Lawyer exposes administrative obstacles in French residency permit applications

Paris-based lawyer Fayçal Megherbi has highlighted concerning practices by certain French prefectures regarding residency permit applications and deportation orders (OQTF). According to the lawyer, authorities often resort to deliberate administrative silence beyond legal deadlines to discourage applicants, and frequently fail to issue temporary receipts, which leaves individuals without legal protection or access to social rights. Megherbi also criticized the issuance of deportation orders that lack a thorough assessment of the applicant's family life, which is protected under the European Convention on Human Rights. Despite these administrative hurdles, he emphasizes that existing French and European laws provide legal avenues to challenge these actions and defend the rights of immigrants.