, what would happen? Why do you believe you would be arrested?

Is there anything else?

 Questions asked on August 5, 2025 of an activist from Burma:

How was your Form I-589 prepared? who helped you? How was your Written Statement prepared? who helped you? how did he help?

How many times did you apply to get a visa? who helped you prepare the visa application? Does that application ask if you had ever been arrested?

Did you suffer any physical harm? how many times? When was the first time? when was the second? when was the last? Which was the worst?

Were you ever threatened? How many times? Why do you say that "Every day in Burma I was threatened"? When was the first time? second time? last time? worst time?

You went to a protest in the city of Mandalay? why? what were you protesting against?

Are you suffering any long-lasting emotional harm? any nightmares? Flashbacks?

The soldier was wearing what? on his head was what? any insignia or symbols on his shirt? what kinds of weapons did he have? what kind of boots?

What words did the soldier say? What else did he say? Didn't he say more things? Did he threaten you "indirectly"?

I will ask you some "obvious" questions. This is to help get all of the details out. Why was the soldier angry, that  you were protesting?

What is the mission of the NLD? what were your activities at the NLD? You attended meetings? What was debated at the meetings? At the meetings, did people discuss alternative ways to do things? What would be a good day to  protest?

In Burma, did you ever express your political opinion in public? Did anyone in the government notice? What is a "ward official"? What is his job? Does he employ neighbors to do surveillance on you and on everyone?

In the USA, did you ever express your political opinion in public? Did anyone in your government notice?

What is a Household Registration List? What is a "midnight lineup"? Did anyone ever check the contents of your phone? Is your Facebook account on your phone?

When the soldiers came to your apartment, what did they say? What else did they say? Please describe their uniforms. What words did they say? Why did they threaten you? Why do you say that they wanted to "punish" you?

Does the government monitor social media postings in Burma?

In the USA, does the Burma government monitor what the Burmese are doing? What does ISI mean? Have you heard that  your government arrests people because of their media postings?

Has your government harmed anyone, because they protested? Do you know the name of anyone who was arrested in Burma? 

You heard that your high school friend was thrown into prison? How did this impact you? Did it impact your day-to-day life, afterwards? Do you continue to suffer emotional harm, even today?

How were you able to depart from Burma, if they are angry at you? If you return, what would happen? why would that happen? do you know of any similarly-situated persons?

If you return, how would they know you still have the same political opinion?

You believe there were Informers/Spies/Informants at protests in front of the Burmese Embassy? Who told you that? You believe your government monitors protests in USA? why do you believe that? Who told you that? 

Do you know anyone who criticized your government while outside of Burma, and who then returned to Burma?

Your government has forgotten about you, yes?

Do  you know anyone who was arrested recently, due to his political opinion?  What are prison conditions like?

You had problems in Mandalay? So, why not go live in Irrawaddy or in Shan State?

Did you ever give support to a violent organization? Ever give them even one dollar or a ride in a car? What is "material support"?

Is there anything else? Oh, really what?

Is there anything else?

 Asylum officer questions of an activist from Burma on 8-2-25

Did anyone help you do I-589? how did he help you? Did anyone help you do your "Written Statement"? how did he help you? did you personally fill out I-589? did you review everything, before it was filed? how did you do that?

What does Bamar mean? are you a Bamar?

How many visa applications did you file? anyone help you answer the questions? Were you asked oral questions, at a face-to-face interview at US Embassy?

Did you suffer any physical harm? How many times? When was the first time? what happened? When was Harm #2? When was Harm #3?

Were you ever threatened? how many times? What do you mean, when you say, "Every day in Burma is a threat"? How many times were you directly threatened, face-to-face, or over the phone?

Why do you fear returning?

What does the military do in Burma? Did you protest in the USA? Did you ever join a political party in Burma or in USA? why not?

Aung San Suu Kyi [ASSK] was arrested before 2017? In the 2020 elections, the NLD got what percent of the votes? What party came in second? what party came in third?

The military had a flag in 2020? what color? is there a bird on it?  Did the military retain privileges after the 2020 elections? before the elections? Military always gets 25% of the seats?

ASSK thinks what, about the Rohingya?

Were you threatened in February 2021? NO? I thought you said that every day was a threat in your country

What did the uniform of the soldier look like? what color? what letters? insignia? boots? hat? helmet? long gun? short gun?

What words did the soldier say? what words did the soldier say? why is this a hard question?

Was your father harmed, due to his ethnic group? how? when was he harmed? was he harmed every day of his life?

500,000 kyats = what in US dollars? about $2,000?

what percent of annual income is 500,000 kyats?

Is there a "state of emergency" in Burma? did it end on July 31, 2025?

If you return, why would you be arrested?

did the Ambassador actually receive the letter you say you sent to him? What is his name? how come you don't know his name? why didn't they arrest your father, due to your letter?

Is it true that the government controls less than 50% of the country? so, why not go live where government does not control? 

RTDC means "Return To Dangerous Country"?  why did you voluntarily return there?

Are there "Burmese resistance groups"? They have guns? they are "violent"? You gave them money? what is "material support"  

Is there anything else? Yes? what?

Is there anything else? what?

 Asylum officer questions, asked of an activist from Asian country on July 26, 2025:

Anyone help you do I-589? how did he help? Anyone help you do DS=160? how did he help you?

What is your "Written Statement"? how was it prepared?

Why are you applying for asylum? Did you suffer any physical harm? How many times? Which was the worst experience?

Ever been threatened? how many times? What do you mean when you say, "Every day living in my country is a threat"?

Where were you at the time of your first arrest? walking on the street? sitting at home, reading a book? Who arrested you, and why? What words did the officer say? Inside your home, did you suffer physical harm? 

How were you taken to the police station? What words did the officer say in the police car? Did you suffer physical harm in the police car?   Upon arrival at the station, what did the officer say? Did you suffer physical harm upon arrival?

They put you in a small room? What was it like in that room? What is Exhibit 12? was there a bed? a toilet? lights? windows? rats? what food they give you? any water? 

What questions did they ask? why did they ask about the recent protest? why did they ask about the names of other protesters? why did they arrest  your brother?

Your ethnic group is Hui? If  you walk down the street, in silence, and someone sees you, how do they know if that is your ethnic group? If you speak, how do they know what your ethnic group is?

How did you feel during the days you were held in the small room? Did you talk to your family during those days? How did you feel about that? Upon your release, what did the officer say? How did you get home, after being released?

How did they know what your religion was? how did they know about your political opinion?

They hit your leg six years ago? Does it still hurt today? Wat is a flashback? Did you have a recent flashback to an event in your country?  Does that event affect  you mentally, today? How?

What is your opinion about your government? Why are you scared? why are you fearful? Why does the government hate your religion? why do they hate your ethnic group?

Did you join any political organizations in USA? why did you join? Do you have any evidence that you joined?

You were harmed in City #1? OK, so, why not live in City #2 or in City #3?  

If you return, what would happen?

Were you ever a member of a "violent" organization? What does "duress" mean? what is "material support"? if you don't know, how can you answer questions about those things?

Is there anything else?