Following your interview with the Refugee Department, the eligibility officer will prepare a detailed evaluation of your application which will be forwarded to the Refugee Eligibility Committee for technical evaluation. Each member of the Committee votes on whether or not to recognize the applicant as a refugee.
The recommendation of the Eligibility Committee will be communicated to the Minister of Immigration, who will make the decision whether or not to confirm the Committee’s recommendation. It is important to keep in mind that the process may take some time to be resolved. In the meantime, you will have to renew your document that accredits you as an asylum seeker every three (3) months until you get a final response. And you will not have the ability to apply for a work permit as an asylum seeker.
Appeal in case of a negative decision:
Contact Human Rights Commission of Belize (HRCB) for legal assistance you wish to file a written appeal with the Ministry of Immigration within fourteen (14) days of being notified of such a negative decision.
The Ministry will review the case and make a final decision. In case the negative decision is final, you can find out about the possibility of later regularizing before the Immigration Department under another migratory status. If you have no other immigration options, you may be deported to your home country.