1. the migrant submits to the Attica Aliens Directorate an application for voluntary
departure
2. the police service registers the application and makes an entry in the Schengen database
3. a return decision is issued without a detention decision and without a prohibition to
enter the country
4. the migrant is served with a “notice” which grants him/her 30 days to leave the country,
within which the authorities arrange for the departure
5. the authorities inform the migrant about the date of departure
6. the migrant is transferred to the airport with a police car where the departure is fulfilled
The cost of voluntary returns is currently covered by the EEA Grants, the UKBA and the European
Returns Fund.
The main advantage of voluntary return over forced return is that the migrant is not registered
in the list of unwanted third-country nationals. The main difference between voluntary and
assisted voluntary return is that migrants of the latter category also receive increased financial
incentives to return to their home countries. Until June 2014, all adult irregular migrants that
were voluntarily returned under the IOM program received 300 euros in 'pocket money'. From
June 2014 onwards, this was increased to 400 euros. 121 Migrants who participated in the
voluntary return programs of the Greek police did not initially receive financial support, though
the policy was recently revised. Additionally, in some cases the IOM provides financial support
for reintegration to the country of origin. Financial assistance can reach 1,500 euros. The sum is
not given directly to the person, but to the IOM local office in the country of origin which invests
the sum in the integration of the returnee. This type of assistance is decided on an individual
basis, according to the profile of the person and may include education, the purchase of a rigshaw or the start of a small business. The overall number of beneficiaries remains limited due to
budgetary constraints; for instance, between July 2013 and June 2014, roughly 500 migrants
received reintegration assistance.
121
Interview with IOM officer, 3 June 2014
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