France has
joined other countries that have imposed immigration restrictions on
international students (including Nigerians) with new legislation that will
stop them from bringing their families to the country.
The law
passed by the parliament on Friday provides a new toughening immigration policy
that makes it more difficult for migrants to bring family members to France and
delays their access to welfare benefits.
It also
banned detaining minors in detention centres while leaders of a third of French
regions said they would not comply with certain measures in the law.
A
controversial provision discriminates between citizens and migrants, even those
living in the country legally, in determining eligibility for benefits.
This new
immigration policy means that just like the United Kingdom which imposed a
no-dependant restriction on international students in May, Nigerian students
are expected to look elsewhere for their Japa plans.
The UK
government’s decision came in response to the alarming surge in net migration,
which has reached a staggering one million individuals. A situation that meant
Conservative MPs had to call on the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to address
urgently and regain control over immigration figures.
Already,
Nigerian students, who have been among the largest contributors to the UK’s
international student community, have started to look at other alternatives in
the Europe zone with France considered. But with this new development, their
options are shrinking.
The other
route – skilled worker visa, seen as a better option to the UK, has experienced
some reshuffling as well.
Earlier in
December, new Home Secretary, James Cleverly, unveiled a set of new rules that
raised the minimum salary requirement for obtaining a skilled worker visa from
£26,000 to £38,700.
The figure
itself is more than the existing median average salary of a full-time worker in
Britain.
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He exempted
health and social care workers but said they would be prevented from bringing
family dependents.
Also,
overseas care workers will no longer be allowed to bring dependents (partners
and children), while migrants have to pay a 66 percent NHS surcharge increase.
According to
Cleverly, all of these were done to ensure immigrants “bring dependents whom
they can support financiallyâ€
Apart from
France and the UK, the government of Canada in December announced that starting
from January 2024, international students must show a new proof of funds,
₦16,050,000.0000 ($20,000).
The new cost
is more than double the current requirement of $10,000, an amount brought in
during the early 2000s that has not been adjusted since.
For 2024, a
single applicant will need to show they have $20,635, representing 75% of LICO,
in addition to their first year of tuition and travel costs.
The
government however announced the extension of the waiver on the 20-hour per
week work cap for international students until April 30, 2024.
This
extension applies only to students already present in Canada and those who
submitted a study permit application as of December 7th, 2023.newsguru
