Following your interview, the Asylum Service will issue a decision (First instance decision). They are obliged to inform you of the content of the decision in a language you understand as well as regarding the deadline to appeal against the decision, if the decision is negative. If the decision is positive, you will then be released from detention The Asylum Service will inform you about the residence permit procedure you will have to follow. If the decision is negative you have the right to appeal. In some instances, after the first negative decision you are not protected from deportation. In this case, together with the appeal against the negative decision, you also have to ask not to be returned until the second instance decision is issued. The deadline for the submission of the appeal is mentioned in writing at the end of the first instance negative decision. If you lodge an appeal, your application for asylum will be re-examined by the Appeals Authority on a certain date. ! ATTENTION! Ask from the Asylum Service to provide you with a lawyer free of charge in order to submit an appeal. It is highly important to be assisted by a lawyer in order to lodge an appeal. The Asylum Service is obliged to provide you with a lawyer free of charge in order to appeal, if you ask. Ask the Asylum Service to provide you with a lawyer free of charge, if you ask. If they don’t provide you with a lawyer and you end up submitting the appeal on your own, ask the Asylum Service to mention in your appeal that you weren’t provided with a lawyer even though you requested one. The Appeals Committee will usually not invite you to the hearing. Your appeal will be examined on the basis of what you have already said in the main interview and the reasons you mentioned in your appeal. If you have additional information, you should submit it to the Appeals Committee with the assistance of a lawyer no later than three days before the date of your appeal. If the decision of the Committee (Second Decision) is positive, you will then be released from detention and you will be provided with a residence permit in Greece. If the second decision is negative you have the right to appeal in court. You will need a lawyer for this. Some organizations may be able to provide you with free legal services depending on their availability. Contact them to find out if they can help. You can find a list of organizations that provide legal support at: https://help.unhcr.org/greece/where-to-seek-help/other-services/ You cannot be detained for longer than the maximum time period prescribed by law. According to Greek law, the maximum pre-removal detention period cannot last more than six (6) months. In exceptional cases, this period of time can be extended up to a total of eighteen (18) months from the day of your arrest. If you are detained for the purpose of the examination of your asylum claim, you may be held, initially, for up to 50 days. This period can be extended up to 18 months from the day your asylum application was submitted. Delays on the part of the Police or the Asylum Service cannot justify your prolonged detention.