A disillusioned European :-(

A disillusioned European :-(

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Discussion

Terryg4

Original Poster:

233 posts

105 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
Just wanted to know whether anyone feels the same after the recent debacle.

We have been on France for 14 years but always felt we would go back to the UK after the children grew up.
It would seem that the UK is now not the place we left and certainly not the place to go back to. :-(

Has anyone thought about a French Passport?

Terry
European (not British)

Evolved

3,765 posts

194 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
Enjoy France then.

magooagain

10,806 posts

177 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
I don't think we could go back to the uk to live ever. It's a changed place in the last 14 years I have been here.

France has its downsides but I find it gives us a bit more freedom of choice living here.

The referendum result worries me not.

Recently I having been thinking about applying for an Irish passport as I have the right.

Edited by magooagain on Saturday 25th June 19:47

Fatt McMissile

330 posts

140 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
In a similar vein we had intended to spend our final years in the UK for various reasons, coping alone and inheritance taxes among them.
I think that becoming a French citizen would be a bit drastic for us, but our daughter who has no intention of returning to the UK will probably seek dual nationality, if that's an option.
When we came we had to apply for a Carte de Séjour residence permit and that's what we'll do again. It's not very costly or complicated and proves your right to live here without a work permit stamp in your passport; also a useful form of ID if you don't have a photo driving license. You have to queue at the prefecture with other very obviously non - French people, which drums it home that one is in fact an immigrant, just like them.
Steve

Blaster72

11,132 posts

204 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
You've been in France that long and have never become a citizen. Why would you do that, particularly if you see don't see yourself as British.

There are people dying to get here and become British citizens, if France/Europe is so fantastic why come here?

trunnie

308 posts

264 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
Personally the only thing stopping me from applying for French nationality has been the bureaucracy. Now I will as I realise that a country that is so stupid as to believe that Brecit won't have significant economic consequences and likely lead to the break up of the union isn't a country that I can feel at home in.

Farage, Johnson and Galloway coupled to the fellow traveler Corbyn, who in their right mind would follow their lead?

Also I'd like to say that I voted against Le Pen in the next presidential election!!!

Blaster72

11,132 posts

204 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
Yep, I've heard that as a reason a lot of immigrants don't apply for French citizenship as its deliberately difficult rather than the UKs user friendly system. That said, 14 years there I'd hope you're fluent and have at least some French friends who can help out?

If you don't want to come back to a post Brexit UK why not go to Spain?

Super tax breaks for first few years, cheap housing and pleasant climate.

Edited by Blaster72 on Saturday 25th June 21:27

Fatt McMissile

330 posts

140 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
Blaster said: "You've been in France that long and have never become a citizen. Why would you do that, particularly if you see don't see yourself as British."

As I didn't say that I assume that you're not referring to me, however whilst it may or may not appeal to you, wtf is wrong with working in different countries and cultures during our working lives, in my case, of 54 years (so far).

I don't feel any less British now than I did 54 years ago, which is why I cried for Britain when the referendum results came in.

Steve
edit paragraphs

Downward

4,081 posts

110 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
Terryg4 said:
Just wanted to know whether anyone feels the same after the recent debacle.

We have been on France for 14 years but always felt we would go back to the UK after the children grew up.
It would seem that the UK is now not the place we left and certainly not the place to go back to. :-(

Has anyone thought about a French Passport?

Terry
European (not British)
What was it like 14 years ago ? Not as good as France I assume ?

Fatt McMissile

330 posts

140 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
I refer you to my post above. Very apt, downwardsmile

Blaster72

11,132 posts

204 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
Yep, nothing wrong with working abroad. I've done it myself short term.

I just didn't understand why someone (who describes himself as not British) would spend 14 years in France and make no attempt to become a citizen.

Nowt as strange as folk.

Edited by Blaster72 on Saturday 25th June 22:17

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

262 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
trunnie said:
Personally the only thing stopping me from applying for French nationality has been the bureaucracy. Now I will as I realise that a country that is so stupid as to believe that Brecit won't have significant economic consequences and likely lead to the break up of the union isn't a country that I can feel at home in.

Farage, Johnson and Galloway coupled to the fellow traveler Corbyn, who in their right mind would follow their lead?
A majority of the population. HTH.

Enjoy your stay in a declining economy and hold your breath that the iniquitously corrupt EU doesn't break up before you die.

Good luck...wavey

ClaphamGT3

11,527 posts

250 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
Yup. We are seriously thinking of emigrating - just too depressing to stay and watch the whole country fall apart

Fatt McMissile

330 posts

140 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said: "A majority of the population. HTH."

No, sorry DNH. Because it wasn't. Arithmetic, it's not even maths ffs.

"Enjoy your stay in a declining economy" everything's relative. France can still afford to fill potholes, where do you want to start?
Steve

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

262 months

Saturday 25th June 2016
quotequote all
Fatt McMissile said:
mybrainhurts said: "A majority of the population. HTH."

No, sorry DNH. Because it wasn't. Arithmetic, it's not even maths ffs.

"Enjoy your stay in a declining economy" everything's relative. France can still afford to fill potholes, where do you want to start?
Steve
Ah, right, I see. By your reckoning, no UK election is valid, then. OK.

My home city is in the middle of a five year programme to resurface our roads. Mine is now smoother than a baby's bum.

If we hadn't spent 40 years pissing money into the EU black hole, this could have been achieved years ago.

Fatt McMissile

330 posts

140 months

Sunday 26th June 2016
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said: If we hadn't spent 40 years pissing money into the EU black hole, this could have been achieved years ago.

No-one thought of that before the referendum.. Vote leave and we can fill our potholes.

Mind you, it's a worthy objective. smile
Steve

Mark300zx

1,388 posts

259 months

Sunday 26th June 2016
quotequote all
Blaster may I ask what are these tax breaks for the first few years of living in Spain?

Terryg4

Original Poster:

233 posts

105 months

Sunday 26th June 2016
quotequote all
Hold on chaps!

I was proud to be British until last Friday! We hadn't gone for citizenship as we thought we would be returning.
But NOW that has changed!

Question again, how easy is it to get a French Passport?

trunnie

308 posts

264 months

Sunday 26th June 2016
quotequote all
To answer your question then Google nationalite francais. Basically unless you have married a French national (which I have) then 5 years residency, competence in the language and a clean criminal record.

Nobody would describe France as perfect, it does however still offer a better standard of life than the UK - and I work in Paris and live in a suburb.

To anyone who thinks waste of public funds is an EU speciality then I suggest that you haven't worked in the UK public sector.

Terryg4

Original Poster:

233 posts

105 months

Sunday 26th June 2016
quotequote all
Thanks Trunnie, my wife is fairly fluent but I struggle, if she applies and gets one , do I receive one automatically?

Cheers
Terry