Play all audios:
STAFFING LEVELS HAVE BEEN “SIGNIFICANTLY” INCREASED AT THE BRITISH CONSULAR SERVICE TO GIVE EXTRA HELP TO BRITONS LIVING IN FRANCE DURING THE BREXIT PROCESS. It expects to spend more time
helping with_ carte de séjour _application issues as these become obligatory. This means more focus on residents rather than visitors and comes after years of the consular service being
slimmed down in Europe, with investment further afield. Olaf Henricson-Bell, head of politics and communication at the British Embassy Paris, said: “We are expecting an increase in inquiries
and requests for assistance and in the complexity of some of our consular cases, due to Brexit, so we are increasing capacity. “That includes both our core consular capacity and
call-handling and people working on policy areas related to British citizens.” The embassy has also been working to improve the ways it keeps Britons informed, he said, including working
with mairies. The ambassador recently spoke at a conference of mayors. It is also working with the French government to help it communicate clearly to the British community, he said.
Outreach meetings will continue next year (see _tinyurl.com/yb22ay3u_) and it will hold regular discussions with representatives of British in Europe groups. The UK advises checking for
Brexit updates at tinyurl.com/travellingAndLiving , tinyurl.com/LivingFrance and tinyurl.com/FranceTravelAdvice.