Assisted Voluntary Return (Ritorno Volontario Assistito)

What is it
The assisted voluntary return (AVR) is a program that allows non EU citizens to return, in a voluntary and conscious way, to their home country of origin in conditions of security with an appropriate assistance.

The Assisted Voluntary Return program provides assistance for the organization, payment of travel and support of social reintegration and work in the migrant's country of origin. The programs are carried out on an individual bases and always in response to a voluntary demand by the migrant.

The realization of the programs envisages various stages: the notification and assessment of a case, the elaboration of an individual project that takes the expectation and capacity of the migrant into account and the support to fulfill this project in the country-of-origin.

The Assisted Voluntary Return program is fostered by the Government of Italy in support of non EU citizens through the Organization for International Migration (OIM). In Italy various projects are carried out by the RVA (see www.reteriva.it> i progetti di ritorno).

Who is eligible for the program
The Assisted Voluntary Return program is directed toward the following category of migrants:

• vulnerable subjects (people with disabilities; elderly persons, minors, single parents with minors, victims of grave psychological, and physical or sexual violence);

• victims of trafficking, people affected by grave conditions, asylum seekers and refugees;

• non EU citizens who no longer satisfy the conditions for the renewal of the permit of stay;

• non EU citizens who have already received a deportation order or have been rejected and kept in the identification and deportation centers;

• non EU citizens, subject to a deportation order who have been granted a period of voluntary departure.

Who is not eligible
The following are not eligible for the Assisted Voluntary Return program:

• EU citizens;

• non EU citizens with dual citizenship (EU and non EU);

• holders of a European permanent residence permit;

• people who have already benefited from the program;

• person who has received a compulsory deportation order to be executed with escort to the border by personnel of the security force, limited to cases in which the deportation is ordered for reasons of public order or security of the state or public danger, if the recipient has not observed the terms for voluntary departure;

• person who has received a deportation order limited to cases of compliance to the invitation to leave the territory of the State;

• person who has received a deportation order as a criminal fine or a result of a criminal penalty.

Important
Beneficiaries of AVR waive their status and renounce their permit of stay at the moment of departure but are not subject to a re-entry ban to Italy.

How to report a case
To report the case of a migrant interested in accessing the Assisted Voluntary Return program, contact – help desk nazionale Ritorno
on telephone 0492023830 (from Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 13.30)
e-mail: info@reterirva.it

or apply directly to the nearest information point of RIRVA Network

Toscana RIRVA Network Information points

FIRENZE

• Associazione Progetto Arcobaleno Onlus

• Associazione Volontariato penitenziario Onlus

• Associazione Interculturale delle Donne "Nosotras"

• Gli Anelli Mancanti Onlus

• C.A.T. "Centro di Animazione Triccheballacche" Cooperativa Sociale Onlus

• ARCI Comitato Regionale Toscana

TRAME onlus – Toscana association (on the site of RIRVA this would be considered a point of awareness) and not an informative point

LIVORNO

• Fondazione Caritas Livorno Onlus

• Associazione Randi

• Arca Coop. Sociale s.r.l. - Centro Informativo Immigrati

• Centro Mondialità Sviluppo Reciproco

LUCCA

• Associazione CEIS - Gruppo "Giovani e Comunità" Onlus (Lucca)

PISA

• Consorzio pubblico Società della Salute Zona Pisana

• Cooperativa sociale “Il Cerchio”

Donne In Movimento – DIM – point of awareness

SIENA

• Società della Salute della ValdiChiana Senese

• Comune di Siena

• La Rondine - Società Cooperativa Sociale

PRATO

• Comune di Prato - Servizio immigrazione e Pari Opportunità

• SARAH Soc. Coop. Sociale Onlus

ASTIR Consorzio di cooperative sociale società cooperativa sociale arl - point of awareness

AREZZO

• Provincia di Arezzo - Centro Pari Opportunità

• Comune di Arezzo

• Pronto Donna

GROSSETO

• COESO Società Della Salute Zona Grossetana

MASSA CARRARA

Arci Comitato Provinciale di Massa Carrara – point of awarness

For contacts and updates on information points consult: www.reterirva.it> La Rete Rirva> Toscana

The operators of the network would take steps to provide the migrant with information and opportunities available and guide him on choice of the best measure, in cooperation with the staff implementing the projects on the AVRs.

If the migrant decides to take part in the program he would be assisted with the filling of the required form and information on the necessary documents to present.

Documents to present

• photocopy of passport

• photocopy of permit of stay (if in possession)

• other documents possibly: declaration of unemployment e.g. medical certificates etc.

Approval of cases

Once the IOM – international organization for migration- receives and verifies the documentation of the case, it would be forwarded to the appropriate authority for approval.

Useful link

Rete italiana per il Ritorno Volontario Assistito RIRVA

Ritorni Volontari Assistiti – OIM Organizzazione Internazionale per le Migrazioni