French applicants, please note:
My French friend received a last-minute request (from the Paris embassy) for an additional document:
"certificate of residence delivered by the local city hall"
The problem is that some people don't have any direct proof of residence (for example if they recently came back from working abroad for several years).
Furthermore, getting an appointment at the local city hall may take 10-15 days, meaning you can't leave the country for quite a while if that was your plan (I know you're not supposed to).
So be careful not to get caught in this limbo if you apply, or be ready to stay in France for a while 🤮
I believe a similar requirement also applies to German and Dutch applicants.
Good luck.