Leila*, an Algerian student in France, sees her journey disrupted after failing her master’s and redirecting towards a CAP in cooking. Although the prefect initially accepted her renewal of the residence permit marked « student, » he later surprised her with an Obligation to Leave French Territory (OQTF). Refusing to give up, she successfully contested this decision in court, demonstrating the perseverance needed to overcome the hurdles of the French administration.
Hi guys! You’ll never guess what I’ve experienced here in France! When I left Algeria in 2022, I was full of hope: me, a little student coming to pursue a master’s in English and explore France, I was ready for this new adventure.
Everything was going well… well, at first. But after a rather challenging year of master’s, I decided to follow my heart and embark on a CAP in cooking. Being the foodie that I am! On 26th September 2023, I received a message saying everything was in order: my residence permit renewed! I can’t tell you how relieved I was!
But then, in January, the big surprise. One morning, there’s a knock at my door and then… a bombshell: I’m ordered to leave France within thirty days! I was paralysed, I assure you. They explained to me that, according to them, changing from a master’s to a CAP in cooking wasn’t acceptable. But well, I knew it wasn’t fair! Especially since no valid reason had been given for cancelling this authorisation.
With Me Fayçal Megherbi, my lawyer, we went through every paper, every rule. And bam! We found flaws in the decision. Between us, I learned that the administration is like a recipe: one missing ingredient and everything can collapse! Anyway, Lille administrative court, long sleepless nights, and finally, victory! The judge ruled in my favour: the prefect had no right to withdraw my authorisation.
Conclusion: I stay, and I continue my studies. Honestly, this experience showed me how much you have to fight for your dreams, even if the French administration loves to test your perseverance!
For those who want to know more, the Lille administrative court issued its official decision on 15th October 2024. It just goes to show, efforts always pay off, even in a world of complicated administrations!
Also read: Ordered by an OQTF to leave France, Valéry takes her fate into her own hands