Some of the 115 Venezuelans who completed registration at Achievers Banquet Hall in San Fernando on Friday say they are surprised at the line of questions they were asked during their brief interviews by Immigration.
Some expressed fear of being persecuted politically if the information they divulged was shared.
Speaking to Guardian Media through our translator Angie Ramnarine, Venezuelan Juan Fernandes said the questions were limited and did not take into account their medical problems or their medical needs.
Another Venezuelan Jhoselys Fuentes said, "They mainly wanted to know how we got here, legally or illegally. By boat or by plane? Whether we were working now. Nothing about our medical history or our needs," she said.
She noted that the questionnaire given to them when they were interviewed by Living Waters was more detailed.
Living Waters is the agency affiliated with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
Fuentes said most people believed that the Venezuelans who live in Trinidad were wealthy because of their grooming. However, she said it was part of their culture to be well groomed.
Acting Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds who visited says the information provided by the Venezuelans will be strictly confidential.
He noted that in the interest of national security background checks will have to be done using Interpol resources.
He also said all Venezuelans had a medical form to fill out which will provide information on their medical history.
Hinds added that instructions were given to provide printing and copying services to the Venezuelans who did not have hard copies of their respective forms.
According to the minister, all Venezuelans were advised beforehand to walk with passport sized photographs.
He said the process is flowing smoothly and will get better as the day progresses.