I am a little reluctant to reply to this thread, but residency in the UK definitely requires 5 years. Not more.
Sorry, but Iâm a tad confused by your post as youâre not being very precise in your use of terms like 'legal residencyâbecause this depends on your current residential status. In the first instance, youâre either an illagal immigrant, or youâre not; however being in the first category isnât necessarily an obstacle to becoming a resident of France - surely the truth is that many 'illegal 'immigrants to France spurn this possibility for reasons of language, or having relatives already in the UK, or they believe it wil be easier to get a black market job there, or more and more often, it seems theyâre just working on simple misintformationi.
Secondly, Brits who were resident in France before 31/12/2020 could apply for the UE Carte de Sejourâs replacement, and become non UE residentq with a titre de sejour; this was regardless of how long theyâd previously lived in France. As far as I understand, after five years residency in France (as is still the case in the in the UK?) one can apply for citizenship, which is a diffenrent category to residency.
Lastly, like many others on SF, Iâm a now non UE resident of France, as opposed to being a French citizen, but even though I have to continue paying taxes here, Iâm unable to vote.
My South African wife got her UK citizenship and passport after five years residency; as far as I know that remains the case, providing you can pass the language an,d citizenship tests(!) and meet the minimum income requirements. Iâm not defending these criteria, merely pointing out that they differ from those in your post.
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I donât believe that there is a test required for residency other than meeting the criteria of having been present for sufficient time, paying taxes and having adequate income. Citizenship does require passing tests in the manner you describe, Mark, and from what youâve said elsewhere your wife is a British citizen, rather than just having residency status.
Yes, my wife is a now a British citizen, itâs just she no longer wants to be one!
Meanwhile Iâm continually amazed by how many Brits I encounter, whoâve been living in France for years and yet still donât understand the basis for terms like âtax residencyâ and ânationalityâ. And thereâs quite a few of those whoâve been tax resident in France for years, but have never filed a French tax return. If theyâve now got the new titres de sejour (non-CE) then there might be a reckoning next summerâŠ
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Legal residency means first titre de sĂ©jour. Many illegal people in France can apply for it, not everyone gets it though, depends on criteria which is 3 years you need to show 24 fiche de paie. And on 5 years you need to show 8 fiche de paie. However more the better. Plus your Intregation in the french society. Language etc etc. This isnât the case in UK. In UK you have to live 20 years illegal to qualify for legal residency. 10 years in France with contract de travail you can get legal residency. It makes more sense to give people legal residency. Then people not paying taxes and working in black jobs.
I doubt heâs been to Courpignac either Jane.
He describes it as a âbig townâ when in fact itâs a tiny place on the D730.
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Seems your description of Bazza could also fit the present incumbent of No.10.
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My sister in law sat yet another test a few months ago after travelling to London to do so.
She is Korean, has been in a relationship with my BIL since 2006, theyâre married, have a baby and a house, yet sheâs still not got permanent British status and isnât even allowed to have a job until sheâs been a full time resident for 5 years.
Iâm not sure whether other immigrants are treated so badly by uk? If they are, how on earth do they meet the income requirements?
This way for the Daily Hate bazza (Iâm sure thereâll be a place for you on the letters page):