On your certificate of asylum seeker “ADDA”, the procedure used to examine your file will be noted down. You can compare your “ADDA” certificate with the following photos to know the applied procedure.
According to your situation, you can read more about it following the links : “I got an ADDA called normal procedure” or “I got an ADDA called fast-track procedure” or “I got an ADDA called Dublin procedure”. 

Important: once you have the certificate of asylum seekers (ADDA), you have the right to benefit from social rights during your procedure. These social rights include: health insurance (social security) ; Transportation reductions ; Accommodation (housing) ; Monthly allowance (ADA).

Please note that regardless of the procedure applied to your situation, you may have been referred by OFII. If you have accepted regional referral, a white label will be attached to your ADDA with the name of the region to which you have been referred. The prefecture responsible will be that of the region indicated on the label.

At the end of your appointment at the one-stop service, the prefecture official gave you a certificate of asylum seeker (ADDA) called “Procédure Normale” (normal procedure), and the asylum application file which is called OFPRA file.

The certificate is valid for 10 months, but you have to send the file completed to the French Office for the Protection of Asylum Seekers and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) before 21 days.

Pay attention to the following points when filling the OFPRA file in :

1/ The file must be filled in French. If you need it, you can ask a dedicated association to help you.

2/ The file must be signed.

3/ You must enclose the following documents with the file:

– 2 photos
– A copy of your certificate of asylum seeker (ADDA)
– In case you have it: your ID card or passport (original)

4/ You must send the file by a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (“lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception”), or you can bring it directly to the OFPRA.

>> If your file is complete: You will receive on your space a letter confirming that your asylum application has been registered with OFPRA, and in most cases you will also receive an invitation to the interview.

>> If your file is incomplete:You will receive a request on your secure Personal Digital Space asking you to complete the missing information. You have 8 days to do so.

>> Attention: If you exceed this deadline, your asylum application may be closed. You will then have 9 months to request the reopening of your asylum application.

At the end of your appointment at the one-stop service, the prefecture official gave you a certificate of asylum seeker (ADDA) called “Procédure accélérée” (fast-track procedure), and the asylum application file which is called OFPRA file.

The prefecture can indeed decide to process your file using the fast-track procedure in one of the following cases:

-In case you refused to have your fingerprints taken by the prefecture, or in case your fingerprints can not be read.

-In case you already applied for asylum and you are applying for a reconsideration of your file.

-In case you are have hidden information about you or your journey.

-In case you got an Obligation to leave the French territory (OQTF)

-In case you filed your application more than 90 days (or 60 days if you are in Guyane) after your arrival to France, and you could not explain the delay.

-In case you are a national of one of the following countries : Albania, Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Georgia, India, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mauritius, Moldavia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Serbia, or one of the European Union countries.

The fast-track procedure is a summary procedure, that offers fewer guarantees that the case will be examined thoroughly than the normal procedure.

>> The certificate is valid for 6 months, but you have to send the file completed to the French Office for the Protection of Asylum Seekers and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) before 21 days.

Pay attention to the following points when filling the OFPRA file in :

1/ The file must be filled in in French. If you need it, you can ask a dedicated association to help you.

2/ The file must be signed.

3/ You must enclose the following documents with the file:

– 2 photos
– A copy of your certificate of asylum seeker
– In case you have it: your ID card or passport (original)

4/ You must send the file using a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt (“lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception”), or you can bring it directly to the OFPRA.

>> If your file is complete: You will receive on your space a letter confirming that your asylum application has been registered with OFPRA, and in most cases you will also receive an invitation to the interview.

>> If your file is incomplete:You will receive a request on your secure Personal Digital Space asking you to complete the missing information. You have 8 days to do so.

>> Attention: If you exceed this deadline, your asylum application may be closed. You will then have 9 months to request the reopening of your asylum application.

>> You will benefit from the social rights granted to the asylum seekers (such as access to the medical care system), as well as from the financial aid on condition that you accepted the OFII offer.

I think that my demand should be considered in Normal Procedure. How can I request the change of procedure ?

You should inform the OFPRA (in your story or at the interview) why you think that you shouldn’t have been placed on Fast-track procedure (procédure accélérée). The OFPRA has the ability to examine your file in normal procedure (procédure normale). If the OFPRA does not do so, you may present you arguments to the CNDA.

At the end of your appointment at the one-stop service, the prefecture official gave you a certificate of asylum seeker (ADDA) mentioned “Procédure Dublin” (Dublin Procedure). This means that the prefecture found an evidence that you  have been to another European country before coming to France.

According to the DUBLIN agreement, the first European country where you have been should examine your asylum application. So the prefecture will ask that country to take you back in order to examine your asylum application.

While waiting for the answer,  you can benefit from the ‘asylum seekers assistance programe’ such as the financial aid and the health insurance.

If you accepted the offer from the OFII (you checked the “yes” box at the bottom of the document “offre de prise en charge”), you may be given an accommodation (if available), and the allowance for asylum seekers (ADA).

For information: If the OFPRA does not rule on your case within 6 months, you can apply for a work permit from your prefecture.

I don’t need emergency accommodation or domiciliation

f you have stable accommodation, you can inform OFII. The agent may require official proof of this accommodation. If you don’t have this, OFII may impose another referral.

There were places available : the OFII provided me with a proposition of accommodation

The OFII will give you the address of the accommodation and will specify the date at which you must arrive at your accommodation. There you will have a room for yourself or you will share it with other people. If it’s a CADA, the staff who work in the accommodation facility must accompany you in your asylum procedure, if this is not the case, or if the support is not enough, you can ask for help from a PADA or from a specialized association (list of associations for accompaniment).

You will be entitled to financial allowances for asylum seekers (ADA). The amount varies depending on your marital status and the type of your accommodation.

Important : CMAs may be refused or withdrawn in the following cases:
– Refusal to go to the region referred by the OFII or departure from the region
– Refusal of the offer of accommodation made to you
– Submission of a request for reconsideration of your asylum application
– Asylum application out of time, without legitimate reason
– Departure from the place of accommodation offered to you
– Failure to comply with the requirements of the asylum authorities (absence from interviews, failure to present yourself to the authorities, lack of useful information to facilitate the examination of applications …)
– Concealment of financial resources
– Giving incorrect information about your family situation
– Filing several asylum applications under different identities

ATTENTION: The OFII can instruct you to move to another region and take up residence there, even if it cannot offer you accommodation. If you wish to leave this region for any reason, you will need to ask the OFII permission to do so. If you leave the region without authorization, the OFII may withdraw the conditions of accommodation and the ADA

If you abandon your accommodation at the CADA, the OFPRA may close your asylum application file. In this case, you will have 9 months to request the reopening of your application.

What happens if I say yes, but I don’t want the accommodation the OFII offers, or if I leave my accommodation?

ATTENTION: If you abandon your CADA accommodation, the OFPRA may close your asylum application file. In this case, you will have 9 months to request the reopening of your case, BUT BEWARE: you will no longer be entitled to the financial aid granted to asylum seekers (ADA) and you will not be offered alternative accommodation.

We strongly advise you not to do this, as not only will you lose your allowance and accommodation, but you will also have to take additional steps to change your address and transfer your file to the new département.

The OFII put me on the waiting list but I need accommodation urgently !

The existing places of accommodation are not sufficient to accommodate all asylum seekers. That is why the OFII does an assessment of your situation when you pass the “one step service” (GUDA).
It is possible that your need for accommodation was not considered urgent OR that there was no room available at that time.
If your situation has changed (you have no place to sleep, you are sick, you had children etc.) you must go to the PADA where you live and report this change of situation to get accommodation quickly. Sometimes you have to go directly to the territorial offices of the OFII in your area.

While waiting, you can call the accommodation emergency number (115). The 115 can give you a place for one night or more. You can call 115 from a phone box for free. Usually you will wait a lot in order to get your call answered. You should insist until your call is answered and registered. Don’t be surprised if  the 115 has no solution to offer … it happens frequently.

If you have refused to receive the aid proposed by the OFII at the time of your passage at the “single window” (GUDA), you cannot benefit from the allocation of asylum seekers ADA or from an accommodation by the OFII.

However, if you need help, you can contact charities that provide material assistance (eg food) to people in need.

Can I change my decision ?

If you have refused the “offer”, it will be impossible to reapply for this assistance.
But if your situation has changed (you’ve had a child, you’re ill, you’re living in a precarious situation), you can report your situation to the SPADA where you are registered!
In the meantime, you can call the emergency accommodation number (115). The 115 can give you a place for one or more nights. You can call 115 from a phone booth or your cell phone, free of charge. It often takes a long time to get someone on the line. You have to insist until your call is heard and recorded. It’s worth noting that the 115 often has no solution to offer.

Appealing against the refusal of CMAs :

Since July 2024, OFII decisions refusing or terminating CMAs can be challenged within 7 days, under a so-called “special” procedure, in which a single judge rules urgently, within 15 days.

The compulsory prior administrative appeal (RAPO) has been abolished. The person concerned may request the appointment of a court-appointed lawyer.
Presentation of the appeal: the appeal can be summary and simply request the annulment of the decision.

The hearing takes place before a single judge appointed by the president of the court. The asylum seeker may present observations, with the possibility of interpretation, and be assisted by a lawyer, who may be appointed ex officio.

Deadline for ruling: the judge has 15 days from the date of registration of the application to make a ruling.