French Senator Urges Interior Minister to Address Residence Permit Application Woes Amid COVID-19

While it is true that the reopening of the prefectures was effective after the first deconfinement, foreigners applying for residence permits are still experiencing so much difficulty. It is difficult for them to make appointments and submit their files online. While holders of residence permits that expired after the start of the health crisis benefit from a six-month extension, those who are applying for the first time are required to do so online.

In a letter addressed to the French Minister of the Interior and published in the official journal of the French Senate, Mr. Laurent states that the online procedure proves ineffective. "The computer procedure set up to overcome these difficulties is not efficient enough to meet the needs in this area, which has very prejudicial consequences for the persons concerned, particularly in terms of precariousness, life prospects and schooling of children," he writes, recalling that many foreigners find themselves in illegal situations due to the slowness of the procedures. Among them, young people who have reached the age of