Bahamas asylum: refugee status determination

The Department follows the 1951 Convention definition: a person with a well-founded fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, who is outside their country of origin and is unable or unwilling to seek its protection or return there for fear of persecution. An asylum seeker is someone whose claim has not yet been decided.

The Department distinguishes refugees from economic migrants, who leave for economic reasons and still enjoy their home country's protection; economic migrants do not meet the criteria for refugee status.

Requests are assessed through Refugee Status Determination. Applicants complete the necessary forms and undergo an interview. The Department also researches information on the country of origin and investigates the applicant, and at the end an assessment of the case is decided. The Department notes that many applicants will not succeed.

The Department's Refugee Administration Unit keeps direct contact with UNHCR for consultation and co-assessment of asylum cases, research on country of origin information and statistics. UNHCR's regional office for The Bahamas is based in Washington, DC. The Bahamas has signed memorandums of understanding with Cuba and Haiti governing the return of nationals who do not qualify for refugee status.

The Department's pages do not state a filing deadline, a processing time, or whether applicants may work while their claim is pending. Contact the Department of Immigration directly for these details.