Julie's French Nationality

Julie's French Nationality

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UPDATE: Here's my entire timeline, from sending the dossier to the official celebration - Montpellier/34, American, by marriage:

• January 31, 2020 - mailed dossier
• June 30, 2020 - dossier accepted (préfecture closed for 2-3 months due to COVID-19). Letter arrived July 4th 🙂
• February 4, 2021 - préfecture entered my déclaration
• February 9, 2021 - letter arrived with date for my préfecture interview. No gendarme visit.
• April 8, 2021 - préfecture interview. Sent to SDANF quickly, ministerial number 2021DX006... I did not get an automatic email. 
• July 15, 2021 - officially French! (I only found this out later; it's on my French birth certificate)
• July 27, 2021 (3 1/2 months after the interview) - on the electoral rolls! 
• August 5, 2021 - email that my birth certificate is available
• August 20, 2021 - received my online birth certificate (email notification)
• September 7, 2022 - appointment with mairie for ID and passport (I made the pre-demande 3 weeks before)
• October 1, 2021 - picked up ID and passport
• October 22, 2021 - Ceremony and Welcome to French Nationality; received my declaration of French nationality.

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Timeline to Apply (Submit Dossier)

My initial check of the requirements was actually in 2010, at the French embassy in Costa Rica. The consulate told us that there was a new law coming into effect in January 2011. From that point onward, I would have to prove that my level of French was to the B1 level; the only proof acceptable at that time was the DELF language certificate. He also said that because he was born abroad, Rick would have to get a Certificate of French Nationality (CNF) before I could apply as his spouse.

Fast forward to 2017 - I was a new resident of France, and knew that I needed to prove a French level of A2 or better for my titre de séjour (residence permit) renewal. So, I took the DELF B1 test (the diploma is good for life) in October 2017, knowing I could use it for both my residence and my nationality dossiers. (details here)

In early 2019, I got serious about collecting required items. I joined an online forum for people applying for French nationality, and learned all sorts of things!  Each préfecture has its own way of doing things, so I made sure to get the Hérault information. Because I have not lived in France for more than 10 years, I have to include police reports from both the USA and Costa Rica.

I started to gather the documents that didn't expire. I knew that my California marriage certificate included our birth dates and birth places, so I hoped the same for my parents'. My parents sent me their marriage certificate, but it didn't show birth dates! So, my list had to include their birth certificates instead. My new long-term list was:
   DELF diploma (done 2017)
   Rick's CNF
   my birth certificate, certified, with apostille
   parents birth certificates
   FBI report
   Costa Rica police report
 
March/April 2019
- my parents seemed happy to collect all the birth certificates and mail them; all told, these took about a month, plus 2 weeks for the mail to reach me in France. They mailed them from California April 29, and I received them May 11.
- a friend in Costa Rica agreed to pick up my police report there and mail it to me. But I still had to find out how to order it. I asked about this on my nationality forum, and was told that (probably) the Costa Rican embassy would arrange it for me. A friend here in Sète helped me to write emails to ask for details. (details here)
- after a lot of research and corresponding anxiety, it was clear that I had to get my fingerprints taken to get the FBI report. I found myself putting off doing this :-\
- we found details on how to get Rick's CNF, and sent off for the supporting documents.
- we made sure we had all our bills in both names; I called our electric company to fix Rick's name, and had a nice surprise! I fully expected to stumble through the call in French, but then they found someone who spoke English for me - et voilà!

May 2019
- We still hadn't received the French documents needed for Rick's CNF, so he re-ordered them (expected in 10 working days)
- I requested my police report from Costa Rica, and was told it would be ready the 15th (everyone involved is a little bit skeptical, but we'll see)
- My parents' birth certificates and my birth certificate with apostille arrived. The very good news is that the apostille is already in English, Spanish, and French! So that's one less page that requires a translation.

June 2019
- Amazingly, my police report arrived from Costa Rica, well within the expected 2 weeks!

August 21 2019
Went to the Tribunal d'Instance in Montpellier to request Rick's CNF. They wanted more documents. We went home and ordered them.
Meanwhile, we found out that we have to move! This adds more than a little wrinkle to our timeline!

October 24 2019
Rick's updated documents came. They are now taking 9 weeks (instead of 10 days)!

October 30 - Returned to tribunal. They indicated that we should have the CNF in 8 weeks.

November 20 2019 - I started my request for the FBI report. Attempted fingerprinting... gave up...

October/November 2019 - We moved, and had to start collecting new justificatifs de domicile. I also had to update my carte de séjour. (details here)

December 26 2019 - Rick's CNF is ready! We have an appointment to pick it up January 2nd. I plan to ask for their help in fingerprinting me...

January 2 2020 - picked up Rick's CNF! (details here) Asked about fingerprinting; it's a no go at the tribunal, but the police station will do them!

January 3 2020 - got fingerprinted at the police station, and mailed them to the FBI (details here). I also double-checked the current requirements from the Hérault préfecture, to make sure nothing had changed. The only difference was they had fixed the link to the newest version of the request form, and added a line for an email address :-)

January 18 - FBI report came! The electronic version, that is. But many who have successfully completed this adventure used this version. As it turned out, the paper copy is exactly the same as our printed electronic version.
So, we sent off my foreign documents to translators for estimates.

January 30 2020
Translated documents arrived!
   all birth certificates + 1 apostille (3 + 1)
   both police reports (1 from Spanish, with apostille)
It's time! I gathered all those last-minute elements:
- We didn't need to order a new French marriage certificate, since we had ordered several for the CNF application
- I didn't need a new photo, since I had some for my Residence permit update
- We had colored paper left from the CNF application
- I needed to get 3 stamped, self-addressed envelopes, and a letter-suivi big enough to hold my full dossier; these are easy to get at the post office, so I'll get them when I mail my dossier.
- I bought the 55€ timbre (the fee) online, and printed out the proof
- We printed a whole lotta receipts from a whole lotta utilities, banks, rental agencies...

January 31 2020 - The big day is here! After a "calm" double-check of the contents, it's time to mail my dossier (For Montpellier, we have to mail the dossier in order to get an appointment). I decided to add a copy of my passport, to match the ID used for my Costa Rican police report. I also stopped at the bank to see if they could provide an attestation - no, there is no such thing, but I got simpler account proof, and even got them stamped!
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My complete Dossier, in order, separated by folded colored paper w/ content summary (to mail to Montpellier préfecture):
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cerfa numéro 15277*03
timbre fiscale 55€ (purchased online)
phone number
email address
1 photo (nom, prénom on back)
3 enveloppes (SASE)
1 lettre suivie (500g-1kg) (note the tracking number)
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original full birth certificate, translated, apostilled
parents' birth certificates, translated, photocopies (take originals to RDV)
marriage certificate (French, less than 3 months old)
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Rick's CNF (copy; take original to RDV)
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carte de séjour copy, front/back (take original to RDV)
récépissé for CDS address change
proof of communauté de vie - 2+ different recent justificatifs de domicile in both names:
   electric bill (2)
   rent contract, latest receipt
   internet contract (2)
   joint bank account attestation
---
criminal records - FBI report and Costa Rican report
- "extrait de casier judiciaire étranger" (translated; original)
- copy of my passport
---
DELF diploma (copy; take original to RDV)

My Dossier - 344 grams

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Possible problems:
- my Costa Rican police report includes my mother's name, but it is spelled wrong
- my birth certificate lists my father's middle initial, but his birth certificate does not.
- since we moved recently, we don't have the ideal document trail

Expected next steps:
x
- possibly have to resubmit (order a new French marriage certificate ASAP, as it can take 2 months)
UPDATE: on the 4th of July (LOL), I received the "acceptance letter," meaning I won't have to resubmit! Details here: http://slowtravelin.blogspot.com/2020/07/dossier-for-french-nationality-accepted.html
x
- study for interview
- RDV Montpellier préfecture, bringing updated documents
- gendarmes (police) visit

UPDATE: On February 9, 2020, I received a letter from the préfecture, giving a date in April for my interview! So far, no gendarme visit.  http://slowtravelin.blogspot.com/2021/02/julies-french-nationality-interviews.html
UPDATE: April 8, 2020 - We had a good interview, the gendarme visit didn't happen and is not necessary, and my dossier is complete! Details here: http://slowtravelin.blogspot.com/2021/04/julies-french-nationality-interview.html

x
Dossier is sent to SDANF for final dispensation/decision. Keep checking the tracking number of the lettre suivie that I included in my dossier.
Send email to SDANF to get ministerial number (tracking). Address: sdanf-accueil@interieur.gouv.fr Email title: prefecture number, surname, first name, date of birth, "état d’avancement de mon dossier"

UPDATE: June 28, 2021 - Both of these methods are now outdated! I didn't get any news automatically, but I was finally able to get my ministerial number:  https://slowtravelin.blogspot.com/2021/06/french-nationality-progress.html
x

- register to vote (UPDATE 2021 - this is automatic now)

UPDATE: July 27, 2021 - I'm on the electoral rolls! It's the first proof that I'm French!  (Still no email or letter, but that will come in time) 

https://slowtravelin.blogspot.com/2021/07/i-can-vote.html
- email/letter from préfecture announcing French Nationality

- order French birth certificate (may not need for mairie)
- pre-order ID and passport

UPDATE: I got an email on August 5, saying I was French, and that my birth certificate was available to order. I ordered it, and it arrived the 20th - this is when I found out that I had become French on July 15th! I pre-ordered my ID and passport, and made an appointment at the mayor's office to finalize the request. 
x
- go to Mairie to finalize request for ID and passport

UPDATE: September 7, 2021 - I had my appointment, took my photos (such as they are 🙄), and a copy of my birth certificate. They are supposed to be able to use an online version, but since I had a copy with me, they used it. They said the documents would be ready in about a month.
x
- receive documents

UPDATE: September 23, 2021 - mail! I am invited to a Ceremony and Welcome to French Nationality! It's at the préfecture, October 22 - I'll receive my declaration of French nationality.

UPDATE: October 1, 2021 - I picked up my ID and Passport! Details: https://slowtravelin.blogspot.com/2021/10/my-shiny-new-passeport.html
UPDATE: October 22, 2021 - my Welcome to French Nationality Ceremony! Details: https://slowtravelin.blogspot.com/2021/10/welcome-to-french-nationality-ceremony.html
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Timeframe as of Fall 2019
Montpellier accepts or returns dossier in about 2 months.
RDV for interview at the préfecture (take updated docs): 1-2 years from dossier accepted.
Nationality: 1-2 years from préfecture RDV.
It is sometimes shorter for application by marriage.

Important information
The préfecture makes the first evaluation and either gives a positive recommendation to the ministre, or rejects with reason.

Websites
http://www.herault.gouv.fr/Demarches-administratives/Demarches-etrangers/Naturalisation
http://accueil-etrangers.gouv.fr/acces-a-la-nationalite-francaise/
http://timbres.impots.gouv.fr/

~~~
Costs:
$100 - birth certs
$125 - CR police report
$31 - FBI report
200€ - translations (4 English, 1 Spanish)
55€ - timbre
21€ - miscellaneous (photo, envelopes, postage)
$0 - DELF (reused)
$25 - CNF (3 trips to Montpellier = 15+7€)
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$585 total

~~~

And Now...