Can I apply for French nationality if

[frenchquery]

I am married to a Frenchman but no longer resident in France? Does anyone know?
DH and I were married in France 25 years ago and lived and worked there up until 3 years ago. Our 2 DC were born there. During that time I never saw the point of applying for French nationality as we were all in Europe. The Brexit referendum happened just before we moved back to the UK so I am now thinking of applying in case one day we want to move back there and it could be more complicated once we are out of The EU (if that ever happens 🙄)
I have found the relevant info on the French gouvernement website and I know I am eligible because of marriage but it's not clear if you have to be actually resident in France at the time of your application.
Does any one know or done this ?

Yes, I agree, that's it's not essential to have French nationality. It's just a safety net and I think could let me off a lot of hassle and "paperasse" if, in the future, we return to France. Will also mean I will be able to vote there.

@AuldAlliance
Sorry I completely missed your post (even though I was tagged in it) for some reason.
I don't just have a degree in French from a UK university, I spent my year abroad at l'ENS-LSH where I did several classes in French and validated them, and I have documentation. I sent it all off with my application and a covering note. They haven't queried it and they have sent me an email inviting me to an interview at the embassy - so perhaps they will assess my French at the interview. I would be surprised if they asked for a test certificate at this stage but maybe they will. I'll find out soon enough as the interview is next week. I will ace it because even French people think I'm French sometimes

@LadyKylieShagworthy
We got quotes from loads of translators and £25 per document was the cheapest. I had to get 4 documents translated (birth certificates for me and my parents, plus my ACRO letter) so it was £100 in total plus a bit for postage.

Luckily the application fee itself is not much (55€ IIRC) because the rest of the paperwork all adds up!

Ok thanks for that info.
I am still waiting for my parents' birth certificates to arrive and will send them off to the translator I've found.

@AnotherEmma
Good luck for your interview.
I wonder how often they have the welcoming ceremonies at the Consulat, maybe we'll be at the same one!

Ha that would be cool! I'll PM you when I get a date!

I'm at the very final stages of applying for French Nationality - DH is French but we have never lived in France.

Good luck in your applications!
The interview at the Consulat is the kind you would have at the town hall if you were in France. I felt we were there to suss out whether we were really married or not and they asked some really odd questions like - what clubs are you a member of? And, where do you travel for work?
You then have to see the vice-consul.

A friend of mine got to interview stage and were told they were missing some documents, and had to resubmit.
A couple of the people I did the TCF with had also studied at French universities, but they had to do the TCF.
So, it could be you'd have to do need the TCF certificate.

Anyway, bon courage!

Ah that is all extremely helpful, thank you!

I guess I'd better start looking into booking the test...

Update: had my appointment at the embassy this morning including my mini language test.
Some of the questions I was asked (in case it's helpful to others):
What's your name, age and address
What's your job
How long have you been married
Do you have any children
What's the last film you watched - and what's it about
What music do you like
Do you belong to any clubs / associations
What was the last big trip you did
What's your husband's job
What do the two of you like to do in your leisure time
Why do you want French nationality
...That's all I can remember!

It was all quite formal with hand shaking and not much smiling or laughing, not hugely helpful if you're a bit nervous but it was fine.

About the language test: they told me that officially you are supposed to have a French diplôme or a French language test certificate. But as I passed today's mini test with flying colours they didn't insist on either. They said they weren't sure whether it would go through but that it wouldn't be rejected outright, they might just ask for a certificate and it would hold up the application a bit. So we decided to go for it and see what happens. I am slightly surprised that they didn't insist on the certificate so I guess the fact that they didn't means there is a small chance I might manage to get my application approved without it. We'll see.

It takes up to 12 months from the date the consulate receives your application. They're sending mine to France now... oh and while I'm waiting I have to learn the Marseillaise

@AnotherEmma
That's great, very helpful.
Were you interviewed as a couple or individually?
I have just sent off all my documents to the consulat, how long was it until you were given your interview?
Hopefully, you won't have to do the language test. I think the centres are in London or Manchester and it costs about £100. I did mine in France as it was cheaper, €80.
What did you say your reasons were ? Did you mention the B word?

Sorry, forgot I'd name changed.
It's LadyKylie

Update: my citizenship application has been accepted! I'm so happy!

How is everyone else getting on?

@SorbetK6
Sorry, I didn't see your post back in September
Hopefully you've had your interview by now!
In case not... I was interviewed alone and then they invited DH in at the end.
For reasons, I said that as DH and DS are French I would like to be French too, I did also mention Brexit and said that I would like to be an EU citizen and have the option to live and work in France (or elsewhere in Europe) without any issues.

I actually had my interview set up for next week and then received an email this morning saying that the date was no longer "disponible" so I have to get back to them to arrange another date. A bit of a pain as I had organised time off work and bought the train tickets. Otherwise all the paperwork has gone through.

Félicitations on your new citizenship 🇫🇷🇪🇺🇬🇧

Merci beaucoup user, je suis ravie!

Sorbet ah that's really annoying. I guess there must be a lot of demand atm. Hope you won't have to wait too long for a new appointment.

So I have a new interview on Feb 4th. Not too long away and I managed to change my train tickets.
@AnotherEmma Does that mean you can now apply for a French passport?

Yes it does! I've been debating whether to get one. I will get a carte d'identité of course because it's free I think I might get a passport too so I'll still have an EU passport 😢

DS has a British passport and a French carte d'identité and we might get him a French passport too.

Glad you managed to change your train tickets btw!

Apparently from April onwards the TCF will include a written exam. I guess they are cracking down because of the demand.

Was your DS born in France?
My DDs were and only have French nationality. They are early 20s now and one of them is interested in having a British passport and I wondered if she automatically qualified.

No he was born here in the UK. He has French nationality because of DH.

The rules about British nationality are a bit complicated but basically if you're British and you were born in the UK to British parents, you can pass on British nationality to your children.
www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british-parent/born-between-1983-and-2006

@AnotherEmma
Well, I had my interview yesterday at the consulate. I think it went well, DH and I were interviewed together and asked the same questions as you. We mainly talked about our job, as we work together.
Are you going to the welcoming ceremony for your certificate? I don't know how often they are.
When I paid the fee, I asked if i was reimbursed if my application was unsuccessful and she just said, No, i don't think so, but there's no reason why it should be refused.
Just have to wait now🤞