The French government has been accused of making some of its new language tests for foreigners seeking to stay in the country so hard even its own citizens would fail them, reports The Guardian.
An impact report on a new immigration law expected to come into force before the end of the year suggested the stricter requirements could lead to 60,000 people being refused permission to remain in France.
The tests, which cost around 100 euros (£83.20), are part of bill passed a year ago, that includes tighter border controls and tougher measures to expel foreign migrants. Ministers argue its primary aim is to promote greater integration of foreigners.
Until now, those applying for a carte de séjour - a document allowing them to remain in France – were required to sign an “integration contract” and promise to learn French. Only those applying for French nationality or long-term residency have been required to take a language test.
The law will require those applying for papers to have at least the level of French of a lower secondary school pupil, aged 11-15 years. Those seeking papers to remain for longer or for nationality applications will be required to show greater proficiency.
An investigation by FranceInfo suggested the levels required would challenge even native speakers. It sent 10 French volunteers, including a literature student with five years of post-baccalauréat higher education, to sit the tests those seeking French nationality will face. Five failed the written test but passed the oral, while two failed to reach a level necessary to obtain their own nationality.
Félix Guyon, of the Thot school that helps refugees and asylum seekers learn French, said: “The level is far too high for most foreigners who are seeking nationality or papers to stay for a long period in France.”
An impact report on the law for the upper house of parliament, the Sénat, suggested it would be applied to more than 330,000 people in the first year, with about 60,000 of them expected to fail the language tests and have their right to remain in France withdrawn.