nicktonight

Thought I should point this out - British residents in France must register by end of June

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...untries-brexit

G-J-B

I can think of a number of reasons why not everyone will get registered - either because they're living under the radar, or they perhaps live in a rural area, have little social contact, and don't follow the news. Others still think their previous carte de sejour will be valid. I don't know how many have been personally contacted to tell them about this requirement, but it's unfair to assume everyone has the internet or runs in circles with other British folk.

I'm not sure what the outcome will be. If France were as belligerent as the UK, they'd probably be rounded up, detained and thrown out, but I suspect it will probably just be a slap on the wrist and a fine. I guess time will tell. They don't even know the number of Brits in France (given there was no requirement to register), and it's still an unknown if they can process everyone before the obligatory date in October. I applied at the start of January, and am still waiting on a RDV, but I suspect that's the case for a large number of people. Certain prefectures are also making unreasonable demands on what paperwork and information is required during the RDV, asking for certain translated documents, beyond what was submitted online. It's still a bit messy, just like the driving license exchange fiasco!

EU.flag

I think many didnt register as they dont like paying FR high taxes or resigned to falling to 180/90 system (2nd home).
Similar story in PT, out of 40K registered residents (pre-brexit), 19K still havent applied for new registration docs.
Many will be sting and then go to papers crying "but we didnt know".

dmu

Hi, I read through the article and, just to split hairs, was struck by the expression: file their "demands" within 30 days. This is obviously a literal translation of the faux-ami "demandes", which is "applications" in English. I hope the Guardian's Europe correspondent never has to produce legally binding translations....
Further down, I'm wondering how many "homeless British people, sick British people, British children in care" among the vulnerable, there will also be. I appreciate that there may be sick British people who aren't being treated if they're living under the radar, but are there many British SdFs and British children in care? To me, children in care are either orphans, or their parents are incapable, for some reason, of caring for them themselves and are therefore known to the Authorities and not living under the radar.
Whatever, the article is a good reminder to those who haven't got round to "regularizing their situation" yet.....

Helen1964

There is also another sizable group of Brits who live in France but work for one of the international organizations. They currently hold titres de séjours spéciaux and - under a special arrangement with the French authorities - will be able to apply for a carte de séjour under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement if and when they leave the organization but wish to stay on in France. At any point in the future.

EuroTrash

Something doesn't seem quite right about a homeless person claiming residence rights through their main home being in France...

G-J-B

What's the alternative though? Remove all homeless people from the country, or fine them amounts they cannot pay back?
I do recall under Sarkozy the government kicked out a number of Roma migrants who didn't have work permits.

dmu

But the point in question is, are there really many BRITISH homeless in France, to warrant such a mention? (likewise BRITISH children in care?) Normally (exception made for people leaving home without warning, for family reasons), homeless people had notice of their future predicament, and surely foreign ones (not counting Roma and immigrants seeking asylum) would do everything to return to their own country, rather than become SdFs in France?
If there are such British people in the vulnerable categories listed by the reporter, then I do pity them - my rant is against the reporter and his editor.

EuroTrash

I agree, it's a lazy article and the writer seems to have a very superficial understanding of the issues.
I imagine there are different categories of homeless Brits. There will be those who have already qualify for residence by dint of having lived here legally for more than 5 years; they retain their rights including the right to work, and they are entitled to state aid if they've subsequently fallen on hard times. Hopefully the system has worked for them and they have or will soon have their residence cards to confirm their rights.
But inevitably there will also be some who drifted to France but never met the FoM conditions, and as such they won't be given any rights under the WA. I really don't see France rounding them up and sending them home, but I guess that when they find that their rights have been cut off - because from now on the first question will always be "do you have a carte de séjour" and if the answer is No you can't get any further, so no more CAF or any other benefits, no carte vitale, can't sign on at the Pôle Emploi, can't look for work or set up a business - many will start drifting back to the UK.

G-J-B

I really couldn't say, I have no British friends in France so don't mix in those circles, but in the past few years I came across one Brit who was homeless living in a dilapidated barn, and another who lived in the forests.

Chatter Static

Split personalities playing up again.. lol

G-J-B

I must be having a slow day, you lost me on that one!

Chatter Static

Nevermind…… it’s a bit thin to say the least.

sternchen

There is a surprisingly high number of German homeless people in Spain, especially Mallorca, whose dream of living in the sun has turned sour and for some reason can't, believe they can't or simply won't return to Germany. So, there may well be a higher number of homeless British people in France than one would expect.

It does look like the journalist simply inserted the usual list of vulnerable people that always get mentioned in British news articles, though.

EuroTrash

But if they knew that new legislation was in the pipeline that would change the status quo and make staying in Spain uncomfortable/illegal, and they had five years to react, wouldn't you expect many of them to have got their act together and figured out a plan rather than burying their heads in the sand?
Maybe it's the island mentality in us but I do think we Brits are experts at thinking that if we ignore a problem, everyone else will ignore it too.