International students in France may have to gear up for some big regulatory changes in the country’s immigration law soon. The French government is tightening up the rules and conditions for foreigners to stay, study and work in France.
The French parliament recently approved a revised law that includes harsher rules for foreign visitors to the country. The introduction of a deposit required at the time of student visa application is one of the biggest changes for overseas students.
The deposit mentioned is to be returned to the foreigner when he or she leaves France upon the expiration of the residence permit, in the event of renewal of the residence permit or in the event of obtaining another residence permit with a change of reason.
The amount of security is still unclear but the bill mentions that it is definitively withheld when the foreigner has evaded the execution of a removal decision.
The refundable deposit rule could be waived off in the case of low-income foreigners and if the excellence of the student’s academic or university career justifies it.
Another key change is about the welfare benefits. Before being eligible for welfare benefits like child care, citizens of non-EU member states who work in France must demonstrate that they have been there for 30 months. Benefits will not be available to foreign nationals living in France unless they work for five years.
Further, non-EU foreigners who do not have a residency or work permit but operate in regions or businesses struggling to find workers, such as restaurants, construction, and agriculture, can apply for a residency and work permit. The foreign worker must have lived in France for at least three years and worked for at least 12 months (not necessarily consecutively) in the previous two years to be eligible.
Finally, after obtaining the right to live in France, foreign nationals must wait a minimum of 24 months (up from the existing 18 months) and provide proof of a steady source of income and health insurance before they can apply for family members to join them. Spouses who wish to travel to France must be at least 21 years old instead of the present 18 under law.
The government is required to submit an annual report to parliament reviewing its immigration policies. This report must include detailed information on the number of immigrants and asylum seekers, the number of residency permits granted or denied, the number of approved family reunifications, the number of illegal immigrants deported or expelled, and the number of immigrants who have obtained French nationality.
The French Constitutional Council still has to adopt the new proposed immigration law, and provisions may be added or withdrawn during this process.