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?

 Asylum officer questions July 21, 2025 Part Two of Two

What language did the officer speak? do  you remember what he said? can you repeat it, in Burmese? Can you tell me, in English, what he said?

    Did he make an implied, or indirect threat? How? 

Did he touch you? did a weapon of his touch you?

Upon arrival at your house, he said what? did he harm you inside the house? he took you to police truck? Were you harmed inside the truck? What did he say to you? what did he say to other people who were there?

Upon arrival at police station, what did officer say? any harms or threats? Inside, what did they say?  Any physical harm inside? any threats? Did they harm you, inside?

Did you have any injuries, upon release? go to hospital? If you are not a military supporter, what does hospital think about you? Do you fear the nurse or doctor will report you to the government? Did you have enough money for the hospital?

What effect did your imprisonment have on you? Do you still think about it today? What do you think about? what is a "flashback"?

Did you report this event to the police? why not?

What was the second worst time, that you suffered physical harm? What did you see? What did you hear? Did the soldier have a gold star? a black scar? wearing what on his head? goggles?

How were you injured? Are you still injured?

What words did the man say? Did he make an implied threat?

What is the difference between a direct threat and an implied threat?  Did he say any words? What languge did he speak? can you remember his words? can you translate them into English?

After you answered the questions, did you suffer any harm?

Why did they require you to get permission before departing from the city?  How do you know they do surveillance on you each day? What is dalan?

Why did they harm you? What did they say to you, that reveals their motive?

Why do you support the NLD? what do you like about it? In the last six months, did you do anything to support the NLD? How would anyone know you support the NLD? Did you post anything on Facebook?

If  you return, what would happen? why would that happen? how would they know if you returned?

Is your government still interested in you, after all of these years? 

Do you know any similarly-situated persons who suffered harm in the last six months?  

How would they know if you returned?

Is there anything else?

 Asylum officer questions to a Burma activist on 7-21-25

Part One of Two 

  Did anyone help you do I-589? how did he help you? Anyone help you write your Written Statement? how did he help?

  Any new documents for me, today?

When did you last depart from your country?

Can you repeat page one of I-589 without looking at it?

Why are  you seeking asylum?

Ever been harmed or threatened? How many times did you suffer physical harm? What was the worst time?

   What was the second worst time?

Did you suffer any economic harm? What?

Did you suffer any emotional harm?

True or false: the anticipation of harm can be worse than the harm itself?

January 2025: You saw a man? wearing what? what color were his pants? his shirt? carrying a pistol? a baton? a rifle?

Any letters on his shirt? any numbers? any symbols, such as a white star or gold star? a triangle with two arrows in it?

 Asylum Officer questions to an activist from Burma July 9, 2025  Part One of Two

Tell me the three worst events that happened to you! which is the worst, and which was the last?

Did anyone help you do I-589? how did he help you? Did anyone help you with your "Written Statement"? how did he help you?

Do you have any more documents for me ,  today?

Can you repeat page one of Form I-589 without looking at it?

What is Form DS-160? how many times did you fill one out? when was the first time? is everything in it true? It asks if you have a "social media" presence? you have a Facebook account? Instagram account? Have you used social media platforms in the past 5 years?

In the DS-160, it asked "Intended length of stay in U.S."? 
 "Do you have any relatives in U.S."? "Your previous employers"? "Your previous education"? "International travel"?

DS-160 asks: "Have you ever been arrested?" "Did you give money to a violent organization?"

did you have a face-to-face interview with an official at US Embassy? You were asked "What is your intended length of stay in US?" "Have you ever been arrested?"

Why do you fear returning to your country? why do you fear your government? what would happen if you return tomorrow?

Why would government harm you? what is your political opinion? how does the government know you have this opinion? how did you express it in your country? how have you expressed it in US? If you return, would you express it again?

Why would government harm you?

You say you "protested." Does that mean you walked on the street, chanting anti-government slogans and carrying a large poster that had anti-government words on it? What language was the poster in? Can you draw me a picture of it, right now?

Where was the first protest? who organized it? how did you learn that it would happen? when did you arrive at it? who else was there?

Does the government require getting a permit, before  you can protest?

When did you first decide to protest? What did government do, that makes you angry? Why does that make you feel angry?

Were you ever harmed in your country? any physical harm? emotional harm? economic harm?

Ever been threatened? One kind of threat is face-to-face. Are there other kinds of threats? Is living in your country every day a threat? Everyday, was there a threat of being arrested?

What did government say on television about what would happen if you protested?

 Part two of questions from July 7, 2025

Did you report your problems to the police? why not?

THE FUTURE: if you return, what would happen? why would that happen? is there any other reason?

Is anyone looking for you right now? why? why do  you believe that?

The last time government visited your home in person was when? last time they phoned you? last time they talked to a member of your family?  The government has forgotten about you?

Is there constant surveillance in your country? what are the dalan ?

Is the government specifically and personally looking for you? why do you believe that? why is the government looking for you? any other reason?

Will you protest in Burma, if you return to burma? why not?

Are you a member of a political party? do you have a membership card? have you done any "opposition activities" here in USA? why not? You say you protested? Why do you risk your life by protesting?

What do you not like about your government?

You went to a protest in Irrawaddy in December 2024? Who put on that protest? how many attended? who told you about it? what exactly did you do? You walked in the street, carrying a large sign, and you shouted anti-government slogans? Did anyone notice what you were doing?

Do you know anyone who returned to Burma? what happened to them? How would the government know that you returned?

Are you able to repeat  your Declaration, even if I do not ask you about it?

Why would you protest in the future?

Did you ever criticize your government online? why? what was your criticism?

What is "internal relocation"? is it possible for you?

what is "material support"? does it include a drink of water, giving one dollar, giving someone a ten-minute ride in your car?

    There are "violent" groups in Burma? they have guns and they shoot them? According to the law of the USA, are they "terrorists"?   So,, did you give help to a group that the US considers to be terrorist?

 QUESTIONS ASKED BY ASYLUM OFFICER, OF AN ACTIVIST FROM BURMA ON JULY 7, 2025

Did anyone help you do I-589? how did he help you?

Can you repeat everything on page One of I-589 without looking at it?

What is your current immigration status in USA? for each country that you visited, what was your status there? Why not seek asylum there?

You say government hates you because you are a minority? Your mother is the same minority, and she lives in Burma? How come she is not dead? How come government does not harm her?

Attached to I-589 is a written statement? did anyone help you with that? how did he help you?

What is Form DS-160? how many times did you fill it out? Did anyone help you with it? How did they help? Is the information on DS-160 accurate? That form asked if you had ever been arrested? that form asked if your stay in USA would be only for two weeks? So, you lied on the DS-160?

Did you have a face-to-face interview at US Embassy? you answered questions, and gave the officer information? Did you lie to him? why?

WERE  YOU THREATENED IN YOUR COUNTRY?

What does the word "threat" mean? There are direct, personal threats: the officer, standing in front of you says, "Maybe tomorrow I will kill you!"  How many direct, personal threats did you get? Four? OK, for threat #1, tell me month/year/city. What words did the man say?

   For threat #2, tell me month/year/city. What words did the man say? Tell me exactly what he said! What language did he speak in?  Where were you, at the time of the threat?

Did the man say anything else? "Sitting here right now, not that I can recall"

Were you targeted personally? why? how did the officer know your religion? how did he know your ethnic group? how did he know  your political opinion?  

Is "family" a particular social group? if government is angry at your brother, but they can't find him, are they angry at you? so, you suffer harm because you are the brother of your brother?

How many protests did you attend in your country in 2021? in 2022? How come you stopped protesting?

Why did you believe the man was part of the military? What exactly did the officer say? He made a direct threat to you, or was it indirect?

Everyday in Burma, you are under threat?

In January 2024, in Mandalay, the officer said, "I will  throw you into prison!"? Do you still think about that threat? what do you think about it? Ever have flashbacks? Are they unpleasant?

Why did he threaten you? Was it because of  1] race or ethnic group? 2] religion? 3] political opinion? 4] particular social group? is "family" a particular social group? How much about you did the officer know? did he know about "family"?

Are there four main grounds for asylum? what are they?

You were targeted personally, because why? What specific basis do you have to support  your belief?

 Part Two of Two: June 2025 asylum officer questions of an activist from Burma:

Are you active in the US? what do you do? ever protest? 

Did you ever protest in Burma? [why do you suppose the officer asks the same question twice?]

What would happen if you return to Burma tomorrow? what would happen at the airport? how would they know you arrived?

Why do you fear returning? do you know anyone else, similarly-situated, who protested abroad and then who returned to Burma and was arrested at YGN airport?

What does your government think about people who studied in USA for three years? Are they going to be trouble-makers in Burma, because they have seen democracy in action?

What do you fear if you return? why would that happen?

Whom do you fear? [doesn't the officer know the answer to this question? why does he ask this?]

Dalan people in USA go to protests, take photos, and then tell the government who is in the photos?

Is there anything else? Yes? what?

Why did your uncle need to get a travel permit to drive his car from Yangon to Mandalay? The government has a limited amount of money? But instead of using it to build schools, roads, and hospitals, they hire thugs to harass their own people? They hire office workers to issue travel permits? Is the entire country like a prison?

You are a member of the Chinese ethnic group? Why do the Bamar hate the Chinese? What is the three Bs policy?

 June 13, 2025 questions by Asylum Officer to an activist from Burma:  Part One of Two

Did anyone help you do I-589? how did they help? any updates? any new documents for today?  How many years did you live in Shan State? How long have you been a Muslim?

Did you provide a written statement? What is a statement? what is a declaration? what is an affidavit? you don't know the difference? so why do you quickly and glibly answer my questions?

DS-160: did you ever apply for a visa before? how many times? Your first visa application: did anyone help you prepare it? is everything in it true? Does it ask if you were arrested? You were arrested, weren't  you? So, you lied on your DS-160? You had a face-to-face interview at US Embassy? you told more lies to the officer?

What false statements are on your second visa application? You have not read it, recently, have you? But I have, yes?

Tell me your immigration status and applications here in USA?

When apply for TPS? when did you re-apply? Tell me about your F-1 and your association and activities at the  university!

= = = 

Have you ever been harmed or threatened? When was the first time  you were threatened? when was the second time? when was the third time? which time was the worst?

   What is a threat? A soldier could walk up to you, and say, "If you do not give me money right now, I will shoot you." That is a direct, verbal threat?

If yesterday, your friend received a direct, verbal threat, is that a "threat" for you today? Living each day in Burma is a "threat," isn't it? Each day, the government threatens its people. Everyone lives under threat every day. This is an indirect threat, perhaps.

What is "harm"? There are many kinds of harm. Each day in Burma you feel anxious and nervous? Each day, you suffer emotional harm?

What did you see with your eyes? Three smiling young girls, with flowers in their hands? NO? Three large, angry-faced young muscular men in uniforms, with guns, and they were not from your ethnic group?

What is a Bamar? how do they look different from you? How do they know you are not a Bamar?

You lived for ten years in Mandalay? Five years in Irrawaddy?

When you told the officer your cousin was a student in USA, the officer said, "Oh, she is getting brainwashed there to hate her own country?"

How many protests did you attend in Burma? How did the government know that you were protesting, in the middle of the street, in broad daylight?  Who are the dalan? What do they do?

 June 2025: more questions to an activist, from Asylum Officer:

Where were you, at the moment of your harm? What did you see? What did you hear? Did the angry man say some words? what langugage? what words did he say?

Was he an ordinary criminal? Can you win asylum, if an ordinary criminal harms you?

At that time, who else was present? why didn't they write a letter of support for you?

Were there other "similarly-situated" persons in your country? were they also harmed? 

How were you harmed in June 2024? As he raised the stick, what thoughts went through your mind?

How do you know he was a government agent? Why do you believe he was a government agent? What was he wearing? what words did he say?  were there any other words that he said?

At the hospital, what did the doctor say to you?

If a family member does something, is everyone in the family now at risk?

How were you harmed in July 2024? what words did the angry man say?   What were you doing at the moment of your arrest? where were you at the moment of your arrest?

I, the asylum officer, read your statement this morning. When was the last time you read it? I know more about you, than you do? Is that embarrassing to you?

How did you express your political opinion? How did you criticize the government? how do they know that you did those things?

How did you get out of jail? What was the conversation, as you were released?  What words did the guard say?

What was the most severe harm that happened to you?

How do you know it was a government man who hit you?

How many times were you threatened? what was the worst threat? when was the last threat? 

Why do you believe the man was angry at you, because of your political opinion?

What would happen if you return to your country? who would harm you? why?  Would you be harmed because of your "family"?

What is your view of your government? what is your political opinion? Today, June 2025, what is your political opinion? have you expressed it, even once, in the last 12 months? I guess it is not important to you?

If you return, would you continue to press for democracy?

How would the government know anything about you?

Are there any "similarly-situated" persons, who are like you? Did any of them recently suffer harm?

Did you report your problems to the police? what did they do?

Can you safely relocate inside your country? You were injured in City #1? OK, so why not go live in City #2?

How do you know it was the police who harmed you?

What is "material support"?  Even if under duress, did you give material support to the well-meaning freedom fighters?

 June 2025: Asylum Officer questions, to an activist from Tanzania:

-Who helped you do Form I-589? How did he help you?

Who helped you with  your written statement? How did he help you? Was your statement read back to you, in your native language?

DS-160: what is Form DS-160? is it an application for a visa? who helped you answer the questions? is everything true on it? Yes? why do you say that? you lied didn't you?

   To get your visa, did you have face-to-face interview at US Embassy? They asked you questions? You lied or told the truth?

Are you aware of its contents? Yes? why do you say Yes, when you have not read it for six years? I, the asylum officer, know much more about your DS-160, yes? Is that embarrassing to you?

Why are you applying for asylum? Why is Government angry at you? Why are agents of the government angry at you?

Were you harmed in your country? How?

Were you threatened in your country? How many times? Give me a number!

When was the first harm? [asylum officer switches back and forth between "harm" and "threats"] When was the last harm?

When was the first threat? when was the last threat? By the way, what is a threat? If you see that the windows of your car were smashed, and its tires slashed, is that a threat? 

What was the date of your most serious harm? If you had several serious harms, which is the most serious? 

How do you remember that date? Is there any other reason why you remember that date?

What is the name of your political party? when did you become a member? why did you join? what is the mission of it? You were a member, or "are" you a member? "Are" is the present tense? Are you a member today, June 2025?

What is the mission statement of your party? Someone from your party wrote you a letter of support? why not?

What did you do, as a member? What would a video of you show? sitting at a desk? walking on the street? distributing literature? speaking thru a microphone at a rally?

You say you "helped the youth"? That's nice. What did you do?

Lecture them?

Did your party have meetings? how often? where? what was discussed at the meetings? what was debated? were alternative debated? Everyone just sat around and complained and lamented? Were the meetings a waste of time? where were the meetings held? how many attended? 

You say the meeting was in Tabata? that is different from Dar es Salaam? do you think I know the different sections and quarters in Dar es Salaam?

Who harmed you in August 2015? why do you say you don't know? It was a Chinese man, who hit you, just for fun? Perhaps it was an agent of the government? What do you believe?

Where were you, at the moment of your harm? Lying down in a bed, in a hotel? Sitting on a chair, in a restaurant? Standing outside, on the street?  What did you see, what did you hear?

You saw a man with an angry face come near to you, and he was holding a large stick? He said words? Really? what language? What words did he say? Why don't you answer my questions? Did he say words? Really? Good. Can you remember what words he said? Yes? Good. Now, can you repeat the words he said?

Why do you make me ask the same question five times? Isn't it boring for you? by the way, do you think it is boring for me?

MAY 2025: Asylum officer questions, of a Shan activist from Burma:

   Who helped you do Form I-589? can you repeat page 1, without looking at it?

How did you get visa to enter USA? what written questions were asked on Form DS-160? did that form ask if you had ever been arrested? How long you planned to be in USA for?

At US embassy, what oral questions did they ask you? what lies did you tell? why did you tell lies?

Ever suffer physical harm? 

Were you ever threatened in your country? how many times? when was the first time? Second time?

What did the bad guy say? What words did he say, and in what language?

What is the "three Bs" policy? Your ethnic group: how is it treated? villages get bombed? have to pay extra bribes to get documents? denied government employment? slurs and insults in the media?

Your ethnic group is Karen? did the officer ever say the word "Karen"? Why do you think he was interested in your ethnic group or not?

How did he know you were a Karen? How is your physical appearance different from the Bamar?

When the Karen speak Burmese, do they have a special accent? Do the Karen wear special clothes?

What is a Household Registration List? At 11 00 pm, what did you hear? what did you see? what words did the officers say? what thoughts went through your mind at that time? After they left, how did you feel?

What threats did they make?

Do Karen people suffer more harm than the Bamar? In what way?

How many times have you visited USA? why not seek asylum then?

Tell me all of your international travels: what was your immigration status in each one? why not apply for asylum there? 

Return To Dangerous Country [RTDC]. How many times did you RTDC? why do you return, if it is so dangerous?

what would happen if you return to your country tomorrow? Why would you be arrested? how would they know if you protested in USA? Do you fear being drafted or conscripted into Burmese military?

When  you protested in front of the Embassy, did you see anyone with cameras? were there Infiltrators/Spies/Informers [ISI} dalan ??

Is there something about you, that the government does not like? How would they know your political opinion? your ethnic group? your religion?

Recently, did the government ask neihbors about you?

You suffered in the city of Yangon? OK, so why not go live in the city of Mandalay?

You suffered harm a long time ago. Is the government still interested in you?

What makes you think they would harm you, if you return?

is there anything else? Yes? what?     Is there anything else?

 

 QUESTIONS ASKED BY ASYLUM OFFICER OF A CHIN-CHRISTIAN FROM BURMA: March 2025

Tell me about your international travel. Did you ever return to the country that you say is so dangerous?

Did you ever work for the military, the police, or the government? If so, maybe you assisted in the persecution of others

Are you able to repeat your declaration? Or, is it too long and you can't remember it?

If you walk down the street in silence, how does anyone know you are a Chin?

What was your last address, outside of USA?

Tell me about all of your employment for the past 10 years? Tell me about all of your addresses for the past ten years? If you say you worked for X in the city of Yangon, in 2023, but you say you lived in Mandalay in 2023, then, have you contradicted yourself?

Form DS-160 is an application for a visa? Lots of questions and lots of answers? You don't know what errors are in that form, do you? Today, you will be giving me answers that are inconsistent with your earlier answers?

Why did you apply for asylum? Did you suffer harm in the past? What was the motive of the bad guys? What words did they say?

How many times were you harmed? If you live under a dictatorship, do you suffer harm each day?

Do you know what the rules are, for asylum? Who gets asylum, and who doesn't? If an "ordinary criminal" steals from you, do you get asylum? Does Chins suffer more crime than other groups?

Where were you, at the moment of your arrest? 

A bad man hit you? Did you report that to the police? Why not?

Did you have a "household family list"? Where is it today?

Does the government know your blood type?

Did you suffer physical harm? Are there other kinds of harm? Such as emotional harm? Anxiety? Worry? Fear? 

Is there anything else? Really? what?

Month/year/city.   Is the asylum officer always interested in month/year/city and who the bad guy was?

If you don't know, why don't you say, "I am not sure. Perhaps it was in June or July of 2024.  My birthday was in November, it happened a few months before that."

Some people in Chin State have cell phones? They can write a letter, hold it up to their chests, have their photo taken, showing the letter? then, they can send the photo to you, in TEN MINUTES? Why can't  you do this five times?

If  you were the officer, would you believe you? \

Does the officer know more about Burma than you do?

Is that embarrassing to you? 

 ASYLUM OFFICER QUESTIONS January 25, 2025 of an activist from Burma:

Did anyone help you do your asylum application? how did he help you?

How was your declaration prepared? was it read back to  you in your native language?

can you repeat all of the information on page one of Form I-589, without looking at it?

When did you enter USA? what was your last address in your country

DS-160   What is Form DS-160?

it is an application for a visa? it asks if you have ever been arrested? it asks about your employment?

about your future plans? such as, "I will visit in USA for about 20 days, and then return to my country"?

Did anyone help you answer the questions in your visa application? How many of your answers are correct? why did you give wrong information in your visa application? Did you do a FOIA request for your DS-160? I have a copy of it, but you don't?

You had a face-to-face interview at US Embassy, to get your visa? You told the officer that you would return to your country after about 20 days? but that was a lie? You lied, successfully to that officer. Does that give you confidence that you can lie successfully to me?

Why did you miss the one-year deadline?

How did you learn about asylum? How did you learn about how to apply for asylum?

Why did you apply for asylum? Did you have any problems in your country?

why do you fear your government? why do you fear your fellow citizens?

How do they know you are Chinese?

How does anyone in Burma know your political opinion?

How did you express your opinion while you lived in Burma?

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL: tell me about all of your international travel!

is there anything else?

have you done anything, here in the USA, to bring yourself to the attention of your government?

Do you know anyone, who criticized the Burma government, who then returned to Burma, and was arrested upon return?

 Questions asked of an activist from Burma by asylum officer, on January 5, 2025:

Are you in good health, and able to talk to me today?

Have you ever lived outside of Burma? Tell me about all of your international travel!

Were you ever offered permanent resident status anywhere?

Did you "assist" in the persecution of others? Did you work for the Burmese government? Did you help them put innocent persons in prison?

Have you ever been accused of a crime?

Even if it was under duress, [even if at gunpoint], did you give assistance to a rebel group? did you give "material support" to a group? What is "material support"? 

Did anyone help you to fill out Form I-589? How did they help? Did they speak to you in your native language? 

How was your personal statement prepared? I see that it is in English. Who wrote it? How was it prepared? Was it read back to you in your native language?

What is your name? religion? ethnic group?

If you walk down the street in India, do they know you are Burmese? How do they know? How is your skin color different? How are your facial features different? Did you wear lungi? Did the Indians ever wear that? Did you wear flip flops? did Indians ever wear that?

If you speak Mizo, is your accent different?

Your son was born in India? he has an Indian birth certificate? But is he stateless?

What was your last address in Burma? what was  your last address before you arrived in USA?

What is Form DS-160? it is an application for a visa? you answered all the questions? you told the truth?