Latest news with #Défenseurdesdroits
Local France
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Local France
High court challenge against France's 'dysfunctional' residency permit website
Sooner or later most non-EU citizens living in France will have to interact with the Anef website - the online portal to which France is gradually moving the administration to get or renew a carte de séjour residency card. But since its inception in 2020, the site has been dogged with technical problems. Last year the rights body Défenseur des droits revealed that it was dealing with a 400 percent increase in complaints relating to residency permits since the website was launched. Now a group of 10 charities, organisations and human rights groups have launched a joint complaint with the Conseil d'Etat. Advertisement Announcing their legal action, the group say that repeated problems with the Anef site "hinder foreigners' access to the job market, exacerbate their precarious situation and heavily penalise the associations and companies that support or employ them." READ ALSO 9 tips for dealing with the Anef website They added that the result was "life paths shattered, people prevented from working, companies deprived of employees, associations exhausted by dysfunctional procedures and préfectoral services struggling to unblock situations". They also note that while there have long been problems in securing a carte de séjour , in recent years there has been a sharp rise in problems with renewing the card. France's Conseil d'Etat has a dual role - scrutinising new laws and acting as an arbitrator in disputes between the government and the people. Individuals can bring their own private cases, but it's more common for groups or representatives to bring a case about an issue that affects a large number of people. Explained: How France's Conseil d'Etat works In this case the groups bringing the case say they are acting after repeated appeals directly to the Interior Ministry - responsible for immigration processes - have been ignored. In December 2024 Défenseur des droits - issued a 40-page report , detailing the many problems that foreigners in France face when using the ANEF website. Some of the most common problems included information not being passed on to the préfecture dealing with the application, applications not being 'closed' properly, preventing people from being able to renew their card and not being given the correct type of récépissé while they were waiting for their application to be dealt with. In a separate issue, many foreigners in France have reported problems with getting an appointment at their local préfecture to collect the card once the application has been dealt with. The legal case before the Conseil d'Etat accuses the state of "fault through failure to act" on the complaints received. Have you had problems using the Anef wbsite? Share your experiences in the comments section below
Local France
31-01-2025
- General
- Local France
13 groups you can turn to for help if you live in France
Knowing where to find support can make all the difference, regardless of whether you've recently moved to France, or have lived here for years. From administrative assistance, to legal aid and mental health services to social integration - via a few specific to foreigners in France - here's an overview of key organisations designed to help you overcome difficulties. Administration Figuring out French admin can be tricky – especially as more and more procedures move online – but you can get your questions answered at a France Services, where staff are on hand to provide help with French bureaucracy and admin tasks that relate to the state. That means things such as driving licences, tax declarations, healthcare and benefits. The France Services network began in 2019 and the goal is to make sure that everyone in France – particularly those in rural areas far from other government offices – has access to administrative assistance from the state. To find contact details of a France Services office near you, simply enter your address into this interactive map. Immigration problems If you're having trouble with the immigration system, and you feel that your legal rights have been denied due to French admin failure, then the Défenseur des droits can help you. This is a human rights organisation whose role is to protect people's legal rights, they cover all areas but include immigration issues. They issue reports on systemic problems - such as issues with the ANEF website - but will also take on individual cases. Brexit problems There are several organisations which deal with the specific issue of Brits who lived in France prior to 2021 and are having difficulties with the post-Brexit paperwork. Although their workload in this area is much less than it was around the Brexit transition period, the Franco-British Network, RIFT and British in Europe are still working on citizens' rights issues linked to Brexit. Find more details HERE. Help for older people A point d'information local should be an early port of call for anyone wondering about elderly care in France. Find one in your area by entering your postcode here. Staff are trained to offer advice, answer questions and ease concerns that people may have about maintaining their independence as they get older, and help find solutions to allow people to stay at home as long as possible, or to prepare for a move into a residential home, if necessary. They are qualified to propose solutions to continued living at home (such as home help services, meal deliveries, and so on), offer information on avoiding isolation, and help access financial aid, or adapting a home to fit changing circumstances. You can also access information on the government's dedicated website for older people living in France Legal assistance One of the first places it is worth approaching is France Services (see above). While staff there cannot offer legal advice themselves, they can give you a list of people to contact in the legal field – like lawyers, victim support associations, and mediators. Similarly, if you need to request legal aid, they can help you fill out the online form. Alternatively – and the French obsession with online administration continues – log on to the government website which was set up in 2023 to make accessing legal and judicial assistance and information more accessible for all. From here you can find out how to access conciliation services, apply for legal aid, find out about your rights as a tenant or landlord, or any number of other legal considerations. You can also telephone the official number 3039 to obtain information or assistance to complete a legal procedure, or make an appointment with a legal professional, through the Point-Justice system. This brings together public bodies and private associations that organise free legal clinics to inform the public about their rights and guide them in their efforts. Some offices are open to everyone and others are sometimes reserved for a certain type of public (young people, hospitalised persons, inmates, etc.). You can consult lawyers free of charge in the offices. To find the "Point-Justice" closest to your home, enter your postal code, or the name of your city, department, or region in this interactive map. Did you come to France as an asylum seeker? If so, the Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (OFII) is set up to help. It specialises in asylum, citizenship, and residency issues. Mental health support As with many things in France, working out where to look for appropriate mental healthcare and what to do can be confusing. Having a health professional in your corner is an important first step. The number one recommendation for anyone with concerns over their mental health is that they should first visit their GP – a routine point of first contact with the medical profession. Your local mairie will also have details of local mental health services, especially if you need help urgently – while, in cases of psychiatric emergencies, you should head to hospital. It is not, however, necessary to make an appointment via your GP. You can go directly to a specialist if you prefer, though this may reduce or cut completely any reimbursement on fees. The advantage, however, with visiting your GP first is that they are better placed to point you in the direction appropriate to your needs, including helping find an English-speaking professional if necessary. SOS Help offers a telephone listening service in English – 01 46 21 46 46. SOS Help does not claim expertise in the mental health field, but its volunteers often find themselves at the sharp end of a rising problem, answering the phone to people in need of urgent support some 5,000 times a year. You can also call UK-based Samaritans from France – 0044 8457 909090 If you are experiencing domestic violence you can call (English-speakers may not always be available) or report online here. The British Consulate is able to advise you on various treatment options available but cannot give clinical advice on individual mental problems – 01 44 51 31 00. Meanwhile, the Counselling in France website lists dozens of English-speaking therapists, psychotherapists, counsellors and psychologists, by areas of expertise. Work permits and professional qualifications Foreign nationals living in France – and across Europe – regularly have to overcome hurdles with paperwork and red tape whether it's with residency or work permits or having professional qualifications recognised. But there is help at hand that many may not know about. Although the general principle is 'freedom of movement', people going to live to another country of the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein can have all sort of problems setting up. These can include the transfer of a car bought in another EU country, the swapping of a driving license, the application for a non-EU spouse visa, and the procedure to set up a company. The good news is that help is available. SOLVIT is a name few people are likely to have heard, despite having been around for 20 years. It is a free online service to help individuals and businesses resolve problems they experience with administrations in the countries of the European single market, where people, goods, services and capital can move freely. Financial and tax support The tax man has a fearsome reputation in France - but staff at the tax office are helpful to a fault. They will help you deal with any tax issues you may have. Be aware, however, that they are not required to have a high level of English. If you need financial help and are concerned that your language skills aren't necessarily good enough to deal with the vagaries of the French tax system, you can search online for 'Expert-comptables English-speaking' – but make sure they're registered on the Annuaire des experts-comptables website first. Social integration For newcomers, integrating into France society can be daunting. But there are also organisations dedicated to making the transition smoother. The InterNations network helps people living overseas meet up and share their experiences of their new country. The network offers a range of online and in-person events, and provides a wealth of resources such as city guides and forums where international residents share advice on anything from legal matters to cultural opportunities. Smaller local communities are also likely to exist – especially for anglophones living in France. Many will have an online presence, perhaps on social media sites, or your local mairie may have information about them. Embassies People living outside their country often assume that their Embassy will be on hand to help in case of problems. In reality, although Embassies do help their citizens, their role is more limited than many people assume. For example, if you are arrested in France, the most your Embassy can probably do is refer you to a list of English-speaking lawyers. They do, however, speak to French authorities if a systemic issue is having an impact on their citizens living in France, so it's worth getting in contact if you feel you are being treated differently or unfairly due to your nationality. And don't forget The Local . . . we have a large number of guides offering information to foreigners living in France, and our team are happy to answer questions from members about issues that pertain to foreigners in France. While we cannot offer legal or financial advice, we can point you in the direction of people who can.
