French residence permits · ANEF · proof and follow-up
ANEF blocked: the proof to keep before following up with a French prefecture
An ANEF blockage does not, by itself, prove that your residence-permit application was filed, complete, registered, or that your stay is covered. First preserve dated evidence of the screen, error, case reference and every official contact. For applications covered by the French online procedure, the CESEDA provides support and—where use of the service remains demonstrably impossible—a solution de substitution. Contact the CCC, check your prefecture’s current procedure, and make a traceable follow-up. If you already hold an attestation or received a decision, use the route that matches that document instead.
Immediate boundary. A blocked screen is not proof of filing, completeness, registration or lawful stay.
What each record can—and cannot—establish
The wallet separates technical evidence from a French administrative document. A screenshot must not become a legal conclusion.
| What you hold | What it can evidence | What it does not establish alone |
|---|---|---|
| Dated screenshot or recording | A visible ANEF state or error at that time | Filing, complete file or right to remain |
| CCC acknowledgement, ticket or call note | A request through official support | Receipt of the permit application by the prefecture |
| Attestation de dépôt | An online filing event | A provisional residence document or permission to work |
| Attestation de prolongation | A provisional document within its stated conditions | No decision exists or rights not stated in the document |
| Written prefecture response | The local route requested or prescribed | Acceptance of the application on its merits |
Build the next step from the evidence you hold
Select categories only. This tool sends no name, number, document or date.
Complete the four categories. The result identifies an evidence route, never your status or deadline.
Decision · urgent help
A notified decision can carry its own procedure and time limit. Keep the full file and obtain prompt qualified help.
Document check
An attestation has a specific meaning and is not interchangeable with a screenshot.
Different intent
A registered file with no answer belongs to the separate implied-decision question.
Official support
Document the error and use official support before asking for a local substitute route.
Traceable follow-up
The ticket and timeline prove a reported obstacle, not a complete application.
Evidence first
Keep the exact wording, reference and each contact before repeating the process.
My ANEF account is blocked: what should I prove today?
Prove the technical event, not the legal status of the application. Keep a dated screenshot, exact wording, ANEF reference and every official contact record.
Does a screenshot prove that my French residence-permit application was filed?
No. It records what appeared on screen at one moment. Filing evidence and provisional residence documents are separate official records.
What is the difference between an attestation de dépôt, an attestation de prolongation and an ANEF message?
An attestation de dépôt records an online filing event but is not a provisional residence document. An attestation de prolongation has the effects stated for its category. A portal message is not a substitute for either.
When should I contact the Centre de Contact Citoyens (CCC) about ANEF?
Contact the CCC when a technical step prevents progress. Keep the ticket, form acknowledgement or call note as evidence that official support was requested.
How can I ask for ANEF’s solution de substitution?
Document the support steps and continuing impossibility, then follow the current official instructions of your prefecture. Ask which substitute route applies; do not assume it has already been granted.
What belongs in my ANEF blockage and follow-up timeline?
Record date, time, exact stage, wording, reference, affected file, recipient and response. Keep original evidence separate from your own summary.
Should I contact the CCC, my prefecture, a digital-help point or the Défenseur des droits?
The CCC handles portal support, the prefecture controls its local process, digital-help points assist with access, and the Défenseur des droits may address persistent access failures. Your existing evidence determines the next contact.
Can my prefecture use a different local substitute procedure?
Yes. Practical local instructions can differ. Use the competent prefecture’s official website and record the date of the instruction you relied on.
Does an ANEF blockage mean that my application was refused?
No. A technical failure is neither a written refusal nor, by itself, an implied decision. Portal status, registration and an administrative decision are separate questions.
My permit expires soon: which documents should I check without making assumptions?
Read the current permit, any attestation de dépôt or attestation de prolongation, and official messages in full. This page cannot confirm a right to stay or work.
When should I leave this page for an implied refusal, a written refusal or an OQTF?
Leave this route immediately for a written refusal, OQTF, hearing or court document. Use the separate prefecture-silence route only for a registered file with no decision.
How do I prepare a clear question for Julie, an association or a lawyer?
Provide a short timeline, exact document names, references and the official action you need. Separate proven facts from what remains unknown.