Angelil

You still need the same documents even if you are applying for French nationality through marriage.

I frankly do not trust the European authorities to be kind to Brits abroad. And nobody has given us any kind of assurance as to what will happen.

My reasoning is that I would rather be treated like crap by the sous-préfecture just the once, rather than every year when renewing a carte de séjour (I have heard plenty of stories from my non-EU friends living in France).

Yes - this is along the lines of what I was thinking too. Is it more detailed than a subject access request? Does anyone here know?

The Metropolitan Police, however, says: "The UK police do not issue "certificates of good conduct" or "police clearance certificates", however in our experience foreign embassies will generally accept a police reply under the subject access provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 as a suitable equivalent."

Thanks. Sadly I need the 'extrait de casier judiciaire' and the UK equivalent (technically a 'certificate of good conduct' is what is requested) This would be much easier if only any of the authorities could tell me exactly which one (subject access request or police certificate) is required.

dmu

Pardon my ignorance, but I don't know what this is in English. What's the French equivalent?

Angelil

No idea! This is part of the problem I'm facing

Linguee gives "une demande d'accès" as the most common translation, but that is a very general term and I'm not entirely sure that it covers it:
subject access request - Traduction fran�aise – Linguee

Novocastrian

I did a bit of digging and it seems the Met thinks that a subject access request is good enough for the EU.

I think the UK is still in the EU, so try it that way.

Angelil

For now, yes. But even once you've amassed all the correct paperwork, it takes 1-2 years to all be processed - by which time the UK may well be very much on its way out of the EU, and the rush starting for Brits wishing to acquire French nationality. My wish is to be ahead of the game.

Novocastrian

I don't blame you, but other routes for you to get a French passport have already been suggested.

I wish I was so lucky.

Pulaski

A Subject Access Request is a request under the Data Protection Act for any/all data held logged against your name.

As the DPA was the result of an EU directive, there ought to be equivalent French legislation with equivalent rights to request a copy of any personal data held. It has nothing to do with your police or criminal record as you can file a Subject Access Request to any business or organization that holds a file of your personal data.

dmu

Thanks for the info.
As I said, things have changed since last century and that strange expression didn't exist...

audio

Hollande's promise to British expats living in France - The Connexion

I know it's Connexion but this may ease a few minds.

Angelil

Sadly I don't consider waiting to be an option. I have now spoken to my husband about it in more detail (he is in the south of France at the moment, with his parents, while I am in the UK with mine) and he thinks the police certificate is more appropriate, based exactly on what's just been said above this.

It's a shame that the police certificate is the more difficult and expensive one to get, but whatever

Tweedpipe

Let me start by saying that I've never applied for French nationality, and frankly cannot see a situation where I will need one - Brexit notwithstanding.

May I make a suggestion? If you can get the French authorities to issue you an extrait de casier judicidaire, I believe everything else should fall neatly into position.
Check out this link. & HERE
On the one which says 'Vous êtes né(e) hors de France', clicking on the link 'Faite votre demande en ligne' brings up the part to complete - for those individuals who were not born in France.
A short while ago, I completed this and received my extrait de casier judicidaire without any problem, despite the fact that I had not lived in France for 10 consecutive years prior to making the demand. I had however lived in France for a number of years before that.
(The reason for me wanting this was that I'd been requested to submit an extrait de casier judicidaire as one of the multitude of documents required to renew a French firearm certificate, initially issued in 1996).
All I can say is that French authorities do have on file (or know where to obtain all relevant information) about an individual in order to issue an extrait de casier judicidaire.
If it were me in your position, before presenting your completed French nationality request portfolio (2 copies of cerfa 15277*02 dated & signed, plus all other docs requested as detailed here- pièces a fournir), I would make a prior rdv to speak to someone at the prefecture or wherever, to ensure that everything was in order, and especially to mention that certificates of good conduct or police clearance certificates are not documents generally issued by your country of birth. And take a note of the name and details of the person who interviews you and the date, and add that significant info in your portfolio.
As for a 'subject access request', nowhere can I see that this is a requirement for your French nationality dossier.

And returning full circle to my opening statement, I often like to recall those words of Cecil Rhodes, "You are an Englishman, and have subsequently drawn the greatest prize in the lottery of life."
And imho, if one insists on 'going native', a much cheaper and considerably less stressful action would be simply to buy a beret - black of course.

frugeois

Very interesting but Mr Hollande cannot guarantee he will be in the seat for the may day celebrations ! His government may be replaced by this time next year. The front runner in the presidential race is not in favour of the le Touquet agreement neither is the Regional president of the Haut de France region. The french side of the Straits are in his patch. neither Mr Hollande nor Mrs May mentioned anything about social security arrangements , health care in particular. I would think this s a big concern for aged UK citizens resident in France. Will form S1 still be accepted ? I believe there will be bilateral agreements between the UK and France, external of the EU as there will be betwwen the UK and other countries where ther are UK Citizens in residence , Spain for instance. It is a question of wait and see.

Angelil

Thanks for your detailed and helpful reply.
I have requested an extrait de casier judiciaire before, when I required police clearance for a work placement in the UK. This was very quick and easy to obtain, as you have said. Sadly my UK employer did not accept it and as a result, because I work with children, I had to be accompanied by a colleague at all times and never left alone with the students.
The Brits should have accepted it - but were unaware of EU law that this was equivalent to a UK police check, and so did not.

I am therefore extremely cautious when it comes to ensuring that I have all of the correct documentation in place to obtain French nationality. Unfortunately it is my understanding that I require a UK police certificate AND the extrait de casier judiciaire as I have lived in France for under 10 years.

But who knows - maybe the beret will help. I already have three (black, red and cream!)!

EuroTrash

Erm, what makes you think everyone else is waiting? From what you read on forums, the rush is already well underway, and the ones who are rushing the fastest are the ones who feel they're on dodgy ground, hence the panic, and who are least likely to be accepted.

Hence I've decided to wait until the first flood of panic applications has abated, and get a carte de séjour to tide me over if necessary. If you meet the criteria for citizenship, you will surely meet the criteria for a carte de séjour, so where's the fire.

However to get back to your question, the acro website does say quite clearly that this is for people wishing to emigrate.
https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

Jon-Bxl

I've started a discussion on the Spanish forum, that applies here on this discussion. In case you are interested.

Curious as to what people think.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/siest.../#post12013984

Jon