1611161 (Refugee)

This matter concerned an application for a protection visa by a national of Venezuela. The applicant claimed to fear return to Venezuela due to political conflict and the general insecurity affecting citizens. He asserted that his family was considered an enemy of the government due to their participation in opposition activities, and that he faced danger from violence and political crime. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal was tasked with determining the applicant's claims for protection.

The Tribunal was required to assess whether the applicant was a national of Venezuela and if he had a right to enter and reside in any country other than Venezuela. Crucially, the Tribunal also had to determine the credibility of the applicant's claims regarding his fear of persecution, specifically whether he held a genuine fear of harm based on his political opinion or membership in an opposition group. The Tribunal was to consider whether the evidence presented supported his assertion that he was at risk of serious harm if returned to Venezuela.

In its reasoning, the Tribunal accepted the applicant's Venezuelan nationality based on identity documents and evidence provided at the hearing. It also found that the applicant did not have a right to enter and reside in any country other than Venezuela. However, the Tribunal concluded that the matter should be remitted for reconsideration. While the applicant's claims regarding the general situation in Venezuela and the impact on citizens were noted, the provided text does not detail the specific reasons for the remittal concerning the applicant's individual claims of persecution or the Tribunal's assessment of his credibility in relation to those specific claims.