Due to an abnormally high number of dysfunctions in the French immigration system, Women for Women France has decided to unpublish its guide on residence permit applications. The Multilingual Online Resource Centre team of experts is working to urgently update the guide.
Women for Women France’s network of local partner associations has reported a significant increase in procedural dysfunctions resulting in residency rights insecurity for many people renewing or applying for a residence permit in France.
These dysfunctions are linked to the French administration's transition to 100% online processing of residency permit applications.
The most common dysfunctions
The immigration system dysfunctions include, but are not limited to:
- Many prefectures refuse to provide appointments for people wishing to submit residency permit applications. Instead, they insist that applications be submitted on the online platform “ANEF”, even when it is impossible to apply online due to the type of residency permit being applied for.
- Making an appointment to submit a residency permit application with many prefectures has become almost impossible in many departments due to the lack of available appointment times.
- Online applications for residency permits on the online platform “ANEF” are limited to one eligibility criterion at a time, even though applicants have the right to request that their application be examined on more than one eligibility criterion.
- The type of applicants’ residence permit is sometimes incorrect on the online platform “ANEF”.
- The online platform “ANEF” only allows applicants to upload one document per field, even though applicants have the right to ask for any document to be considered in their application.
As a result, a growing number of cases are being brought before the administrative court. We have received numerous reports from people who have lost their right to residence due to these system dysfunctions.
Advice for people applying for or renewing a residence permit in France
Until further notice, Women for Women France experts recommend that all applicants be prepared for their residence permit application to be brought before the administrative court, even if many are not. In this context:
- If your residency rights are about to expire, contact a specialist lawyer immediately. It is important to refer the matter to the administrative court before the expiration date. You can also contact an association defending the rights of migrants, such as La Cimade, as quickly as possible for assistance.
- Check whether or not your application can be made on the online platform “ANEF". To do this, consult the website of the prefecture in your department of residence.
- If the online platform “ANEF” does not provide the option for you to apply for the residence permit that you would like to, try to create a new account in your name using your email address as your identifier (instead of your foreigner identification number).
- Take screenshots of problems encountered with the online platform “ANEF”, or when trying to book an appointment with your prefecture online. Make sure the date is visible in the screenshot.
- Contact your prefecture by any means possible: telephone, internet and e-mail. Keep all evidence of your attempts to contact them.
- Send a letter to your prefecture explaining the difficulties you are encountering and requesting an appointment. Send it by registered post with proof of receipt or “lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception”. Keep a copy of the letter and proof of postage. You can complete this process online https://www.laposte.fr/lettre-recommandee-en-ligne.
- If you wish to request that your application be examined on more than one eligibility criterion, or if you wish to apply for a multi-year residency permit or a resident card, use the “observations” section on the online platform “ANEF” to make this request. Make sure to take a screenshot of your “observations”, as you will not be provided with proof that you entered a request into this field.
Women for Women France has reported these dysfunctions and the devastating consequences they are having for foreign-born women in France to its institutional partners, and is working with them to find solutions as quickly as possible.
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About WFWF
Women for Women France (WFWF) is the creator and manager of the national Online Multilingual Online Resource Centre for all people confronted with domestic abuse and gender-based violence in France. Our expertise is in domestic abuse, coercive control, and migrants’ rights.
WFWF has a team of multi-disciplinary experts in France who monitor current events and laws and provide research-based insights and recommendations.