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Article L531-16 of the French Code governing the entry and residence of foreign nationals and the right of asylum

The absence of a lawyer or a representative of an association does not prevent the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons from conducting an interview with the applicant.
Without prejudice to article L. 531-38, the absence without legitimate reason of the applicant, who has been duly summoned to an interview, shall not prevent the Office from ruling on his/her application.
Without prejudice to the necessities arising from the needs of litigation, the person accompanying the applicant to an interview may not divulge its content.

Original in French 🇫🇷
Article L531-16


L’absence d’un avocat ou d’un représentant d’une association n’empêche pas l’Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides de mener un entretien avec le demandeur.
Sans préjudice de l’article L. 531-38, l’absence sans motif légitime du demandeur, dûment convoqué à un entretien, ne fait pas obstacle à ce que l’office statue sur sa demande.
Sans préjudice des nécessités tenant aux besoins d’une action contentieuse, la personne qui accompagne le demandeur à un entretien ne peut en divulguer le contenu.

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