Article 50, Brexit Renewal Cards

Any self respecting ‘ex-pat’, anywhere in Europe will be more than familiar with ‘Article 50’ and what it means whilst living in a European country. Essentially we all got a shield of steel like Batfink (remember that?!) when it came to our residency rights. If you were living in Europe before the UK exited the European Union, then your right to stay was more of less guaranteed and, as these cards come up for renewal, the process is fairly straightforward.

This cannot be said for those Britons that wanted to move after this date. I do believe it was 2020 when it should have been 2019 but in any case, most Brits living in France have either renewed their Carte de Séjour (residency permit) or in the process of doing so. They are then entitled to receive a 10 year one and not have to worry about it for a decade.

Read more: Article 50, Brexit Renewal Cards

Given that so many other nationalities have to jump through various hoops to get a 1,2,3 year card this is pretty darn good going. Can I also just say that the vote was in 2016 – that’s a decade ago. A decade of a whole load of crap for nothing. If you remember rightly the Brexiteers were throwing parties and proclaiming loudly that “We Won!” “Get Over It!” like it was some game of monopoly that was lost on Boxing Day. All those gobshites have gone a bit quiet haven’t they?! Mainly the ones that really wish they can just move to a European country without applying for a visa and what not. They have to suck it up on the promise land of NHS buses throwing out wads of cash and Spitfires flying past with ‘Stop The Boats’ out the back. Ironically many can’t conjure up a sentence in French and enjoy the socialist values citing better health care and roads. Somewhat ironic or tragic you decide.

A little walk around Cerisy la foret was in order followed by a very tasty Indian lunch

And then the poor buggers that didn’t vote for it wishing they had sold up in 2017 (luckily like we did no smugness intended – I actually thought we’d get to keep our EU rights by being here but overall it was a good bet to hedge).

Now the Brexiteers are saying “if they’d known..” maybe if they had watched the various University Lectures on what would happen…anyhow, there are plenty that voted and then decided to come over and have their 10 year carte de séjour. And in my best Forrest Gump voice..that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

I won’t go over the hassle it is to navigate Brexit with children when they turn from 17 to 18 as I wrote about it this post. I also touched on it in my imaginary French Administration Badge post. But I will add that:-

• European student loans are not available.
• Guarantees required for rental apartments – hassle as a non EU resident.
• Standard online forms cater specifically to foreign students who have recently moved to France, which is totally different from those who have completed their education in the country.

As I have always said the impact on this shit show has always been the youngsters out here not the second home owners and the persons who looked to retire here where a high demographic voted for it in the first place.

So, having applied for my eldest two children who were born in January and February (uni applications are in April) I had a cunning plan. As my youngest is a May baby I could already foresee the hassle of him approaching 18 whilst applying for Uni and the requests for a carte de séjour that he technically does not need.

I thought what if I could get in early..like now.

The only way you can get your 16 year old a permanent CDS under the Brexit agreement is if they wish to work. Now, this isn’t wrong – my youngest does want a summer/Saturday job. He can legally work at 14 but there are strict rules and what not as there is for a 16 year old. As I understand it, they can only work a maximum of 8 hours a day and I believe the week if they have school.

We come under the préfecture of the Manche department 50 who I have to say have a glowing reputation for processing these cards. I will put a link to a Facebook group at the bottom. I wrote to them and asked if I could apply for my son. Initially I was told no but then I quoted their own rules which says my son can if he wants to work.

So, I was sent a form to complete for him (emailed) and the various documents to support this. This included a school report from when we first arrived to prove how long he’d been here, a bill for his mobile phone, photos etc and a handwritten note from him to say he wished to work.

This was duly posted (signed for – always signed for with this type of stuff also keep a copy of everything you have sent) and I then asked if they could process mine seeing as mine ran out in November. They were surprisingly happy to do so.

As I had got divorced in the meantime I sent them all the divorce stuff and highlighted the part where I was ‘allowed’ to keep my legal married name. I debating about asking if someone that has had 3 baliffs, pays nothing towards his kids etc, has a police complaint registered, claims unemployment benefit whilst documenting his development of a property entitles someone to a CDS but thought nah! I jest. I am sure my ex doesn’t need or hasn’t even mentioned he’s divorce. Anyhow, my card has my maiden name then div and my married family name. This is fine and dandy as it corresponds to my passport and I ain’t paying to have that changed or pay to have my name changed by deed poll. I have no allegiance to my married name it is just easier like this and I’ll change it if I ever get married again and not before. I digress.

I was sent the digital link which was super easy to fill out – you need to put your parents names and date of birth and provide the normal paperwork eg facture and proof of when you arrived I used my urssaf attestation of my business inception.

We then got a date to go up for fingerprints – as ever, we were seen before the actual time and out in 5 minutes. Two weeks later from our application, a week later to go up and get our cards. These can be collected without a RDV on a Monday and Thursday between 8.30 am and 10.30 am. So that we did and to my barely concealed delight, my 16 year old has a 10 year permanent carte de séjour as there were a few naysayers that said he would only get a temporary etc.

Now I know that it is hit and miss across the country but I was told that this happened at my prefecture. A temporary card given.

I would also like to say, because I can on here, that sometimes it really is about how you position yourself some are too accepting of what you are told (never take no as gospel grind them down until you have the answer you want), some give up too soon, some wait too long. If you’ve asked for a card or whatever and you did not hear for 4 months, sorry but that’s your look out. You have to nag, chase, and repeat. What would you accept in your home country? Apply the same logic. So yes, I do get that sometimes you just can’t crack the code but 9 times out of 10 you can so you must try harder.

What do you think? Am I being too harsh? I was speaking to a friend the other day and he agreed we now just shrug at anything that as thrown at us. We also agreed that Brexit has made life more labour intensive and to be in our gang you have had to have got your administration badge as well. A flat tyre on a country lane is entry level.

You have been reading Our Normandy Life!

Facebook Group for all info on applying for you 10 year CDS under Article 50 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1214134159941769

Direct email address for the préfecture in Manche 50 pref-brexit-sejour@manche.gouv.fr

Rules that apply for a minor applying for a CDS

– si le demandeur, âgé entre 16 et 18 ans, demande un titre de séjour car il souhaite exercer un stage
ou une activité professionnelle (article 8 du décret du 19 novembre 2020) : dans ce cas, il sera
exigé la production d’un écrit dans lequel le demandeur déclare vouloir exercer une activité
professionnelle.

Form that you will need from Manche 50

PREMIÈRE DEMANDE DE CARTE DE SÉJOUR

POUR L’ENFANT D’UN BRITANNIQUE BÉNÉFICIAIRE DE L’ACCORD

DE RETRAIT OU DE SON CONJOINT

• ARRIVÉ EN FRANCE MINEUR
  (demande à déposer avant le 19ème anniversaire)
• ENTRÉ APRÈS LE 31/12/2020

Renouvellement des titres de séjour « Article 50 TUE/Article 18(1) Accord de retrait du Royaume-Uni de l’UE » valables 5 ans arrivant à expiration

Link that you will need as an adult https://demarche.numerique.gouv.fr/commencer/renouvellement-des-titres-de-sejour-article-50-tue-20