If you made your life here, why didn't you become a British citizen?

[DorothyL]

How do you respond to that as an EU citizen?

I came to the UK in 98. I never applied for British citizenship because I didn't see the need - I truly felt that the fact we were all EU meant it didn't matter!

Now I'm scared because in spite of being here so long I would probably not qualify for a permanent residency card because I wasn't working (SAHM/carer).

Wish I knew what will happen

Bludger, not blusher! Bloody forrin autocorrect.

jassy

Anyway I remain unconvinced by these exhortations for immigrants to demonstrate their whole hearted devotion to the UK in order to be considered proper British citizens in the eyes of certain posters. All this insistence on fervent flag-waving, pledge-reciting, chest-thumping and the lamentation and recantation of unapproved past identities sounds frankly rather un-British to me.

Doesnt sound british at all...

More like football fans on the terrace...

Or:

"“For the state should draw the sharp line of distinction between those who, as members of the nation, are the foundation and support of its existence and greatness, and those who are domiciled simply as earners of their livelihoods of there.”

More good news!

It confirms
*that the 85 page document was not meant for EU nationals therefore unfit for purpose.

• that the rules for permanent resident certificates for EU nationals in the UK are far more complex than those on the Continent.
• Vocabulary used to describe EU nationals is disgraceful
• hardening stance towards EU nationals residing in the UK; does not augure well.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/09/uk-eu-citizens-right-remain-brexit-negotiating-capital-home-office-letter

To be able to apply for British citizenship, EU nationals have to first apply for the permanent residence card. Many, mainly stay at home parents, carers, students and other self-sufficient people who didn't know about the requirement for comprehensive health insurance, and also some self-employed people who earn below £155 per week, do not qualify for permanent residence. Some of these people have lived here for years, decades even, have British spouses and children, and can't go "home" because their home is here.

See Patrizia's story. Her husband was in the RAF. She's been here for most of her adult life. She has 2 British children. But she's a SAHM, so can't get permanent residency.

France here. 21 years and no French citizenship. Why would I when it conferred absolutely no advantage over being British.

It took 6 months to compile the paperwork. All docs had to be less than 3 months old and officially translated. I had to do French citizenship for my kids first which was unexpected (bien in France, French passports and Id cards) which added a delay. French husband.

Paperwork in in May. It crossed the first desk in November when it was date stamped. I was interviewed by the police in December. More paperwork requests. 3 years of company records 1000s of pages.

Interview at the prefecture at the end of February. If I don't get it I'm not going to try again.

How much does it cost Wally? For comparison.

I have lived in Sweden for 22 years and never felt the need for citizenship before as the only right I lacked as an EU citizen was voting in the Swedish general election

• applied for dual nationality the week of the referendum
• was granted citizenship 12 days later (no tests exams/interviews to do)
• cost of citizenship £135

I then take my citizenship papers to the Police station to get my passport

• passport costs £31 - including photos and fingerprints

Wally wobbles - I'm a British citizen in France too, and about to start compiling my dossier for French citizenship. What were you asked during the police interview you already had, and how is it different to the prefecture interview you have coming up?

Bonne chance, I hope it goes smoothly and you get the citizenship.

@VallarMorghulis it's basically nearly free. 55€ plus the translation costs. If I remember correctly.

@greenworm the police asked about my involvement in local life. Confirmed my details. Took 10 mins. 4 pages he had to fill in I think.

No idea about the prefecture questions. I'll update you when I know.

@greenworm I have compiled a list of prefecture questions that I can pm you if you want. It looks a lot more tricky than the police was. Culture questions. Who was Marianne, French writers etc, the declaration of the rights of man and citizens, who votes the laws, what dossiers is the president currently working on etc.

There is also a booklet I downloaded with most of the necessary info plus a 4 page potted history to learn.
www.seine-et-marne.gouv.fr/content/download/15252/108266/file/Livret-du-citoyen_25fev2015.pdf

Thanks Wally - I'll send you a message

Does anybody know about French nationality through 'Droit de Mariage'. Apparently if a foreign spouse marries a French national, he/can ask for French nationality after 3/4/5 years depending on whether they live in France or not.
Must pass B1 French language test though. Am exploring this avenue for British husband! Who of course cannot speak a word of French 😀😀. DD has dual nationality so is OK. I have met a French lady today who has lived in UK for 30 and who has packed her British husband to night school in Bristol so that he learns the language with a view for him to become a French National.. She has problems to obtain UK residency because she is a writer of children books and works for a French publisher in Paris (commute) . She obviously lives in the UK with her British family and works from home in UK. The UK residency form does not cater for these kind of circumstances.

I'd be very surprised if that's the case. I am in France (British) and going through the process of applying for French citizenship, which is very difficult and complicated and there are no guarantees at the end of it. After the enormous dossier has been completed, along with the language test (to B1 as you said, but must be a test approved by the French authorities) you have a visit - either at home or at the local station - from the gendarmes, then you are called to the prefecture for your rdv on French culture/history/politics/general knowledge etc - not sure how that would work from overseas? The procedure here is exactly the same for those applying with a French spouse. Sorry to sound so negative, I just know how complicated it is for those living here (rightly so!) I can't see how they would make it easier for anyone not actually resident in France....

I will have to find out a bit more about it.

I agree with you it does sound too good to be true.

The culture test is relatively easy. DH who never lived in France passed it easily (mocked tests). I noticed that some of the things asked are similar to what is now made compulsory in CM2 for French children in terms of politics, government etc.. Education Civique it is now called. At the age of 9, she had to learn all about departments, Doms, régions, mairie, élections , sénat, assemblée nationale, marseillaise etc.. It was a good refresher course for me etc..this was made compulsory after the terrorists attacks. In fact it was my DD who was going on about the Droit de Mariage and Droit de Sang. She has learned that at School. This was mentioned again at the Lobby yesterday.

Will ask ´the French Consulate this week and my cousin who works in a Marie
. Her line is ID's , Cartes de Sejour and sham marriages.

You can take the test in Various centres in Europe and overseas. Just chose the country you are in and it will tell you where.

In the UK, it is in Glascow and London:

www.ciep.fr/tcf-anf/coordonnees-centres-passation

If you are over 60, you do not have to take the test.

My DH is 50 so he will have to go to the French Institute or Aliiance Française to learn French ..

www.ciep.fr/tcf-anf

www.institut-francais.org.uk/french-courses/exams/

The over 60 thing is bizarre isn't it?! My OH is over 60, I'm not - I took the TCF test & passed fine - but what if you're over 60 you're not going to need to speak to anyone? or phone anyone ever? Or fill forms in? His level is not bad at all, but it makes you wonder!

Good luck however it works out Lico

@Lico your DD will need to have an extra bit of nationality stuff for your DH to get Naturalisation. If kids have one foreign parent they are not full french nationals without un certificat de nationalité française. Available from your local Tribunal. My kids both have them now. It's the initial thing that tripped me up in my dossier.

Pièces à fournir pour les certificats de nationalité française

• 1 photo d'identité
• 1 justificatif d'identité
• 1 justificatif de domicile (facture récente d'électricité, contrat de location, avis d'imposition...)
• 1 copie intégrale de votre acte de naissance avec indication de votre filiation
• 1 copie intégrale de l'acte de naissance de chacun de vos parents.

My DD has all that. All done at the French Consulate , with Livret de Famille, translation of many things certified by Consulate etc.. Passport etc..done over 10 years ago.
The thing they insist on is to be registered on the French registry at the Consulate.

I don't think it's as simple as just wanting to become a citizen or not. The UK citizenship test is very costly and time consuming. Because of this, It's not exactly 'open to all' and for many immigrants, access to the test bears no relationship to simply just 'feeling it didn't matter' I'm not sure whether the OP has researched the test or not, but certainly taking it is not as easy as some posters seem to think!
^This.. My DP is also an EU citizen who has been in the UK for 12 years. He pays his taxes, NI and makes a contribution to our economy in other ways. Why should he also have to do the test and pay for it?

Legal Advice Event for those in this situation in Brighton in Mid March:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/legal-advice-forum-for-eueea-nationals-tickets-31492389585

being organised by a friend who is currently going through all of this.