BELGIUM 441 1. Statistical Data UNHCR data show the number of Palestinian refugees and asylum seekers in Belgium.442 Palestinian Refugees and Asylum seekers in Belgium443 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Refugees 52 122 76 130 125 Asylum seekers -- -- 13 10 6 UNHCR data also show that there were 10 Palestinian asylum applications pending in Belgium at the start of 2013 and 27 new asylum applications submitted by Palestinians throughout the year, with 6 of these rejected and 6 of these cases pending at the end of 2013. The outcome of the other cases is not reported.444 2. Refugee Status Determination: The Process Asylum seekers may file applications at the border, an airport, a penitentiary or a closed reception center. Additionally, an asylum seeker who is already in Belgium must submit an application for asylum at the Immigration Department (l’Office des étrangers “OE”) in Brussels within eight days of arrival.445 All applications are first received by the Immigration Department which registers the applicant, determines the language of the proceeding – either French or Dutch (interpreters will be provided to those who speak a foreign language) – and performs a preliminary investigation. During the preliminary examination, the Immigration Department determines whether Belgium is responsible for the examination of the asylum application under the Dublin Regulation or if another EU Member State is responsible. Next, the applicant is interviewed about his or her identity, nationality, and travel.446 The applicant completes a questionnaire briefly stating the reasons for fleeing his or her 441 Marjan Claes, lawyer at the Belgian Refugee Aid Committee, and Femke Vogelaar, PhD Student at University of Amsterdam reviewed and contributed to this section. 442 UNHCR, “UNHCR Population Statistics - Persons of Concern Time Series,” accessed August 21, 2014, http://popstats.unhcr.org/PSQ_TMS.aspx. 443 UNHCR, “UNHCR Population Statistics - Asylum Seekers Status Determination,” accessed September 22, 2014, http://popstats.unhcr.org/PSQ_RSD.aspx. However, the number of Palestinian refugees and asylum seekers in Belgium might be higher, since they can be registered with nationality “undetermined” (“onbepaald”) (information provided by Marjan Claes). 444 Ibid. 445 Though the fact that an asylum applicant applies for asylum after 8 days can never be the sole reason for rejecting the asylum application (EU Asylum Procedures Directive), it can be used as one of many arguments rejecting an asylum applicant. The Commissioner General will argue that the fact that an asylum applicant applied for asylum too late does not support the existence of a wellfounded fear of persecution, otherwise the person would have sought protection immediately. Information provided by Femke Vogelaar. 446 Ibid. Survey of Protection at the National Level 91