Naturalisation is quicker than acquiring the nationality by marriage since they don’t have to verify the marriage itself. Also, applications from people who want/hope to go the naturalisation route but who are married to French citizens, are nonetheless sent through the “acquisition par mariage” process.

And the fact that you’re getting your citizenship within a year going through the préfecture is *quite* amazing. When I applied for mine (1997-1998), the Tribunale process was about 13 months, and about 5 years through the Préfecture de Paris.

It won’t affect my US citizenship at all. There are quite a few French-US dual citizens. Info here: http://www.frenchlaw.com/Immigration_Visas.htm
I’ll just have to be sure to use my US passport when travelling to the US, and my French passport pretty much everywhere else (French citizens have it a lot easier than US citizens in several countries…)

Does this mean you’ll be an official French citizen? If you don’t mind my asking, how will this affect your American citizenship? I’m guessing the US just won’t recognize your dual citizenship, but you wouldn’t have to give up you American one. Just curious how it all works.

Félicitations!
Heather

I was surprised, I didn’t have to answer any questions about “la République”. After some basic questions (education, do I live in a French or foreign part of Nice, do I have French friends, is the company I work for French), he just asked me why I want French nationality. I had prepared to say something like “j’ai envie de voter, avoir une voix, participer à la vie démocratique à tous les niveaux,” mais comme le monsieur était sympa, en fait j’ai pas réfléchi et j’ai juste sortie “parce que j’adore la France !!” …puis j’ai pensé, merde, il faut quand même que je justifie ça, ha :D Alors j’ai parlé des valeurs et comment les Français les mettent en oeuvre, à la différence d’autres pays, et cetera. Ca lui a plu, évidemment :)