Appointment at the Préfecture

Hi, just a quick update on the naturalization application.  I went today for my appointment at the préfecture and it went relatively quickly.  My husband had to be present.  The fonctionnaire took all my papers, but she wasn't enthusiastic about the photocopy of my father's birth certificate.  I told her that I have asked her colleagues by phone several times about not being able to provide an original copy, and it was also mentioned on their website that in some cases, photocopies of parent's birth certificates are accepted.  You can expect different informations from each fonctionnaires.  The other lady scratched one document off the list (of application dossier) and today this document was needed, our last income tax return.  I don't know if I've done enough so far, but it was a long process for me.  If I was born on a country where there was no war and easy access to civil registration, well the process would be a lot easier.  

Not a long time ago, you would have to hand in documents that are less than 3 months-old, which is impossible to do if you were born on a third world country.  Although things in Canada were not really fast either, for my criminal record, it took me more than 3 months to get it. (from finger prints at the Embassy and the waiting period from Ottawa). I'm glad that I made my application through a small "sous-préfecture".  The Préfeture in Lille is too crowded.  I can't imagine applying in Paris.  The fonctionnaire told me that they have only one naturalization application to process and it was mine, that's how small the sous-préfecture is, or maybe people are not in a hurry to apply for citizenship.

That's it for now, I will have to wait several months, or years?!  En tout cas, le sort en est jeté.

*fonctionnaire = public servant

It's about time for an update!

My husband asked when I will post something on my blog.  I've tried several times unsuccessfully.  Let's start with what I was up to since last December.  

A quick overview :

-A little get-away in the Netherlands for the new year.  My husband suggested Germany, but instead we went with "familiar", so Amsterdam it was.

-Then, we had a one-day trip to Paris to legalize my birth certificates, mine and my parents.  I got to visit the C.a.m.b.o.d.i.a.n embassy.  I can't believe that there was so many people lining up for a visa.  We then headed to the Canadian embassy, there was nobody and the security check was ridiculous excessive, similar to an airport.  I had to wait 30 minutes because some girl needed her birth certificate to be legalized.  She seemed in distress because she only had a copy of her birth certificate and not the original. Apparently, she wanted to apply for health care in France and they needed the document to be legalized.  When I first arrived in 2005, nobody asked for a legalized document, just a birth certificate and I had the "carte de séjour" rapidly.  We also slashed a tire on a sidewalk in Paris while parking (I was not driving), but managed to return home without a problem. Let's just say that my trip Paris didn't come cheap. And now our car needs to be checked too for its 65 000 km. So January is the month of spendings, with "les Soldes" (sales clearing), so I'm totally broke.  What a great way to start a year.

-The winter is really mild so I'm not complaining.  

-I drove 700 km so far, with my husband.  Two more months, and I can pass the driving test.  I am still struggling to park.  I have to stick a logo behind the car to let everybody know that I am a "learner".  And that encourages other drivers to be aggressive.  In Canada, we don't have to put a "learner" sign. 

-I have an appointment this Friday with the Préfecture to drop my naturalization application.  My husband has to come too because it is a naturalization by marriage. I'm annoyed by the whole process and I'm pretty sure they will ask for another ramdom document. 

So, that pretty much it for now.

ps: Here's a few pictures of Amsterdam, it was rainy and grey, but never boring.