Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone reads this who can give us some advice.
My husband and I recently migrated to France (10months). We are in the midst of trying to exchange our Drivers Licenses to French ones, nothing major. For me, the exchange is no problem as I have a New Zealand passport with a Titre de séjour. My husband, born and living in NZ for the past 35 years has a French mother and hence a french passport (therefore no titre de séjour).
He now needs a Certificat de résidence to prove he lived in NZ.....which he does have, but we only registered him as a french living outside NZ since 2011 (done as part of preparation for our move here.(There had been no need prior to this). BUT.....his driver's license is dated 2000 - when he sat the test initially.....Voilà! The certificat de residence we have is not valid!!
On speaking to the french embassy in NZ to get the appropriate document, they have asked for his passports stamped for departure from NZ or arrival in France.....
The trick is.....My husband left NZ on NZ passport....(NZ customs asked for the NZ passport) No stamp on departure. He arrived in France on French passport (on a one way ticket it is impossible to enter france on his NZ passport without a visa). No stamp on entry. And now, no record of his movements.
On his numerous trips between the two countries this is the same practice that he has followed....on advice and regulation of customs....but now we realise that in fact there is no evidence of where he has been or when (despite the horrible idea of tracking down schooling/university/rental papers from his entire life).
This aside, we have two daughters who also have french passports, they also have no stamps (record of departure/arrival between the two countries). Should I worry that the system doesn't seem to have any idea of where my family is....or should I count my blessings and hope that it doesn't catch up and bite us later. After 12 months of paperwork I have an (ir)rational fear of the French system......and i'm a little nervous about this one!!
Anyone out there experienced this....?? Please help!!