Carte de sejour (that old chestnut...)

[Rob G]

Hi,

....or should I say "bonjour", as this is my first post since moving to

France at the end of November. It's taken that long to get a broadband

connection up and running. Anyway, that's another story....

My wife and I want to apply for a carte de sejour (titre de sejour). I

know that this is no longer a requirement for EC citizens, but that you

are entitled to one if you want one. We want one so that we don't have

to carry our valuable and expensive UK passports around with us as our

only officially acceptable ID. So yesterday, having armed ourselves

with passport photos, we went to our nearest sous-prefecture in Le

Havre (76) - whereupon we hit an administrative brick wall.

The problem appears to arise from the fact that I am not yet working in

France, but am seeking work. Apparently, there are two types of cartes

for EC citizens - one for those undertaking a professional activity

(i.e. working) and one for those not working. Since I'm not working at

the moment, I would have to apply for the second category. The lady

told me that I could have one of this, but would then not be entitled

to work in France.

The more I think about this, the more illogical it seems. We're living

in an age where equal rights across the EC mean that I can move to

France, live here, and choose whether or not to work, all without

requiring any special authorisation. Yet it seems that if I am given a

carte de sejour, which is not mandatory, this will then prohibit me

from working in France. The lady told us that the only thing to do is

wait until I have a signed contract of employment and then go back and

get an employed person's carte.

Just wondered if anyone can throw any light on this. Is what we have

been told correct, or is it just local erroneous interpretation of the

law?

Thanks,

Rob

[Teamedup]

In all the posts I have said that we are entitled to a carte de sejour if we fit the criteria for one and you have just hit upon something in the system. And I for one am not sure about the rights and wrongs of this.

First thing that comes to mind is are you registered with the ANPE?

My next thought is that I would phone the Ministre de l'Interieur and ask them, if they say different to your Prefecture then ask them to contact the Prefecture and sort it out with them.

I would also ask the British Consulate in Paris if they know of the rules pertaining to this.

 

That is what I would do.

 

Also there are organisations that deal with les etrangeres and their rights and they may know, although they may be a little surprised that un anglais is in touch with them.

Our rights are on these pages:

 

http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F2651.xhtml

 

http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F2653.xhtml

[Nick Trollope]

A CdS (or TdS), of any type does not allow, or prevent a EC citizen from working/not working in France. If you see what I mean...

[Teamedup]

In theory that is right NT, but if you have one that specifically says you can't and one does, who knows how one could end up being embroiled in french law.