The French embassy in Cameroon has defended the tightening of financial requirements for Cameroonian students applying to private French institutions. The diplomatic mission attributes this decision to a surge in fraudulent applications detected through the Campus France system.
During a press briefing in Yaoundé on July 16, Muriel Piquet-Viaux, Advisor for Cooperation and Cultural Action, highlighted that irregularities include falsified bank statements, manipulated financial documents, counterfeit identity papers, and inaccurate supporting evidence. Consular authorities emphasized that enhanced verification protocols have been implemented to scrutinize all submitted documents.
Under the new regulations, Cameroonian students admitted to private French institutions must either provide proof of full tuition payment or demonstrate sufficient financial resources before visa issuance. For those who have already paid a deposit, the embassy clarified that procedures will vary by institution but assured that blocked funds will be released once the visa is approved.
Cameroon is currently the only African country affected by these stricter visa conditions for French student permits, a move that has drawn significant concern and opposition from affected families.
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