It is time to take stock. For a month, several humanitarian associations (Asti Boucle de la Seine, Asti de Marly-Le-Roy, LDH de Conflans, LDH de Poissy et environs...) have been working in front of the sub-prefecture of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines) to warn about the deplorable situation of foreigners. Endless queues, night and day... Since the end of Covid, obtaining or renewing a residence permit was an obstacle course and... a test of patience.
"An appalling tragedy, according to Odile Jouanne, one of the spokespersons of the Education Without Borders Network (RESF) in Yvelines. People have found themselves on the street, some have lost their jobs, young people will miss their school year... ». Today, the situation seems to be normalized. It must be said that the sub-prefect, Jehan-Eric Winckler, had launched a kind of "Marshall Plan" as early as April.
The main measure is to strengthen the staff who manage 40% of requests in Yvelines and must process 7,000 files per year. In particular, it allowed volunteers to work overtime on Saturdays, a measure that will be accompanied in June by six hires. Enough to solve the staff deficit, which had reached 50% within the sub-prefecture.
1,300 files have finished sleeping in drawers
Other encouraging figures were shared with the associations by the sub-prefect this Thursday morning. Of the 2,300 residence permits that slept in the drawers, 1,300 were distributed by an official, hired specifically for this task.
"In one day, we can distribute 50 cards per wicket," explains Odile Jouanne. At the moment, there was only one but a second one opens soon. At the rate of 400 cards distributed per week, the sub-prefecture should catch up, despite the 70 new weekly requests.
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New counters – their current number will be multiplied by four – will also be opened in June to process applications for movement for minor foreign children. Cancellations of holiday departures should therefore be avoided.
"The situation of many people has improved," says the spokesperson for RESF 78. But for now, the tails are no less long. People spread the word: they can finally be received. So new ones are coming... The proof? The new slots put online this week for the month of June found takers in barely 24 hours.
"The response of the sub-prefecture was correct, constructive and interesting," says the spokeswoman, aware that the foreigners who come to Saint-Germain are "the most resourceful, those who speak French, who have the time or who watch the Internet. " But for the others, the problem is still there.