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Local France
2 days ago
- Business
- Local France
Delays, chaos and no contact - Is this the worst préfecture in France?
For foreigners in France, the préfecture looms large - as it is the place that processes those crucial documents that allow you to be legally resident in France and might, one day, approve your application to become French. It's also the place that can cause the most stress for foreigners if those crucial applications for a new or renewed carte de séjour, or a citizenship application, are delayed or messed up. To add to the frustration is the fact that waiting times vary hugely between different préfectures. Foreigners in France have been sharing their frustrations with one particular préfecture - Hérault which covers the southern city of Montpellier and the surrounding area - with local paper Midi Libre . Advertisement They cite long delays during which existing residency permits expire, applications refused on technicalities and the impossibility of getting in touch with préfecture staff. Cases cited included that of Yves, 61, whose residency card expired while he was waiting for the renewal and ended up being de-registered from France Travail, where he is registered as a jobseeker, and Ukrainian woman Ludmilla who was unable to travel to Germany for a family funeral because her card had expired while she was waiting for a renewal. Lawyer Julie Moulin told the paper: "It's totally dysfunctional, it seems that the préfecture can no longer process applications - they're totally saturated and the administrative court is drowning because so many people are filing appeals against the préfecture. "Sometimes the préfecture will give a récépissé for one, two or three months but then it's just radio silence." Thierry Lerch, who works for the refugee charity Cimade, added: "Even those of us who know the procedures never know which site to go to and the préfecture sometimes offers appointments after the permit has expired. What worries me is the renewal of 10-year permits for the elderly." In response, Hérault préfecture said it was in a "transition phase" as residency paperwork is moved onto the new ANEF website. It told Midi Libre that the changeover "leads to an increase in the services' workload, but is a necessary medium-term reform". Although both users and rights organisations have flagged serious problems and glitches with the ANEF site , in truth problems at préfectures, especially long delays, are nothing new. Data previously reported in The Local, comparing the waiting times between préfectures for getting or renewing a carte de séjour, and for applying for citizenship. Although not all préfectures make their data available, Hérault had one of the longest waiting times with self-reported waits of between seven and eight months for a request for the first carte de séjour.. The average was 7 months for the fourth quarter of 2023, and then 7.5 months for the first quarter of 2024, 8 months for the second quarter and 8 months for the third quarter. Advertisement For a card renewal the préfecture reported an average wait of between four and five months. The average was 4 months for the fourth quarter of 2023, and then 4.5 months for the first quarter of 2024, 5 months for the second, and 5 months for the third. REVEALED: The préfectures with the longest waiting times in France Préfectures including Alpes-Maritime (covering the city of Nice), Bouches du Rhône (covering Marseille) and Seine-Saint-Denis in the Paris suburbs also reported long wait times. Have you had dealings with Hérault or any other French préfecture? Please share your experiences in the comment section below - or fill in our short survey on préfecture waiting times
Morocco World
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Morocco World
ANEF: 86% Drop in Forest Fires, Allocates $16 Million for 2025
Doha – Morocco recorded an important decrease in forest fires in 2024. Only 874 hectares of forest were destroyed by fire. This represents an 86% reduction compared to 2023. The country achieved the lowest burned area among Mediterranean countries. The National Water and Forest Agency (ANEF) released these figures on Thursday. ANEF Director General Abderrahim Houmy chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Forest Fire Prevention and Control. The meeting focused on reviewing 2024 results and preparing for summer 2025. A total of 382 forest fires were reported across Morocco in 2024. Tree species accounted for 55% of the affected vegetation. The Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region experienced the highest number of incidents with 123 fires (32% of the total). The Fes-Meknes region suffered the largest burned area with 375 hectares (41% of the total damaged area). This positive outcome occurred despite extreme weather conditions. 2024 was the hottest year in Morocco in the last 300 years. The 2023-2024 agricultural year was also the driest, with rainfall 46.6% below normal levels compared to the 1991-2010 average. ANEF officials stressed their rapid response capabilities. About 95% of fires in 2024 were contained before reaching 5 hectares. Only three fires (1% of incidents) exceeded 50 hectares. These larger fires accounted for 43% of the total burned area. Two major fires in Boured (Taza) and Bghaghza (Tetouan) alone destroyed 318 hectares. Authorities deployed 886 personnel and conducted 207 water drops using Canadair aircraft to combat these blazes. Morocco's success contrasts sharply with other Mediterranean countries. Portugal lost 143,300 hectares to fires, Turkey 119,980 hectares, Spain 42,508 hectares, and Greece 41,855 hectares during the same period. Several factors contributed to Morocco's success. These include slightly more favorable local weather conditions, strengthened intervention forces, and targeted awareness campaigns. The implementation of an important program focusing on equipment and inter-institutional coordination also played a crucial role. ANEF issues a clear warning Looking ahead to summer 2025, ANEF warns of high-risk conditions. Recent spring rainfall has delayed the high-risk season but promoted the growth of flammable herbaceous vegetation. Dry Chergui winds are expected to increase fire risks. Cumulative drought and high temperatures could amplify fire outbreaks. To address these challenges, ANEF has allocated MAD 160 million ($16 million) for prevention, surveillance, and firefighting efforts. About 90% of this budget is dedicated to anticipatory measures. These include maintaining firebreaks, opening forest trails, monitoring through lookouts and spotters, and risk mapping. More than 1,400 fire spotters will be deployed in sensitive areas. ANEF is also studying the implementation of a unified intervention command system (ICS) in partnership with the US Forest Service. The agency continues to implement the 2023-2033 Intersectoral Master Plan (PDCI). This plan structures integrated fire risk management through several axes. These include improving knowledge, standardizing practices, restoring burned areas, and adapting the legal framework. A draft guidance law is being adopted to modernize forest risk governance. ANEF reminds the public that most fires are human-caused. The agency urges campers, hikers, herders, and beekeepers to exercise extreme caution. Preserving Morocco's forest heritage is crucial for territorial resilience against climate change. Citizens are encouraged to report any fire outbreaks or suspicious behavior. The Moroccan forest domain, like the rest of the Mediterranean region, remains exposed to risk due to heat waves, decreased humidity, and increased frequency of dry Chergui winds. Read also: FAO and Morocco's Water, Forest Agency Unite to Tackle Wildfire Challenges Tags: forest fire in Moroccowildfire in Morocco
Local France
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Leave French citizenship rules alone and solve residency issues, rights group demands
After French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau sent out a circulaire (memo) instructing ministry and préfecture employees on how to tighten the conditions for French naturalisation , the French authority for human rights, known as the Defenseur des Droits, hit back. READ MORE: OPINION: France's plan to 'toughen up' citizenship rules is just more smoke and mirrors "Acquiring nationality is already excessively complicated," Claire Hédon, the head of Defenseur des Droits, told French news outlet Franceinfo on Tuesday. "Between the time people submit a citizenship application and the time they receive a response from the préfecture, it can take years. The reality is that it's already very complicated," Hédon said. The Defenseur des Droits is an independent authority enshrined in the French constitution. The body's job is to defend human rights and fight against discrimination. Residency card renewals Conversely, Hédon told the French news outlet that her primary concern is not making citizenship conditions more challenging. She said the real focus should be on the accumulation of complaints that Défenseur des Droits has received regarding challenges with residency permit renewals. Advertisement READ MORE: Foreigners in France face 'national crisis' due to glitches on admin site ANEF "What worries me regarding the rights of foreigners in France is the number of people signalling issues with residency card renewals. This has become a huge part of our job. "We are talking about people who are perfectly integrated and do not pose any problem. They have been in France for several years, they have jobs, and they are being placed in an irregular situation by the administration." "I am not criticising the local authorities or préfecture staff, who are themselves under strain, but [when people cannot renew their status] they are put at risk. When asked about the source of this problem, Hédon said: "The préfectures do not have enough staff (...) I am criticising ANEF, the online system where many people renew their cards. "The website bugs. It bugs for people trying to renew their cards and they cannot finish the request or they get stuck trying to change information. It even bugs for préfecture workers." The Défenseurs des Droits issued a 40-page report in December highlighting the many challenges foreigners face with the ANEF (Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France) website, as well as possible solutions to those issues. "But is there a real desire to solve this problem? I spend my time raising the alarm. At minimum we need to fix this problem for renewals for residency cards," she concluded. READ MORE: 9 tips foreigners need for dealing with France's ANEF admin website
Local France
28-04-2025
- Health
- Local France
Explained: France's compulsory OFII medical appointment
Most non-EU foreigners in France either have become (or will become) familiar with l'Office français de l'immigration et de l'intégration, the country's immigration office, otherwise known by the acronym OFII. While some groups have to take obligatory language and civics classes , which are run by OFII, most others will only have one interaction with the administration: the compulsory medical. READ MORE: OFII: Your questions answered on France's immigration office The health visit is obligatory for anyone coming to France on a long-stay visa, or VLS-TS, save for those on the student status or any of the category of the 'talent' card. There is also a separate procedure for those who were previously undocumented but whose statuses have now been regularised. The gist is that most non-EU foreigners who move to France must go to OFII's mandatory 'medical' visit. Here's what it entails and how it works. Your appointment When you arrive in France on a VLS-TS, you have three months from your date of entry to validate the visa on the French immigration website ANEF . Advertisement Once on the site, you click ' Je valide mon VLS-TS '. This step is obligatory for all visa types (including students and 'talent' card holders. The only exceptions are for minors, people on a short-stay visa or working holiday visa, and those with a visa that has the inscription " carte a solliciter dans les deux mois ' ( carte de séjour to request within two months). Once you have validated your visa, you will be able to download a PDF attesting that it has been registered. This PDF will also have a page called Information relative à la visite médicale (information regarding the medical visit). You can see an example below; Example of document attesting visa validation, credit: The Local This page will explain that you will receive either an email or a letter (to the address you stated when you validated your visa) inviting you to your medical visit with OFII - with a date, time and place of your appointment. This usually happens a few weeks after validating your visa, but if it takes longer than 45 days you can reach out to OFII yourself. OFII recommends that you send a letter (by post) to the OFII office for your area with a copy of your passport (photo page and visa page) along with the confirmation of your validation of the VLS-TS. You can find the office nearest to you with the OFII interactive map. If there is a phone number available, you can also try calling. Advertisement What happens at the medical appointment? The visit consists of a regular medical check-up, as well as an X-ray of your lungs (to check for tuberculosis). It is free of charge, so you don't have to worry about paying for it. If you have a vaccine booklet from your home country, you should bring this along as they will also want to verify the state of your vaccinations - although not having the booklet, or not being vaccinated, is not a reason to fail the medical. READ MORE: Which vaccinations are compulsory for children in France? If you are at risk of diabetes, they may also test your blood glucose. Advertisement Since 2020, OFII doctors have also administered a private questionnaire, which also covers questions related to your mental health. Depending on how you respond, the doctors may be able to point you toward mental health resources. You can also use this as an opportunity to ask any questions you have about your health or healthcare in France, though beware that OFII doctors may be more pressed for time than your average GP. READ MORE: The different ways you can make a doctor's appointment in France This medical check-up must be done with one of the OFII registered doctors, as they will fill out a certificate of completion at the end. You will want to hold onto this certificate, as you may need it when applying for your carte de séjour (residency card) once your visa expires. How much does it cost? The health screening is free. Do I have to do this every time I renew my residency card? No, the medical is a one-off, you do it the first time you validate your visa and then it is not required for renewals. Why does France require the medical visit? The main goal is to ensure that the person moving to France is not a risk to public health, as well as to offer treatment to people with potentially communicable diseases. Historically, the greatest concern was tuberculosis. While the lung scan is still required, these days doctors may also ask you about your general health and they may order tests if they are concerned you could have a medical issue. The medical check has been a necessary requirement for obtaining a French residency card since 1946, which was just one year after General de Gaulle created the National Immigration Office ( l'Office national d'immigration , ONI) in 1945, in the aftermath of WWII. At the time, France needed foreign immigrants to come and help rebuild the country, so it was necessary to create an administrative body (the ONI) that would handle their recruitment and arrival in the country. Between 1945 and 1975, six million foreigners - many of whom came from former French colonies - underwent medical exams by the ONI when they arrived in France to work, according to a 2020 report on immigrants and health by France's high council on public health. Over time, ONI transformed and took on new responsibilities, including family reunification. OFII in its current form has only been around since 2009, and since 2015, its main job has been the reception of asylum seekers. The medical visit has remained in place over the decades, with some alterations over the years, including the decision in 2016 to no longer require that students undergo the check-up. In 2022, 62,114 people had an OFII visite médicale, according to the OFII annual review . Can you fail the medical? Within the law there is no provision for people to be denied a visa or residency card on the basis of their medical - if you are found to have a communicable disease such as TB you will be offered treatment, and may be required to quarantine, depending on the nature of the illness. The only time this could affect residency is if a disease is found that is clearly incompatible with the purpose of your visa - although in this case it would start with a call to your employer. This is extremely rare.
Local France
20-04-2025
- Automotive
- Local France
Moving to France: Visa errors to avoid and pet controls
Here at The Local we're an Anglo-American team living in France – which means all of us have been through the simultaneously exciting and terrifying process of moving countries. This newsletter is aimed at people who are in the process of moving, have recently moved and are still grappling with the paperwork or perhaps are just thinking about it – and we share a monthly selection of practical tips. Our team is also available to answer questions from subscribers to The Local. Visa applications The French immigration system can be complicated – in actual fact, most countries' immigration processes are somewhat labyrinthine – so it's easy to make a mistake, especially if this is your first experience of moving countries. At The Local, we often hear from readers struggling to navigate the French systems – or who end up accidentally on the wrong track for residency. Here are some of the most common errors and sources of confusion. 10 common French visa and residency permit mistakes Advertisement Health insurance If you are looking to move to France and you do not hold EU citizenship, then you will first need a visa. For several types of visas, including the 'Visiteur' status which is common among retirees and second-home owners, it is necessary to show that you have health coverage for the duration of your stay. If you come from a country that does not have a bilateral agreement with France, or does not provide state medical care – like the United States – then you will need a private health insurance policy that covers the duration of your visa. Here's what you need to know How to find health insurance for your French visa Driving If you plan to live permanently in France, sooner or later you are likely to need to swap your driving licence for a French one – but where you learned to drive in the first place could dictate whether you have to take a French driving test. Here's a country-by-country breakdown of the rules. How hard is it to swap your driving licence for a French one? France is slowly moving more and more of the mighty edifice of its bureaucracy online, which for many people is welcomed as more convenient than spending hours in queues at préfectures. Processes like tax declarations, residency cards or driving licence swaps are now almost entirely dématerialisée (online). And, while foreigners in France are facing numerous issues when using the ANEF admin website , it's not all bad news. There is help out there… How to get help with France's online bureaucracy Advertisement Bringing pets to France Animal-loving Americans may wonder if they can bring their beloved pets with them when they travel to France – whether to live permanently or to stay for an extended period. The short answer is: Yes, you can. The longer answer is: Yes, you can – but there are rules and paperwork. The longer answer, with a full explanation, is just a click away. Paperwork and shots: How to bring a pet to France from the US Any Questions? The Local's Reader Questions section covers questions our members have asked us and is a treasure trove of useful info on all kinds of practical matters. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, head here to leave us your questions. Bon courage !
