Getting the necessary information in advance and preparing well will improve your chances in your asylum claim. If your sexual orientation is one of the reasons why you are applying for asylum, it is best to mention this immediately, i.e. in the very first (short) interview.

If you do this, your second (long) interview will probably take place in a special section in the BAMF, with interviewers and translators who have been trained to be aware of the special situation of LGBTI refugees.
Before going to the long second interview it's very important to get legal advice and to know about your rights and the do's and don'ts. For example, it makes a difference whether or not there are official laws against homosexuality in your country of origin. Another important issue is how you got to Germany and what kind of visa you used, e.g. if you entered Germany with a Schengen Visa from another European country. It's equally important if, when and where your fingerprints were taken. 
We strongly advise you to discuss all these questions as early as possible with a lawyer who is knowledgeable about LGBTI asylum.

We can recommend some very friendly and experienced lawyers if you need one. If paying for a lawyer is a major problem for you, we can try to help you to find a solution. If you prefer not to go to the interview alone, we can try to find someone to support you. If you need help or information about your asylum process, feel welcome to contact us anytime. 

In the following sections you'll find some information about the asylum process:

We've collected links with detailed information about the legal foundations of the asylum process, about the steps within the process, including detailed information concerning the second interview. Plus you'll find a list of places in Hamburg where you can get legal advice.

Legal foundations

information in different languages:

• https://www.queerrefugeeswelcome.de/de/asyl-und-andere-schutzformen-deutschland
• https://www.lsvd.de/recht/ratgeber/asylrecht.html

• 2nd interview: 
a guideline in different languages:
  https://www.asyl.net/view/detail/News/information-zur-anhoerung-im-asylverfahren

Legal advice services in Hamburg providing free information and advice about asylum

Church-based services

• http://www.fluchtpunkt-hh.de/

• https://www.diakonie-hamburg.de/de/rat-und-hilfe/migration/

• http://hamburgasyl.de/


Other advice services in Hamburg

• http://www.fz-hh.de/index.php
• http://cafe-exil.antira.info/angebot/beratung-begleitung/
• Women’s Consultation:
  Each 2nd Friday of the month from 15h – 18h at Poliklinik Veddel, Am Zollhafen 5B, 20539 Hamburg
  From S-Bahn station “Veddel”(S 3 und S 31), it is a 5min walk.
  Mail: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
  https://rlc-hh.de/de/refugee-law-clinic-in-hamburg/