What the firm handles
- preparing the asylum claim and the interview at the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA);
- the appeal to the National Court of Asylum (CNDA) against a rejection by OFPRA.
Preparing the claim and the OFPRA interview
Your account is at the heart of the claim. It must be precise, consistent and supported, as far as possible, by documents: identity papers, summonses, medical certificates, press articles, witness statements.
Etienne Lemichel helps you prepare this account before the interview, working with the associations and social workers who support you, if you wish.
After a rejection: the appeal to the CNDA
The National Court of Asylum re-examines your claim. The time limit to appeal is short and is stated on the OFPRA decision. Contact the firm as soon as you receive it, without waiting for the answer to any legal aid application.
Etienne Lemichel and his team draft the appeal, add new documents to the file and prepare you for the hearing, where you will be heard.
What has changed since 12 June 2026
The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum has applied in France since 12 June 2026. Several rules have changed (details in the guide What the EU Pact has changed):
- under the accelerated procedure and for inadmissibility decisions, the appeal to the CNDA must be lodged within 10 days, and a legal aid application does not suspend this time limit;
- a rejection by OFPRA now comes with an order to leave France, to be challenged within 7 days after a decision of inadmissibility or implicit withdrawal, or a rejection under the accelerated procedure, including at the border, and within one month in other cases;
- under the normal procedure, an appeal to the CNDA suspends enforcement of that order;
- under the Dublin procedure, the time limit that applies if the person absconds rises to three years.
Two appeals, two time limits. After a rejection under the accelerated procedure, you may have to bring the matter before the CNDA and the administrative court at the same time, each within its own time limit. Do not let a single day go by.
These rules are recent and implementing texts are still being published. The firm checks which rule applies to your case.
Frequently asked questions
Does legal aid cover the appeal to the CNDA?
It can, depending on your situation. Apply without delay, but do not count on it to extend the time limit to appeal under the accelerated procedure.
Can I add documents after the appeal has been filed?
Yes, within the limits set by the Court. The earlier the documents arrive, the better use can be made of them. Bring any new document to the firm as soon as you obtain it.
What should I do if I also receive an order to leave France?
Contact the firm the same day. Depending on the procedure, the time limit to challenge it may be only 7 days. Challenge an OQTF
Information up to date as of October 2026. It does not replace a review of your situation at a meeting.