Subsection 3: Closure of the investigation

The president of the hearing panel or, before the file is entered, the president of the Cour nationale du droit d’asile, the section presidents or chamber presidents may set the date for the closure of the written hearing by an order notified to the parties at least fifteen days before that date.The order shall not state the reasons on which it is based and may not be appealed.The written hearing…

Where the parties are informed of the date of the hearing at least two months before it, they are informed by the same letter of the date on which the investigation will be closed. This information does not constitute notice of the hearing within the meaning of article R. 532-32.However, for cases covered by article L. 532-6 when the decision of the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and…

If articles R. 532-21 or R. 532-22 have not been applied, the written investigation is closed five clear days before the date of the hearing.

When the written investigation is closed, only the production of the originals of the documents previously communicated in copy remains admissible until the end of the hearing.

Briefs and exhibits produced after the close of the written investigation do not give rise to disclosure.However, if the written investigation is reopened, any briefs and exhibits produced in the interim shall be disclosed to the parties.

The hearing panel may not base its decision on information outside the case file relating to factual circumstances specific to the asylum seeker or to his story, without first informing the parties.Where the panel is likely to base its decision on a plea raised ex officio, the parties shall be informed in advance, in particular where the plea is based on the fact that the applicant is covered by one…