According to asylum officer guidelines, the credibility of an applicant should be evaluated in terms of what factor?

Evaluating an asylum applicant's credibility is a crucial part of the assessment process, and overall narrative coherence is a key factor in this evaluation. This means that the applicant’s story should make logical sense and be internally consistent throughout their account of events. When a narrative is coherent, it demonstrates that the applicant can relay their experiences in a clear and structured manner, which supports their credibility.

A coherent narrative helps asylum officers to better understand the context and the details of the applicant's fear of persecution. It allows officers to assess the motivations behind the applicant's claims and to gauge the sincerity of their fear. Inconsistent narratives, on the other hand, can raise doubts about an applicant's credibility and truthfulness, potentially impacting their eligibility for asylum.

While other factors like minor errors, statutory limits, and external corroboration play roles in the overall evaluation process, they do not address the fundamental aspect of how logically and consistently an applicant presents their account of persecution, making overall narrative coherence the most significant factor in assessing credibility.