scrubbedexpat056

And again, be warned. It says your given names only have to start with a capital letter, but it rejected them until I put them in all capitals.

G-J-B

I'm not applying until next month, but from what I've noted from people so far: better to do it in the french language, because apparently the English version is translated badly (e.g. Canal refers to street number), and if you live on an unnamed road, it struggled with 'lieu dit'. And Alianco points out that names have to be in capitals only. Otherwise it sounds like it's relatively pain free?

Tweedpipe

Are you sure your passport indicates 'London' and not an issuing code? I completed the application the first day the French site was online, and entered 'IPS' as the issuing authority, as that's what's shown on the passport (my passport having been renewed/sent/returned to/from UK by mail 8 years ago).
It's relatively straight forward to apply for the CdS on the site if one has already been issued with a permanent CdS. I use the word relatively, as (let's face it) it could have been made simpler. Just seeing the number of 'pages' requiring completion, one doesn't need to be told it was compiled/translated by a typical *French beaurocrat! Even the space provided for the individual's home address wasn't straight forward, not being shown as 'address' or 'adress' but by some other somewhat cryptic name (I can't recall the exact wording).
I once did a course on technical writing for aeronautical maintenance manuals, and one underlining message was, ensure that the instruction is never ambiguous. If there is an ambiguous instruction, someone someday will misinterpret the contents, with potential disasterous consequences. *Fortunately for all frequent or occasional fliers, there's at least one French beaurocrat who doesn't work in that industry.

scrubbedexpat056

Yes, the first address box is for the number and the second for the road. The English version didn't make sense so I went back to the French one. Use capitals throughout and it should all work. I now have an attestation d'enregistrement for my application (I assume my wife has as well) so all good.

G-J-B

I'll make a note to do everything in CAPS. I don't have a previous CDS as it was never necessary (in fact I couldn't even get one if I wanted when I initially arrived), but I'm hoping being married to a native, the process will be very simple.

EuroTrash

I don't think being married to a native will affect the process for getting a WA CdS at all. The WA protects your individual rights and the criteria are being a British citizen exercising EU freedom of movement before the end of transition. Nothing else has any bearing.
Being married to a native would open up an alternative route in that after transition you could apply for a CdS as the non-EU spouse of a French national. The two different types of CdS would give you slightly different sets of rights.
Simplest is to go for the WA CdS I think.

G-J-B

As far as I understand it, if you're married with a French person, you just need a copy of your passport, a utility bill or something to prove you're living here in 2020, partner's ID and either the marriage certificate or livret de famille. I won't have to mess around with marriage certificate translations and I don't have to prove I've been here more than 5 years, although the latter would be easy to do.

EuroTrash

Yes, if you apply for the spouse CdS you won't use the Brexit portal, it will be a normal application at your préfecture.
From what I have gathered, there are a few 'limited and specific' advantages in getting in a Brexit CdS over a spouse CdS such as, or so I have read, if you claim your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement your UK qualifications will continue to be recognised on the same basis as when the UK was a member of the EU. I think the WA potentially gives Brits two or three little "extras" like this, over and above what other types of CdS give. But these 'extras' would be of no benefit if they're not relevant to your particular situation, eg unless you work in France and need your UK qualifications to be recognised.

G-J-B

Thanks EuroTrash, that's interesting, it isn't something I've come across yet, so I will look into that. I have a degree, but I don't require it in France.. I will look into the rest.

G-J-B

Perhaps it was confusion in the way I worded things, but my intention was always to go through the new WA (Brexit) site, but when married I believe it would be a little easier? This is assuming you have to provide a marriage certificate?
Should I try and obtain the CdS by other means it would incur fees and the British State pension may not be uprated.

scrubbedexpat056

I didn't even think about fees for the TdS. They certainly didn't ask for any as part of the online application. Does anyone know if there are any costs?

G-J-B

No the new online application is completely free, but if you're married you can obtain the CDS by other means, but I believe it would incur costs and not protect your rights.

EuroTrash

Being married to a French national doesn't seem to make any difference to getting a WA cds if you've been here for over 5 years. If that's your situation the only criteria appear to be that you are British and you were residing legally and stably in France by the end of transition. If you meet those two conditions the process couldn't really be made any easier, it's simplicity itself for everyone who is eligible (just remember to use capital letters where required!).
If you've been here for less than 5 years, it looks as if being married to a French national may make a difference.
Sorry to have confused, I hadn't read the site properly.