French parliament ratifies amended immigration law to check overstays and crime

One significant change is the introduction of a new 'fee' that students must fulfill to qualify for student status.

The amended legislation, which includes stricter measures for non-nationals in France, mandates a fee for those seeking a student visa.

Although the specific amount of the deposit remains unspecified, its purpose is to cover unforeseen expenses that may arise during the students' period of stay.

The deposit is scheduled to be refunded upon the expiration, renewal, or obtaining a new French residency permit with a different title or status.

Nevertheless, the deposit will be irrevocably forfeited if the student is discovered to have avoided compliance with a removal order.

The legislation will enforce a rise in tuition fees for students hailing from non-EU countries, according to information from the French publication Le Parisien.

It also stipulates that students holding multi-year residency permits must annually furnish proof of enrollment in a 'real and serious' study program.

While the immigration law presents obstacles for immigrants in accessing certain benefits like housing aid, it's important to note that international students are exempt from this particular modification.

They can still avail themselves of housing benefits under their student visa.

However, the legislation does introduce heightened challenges for immigrants looking to bring their family members to France.

It extends the residency requirement from 18 to 24 months and raises the age threshold for unmarried partners from 18 to 21.

This mirrors a larger trend, as the UK recently instituted a prohibition on international students bringing dependents, effective from January 1.

It's worth mentioning that the immigration law is currently awaiting approval from France's constitutional council.

During this process, certain aspects of the law may be modified or removed.