Glossary
In some situations, a non-European foreign national may be placed in a waiting area upon arriving at the border, before being returned abroad or admitted to France. The placement procedure in a waiting area is regulated and time-limited (26 days is the maximum length of time). The foreign national shall have access to effective remedies throughout the procedure. Foreign nationals may be placed in a waiting area in the following cases:
• if they are being denied entry to the territory
• if they are applying for asylum at the border
• if they are in transit and have not been allowed to board for their country of final destination or said country's authorities have returned them to France.
If an asylum seeker wishes to halt the asylum application procedure, s/he may withdraw his/her claim by sending a letter to Ofpra.