Covid-19: Brazilian students banned from studying in France
The catastrophic health situation in Brazil makes this country a real pariah on the international scene, classified as a "red zone" by France.
Since April, it no longer issues visas to Brazilian students, since studying is no longer considered a compelling reason (illustrative image).
AFP - DAMIEN MEYER
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The catastrophic health situation in Brazil makes this country a real pariah on the international scene, classified as a "red zone" by France.
Since April, it no longer issues visas to Brazilian students, since studying is no longer considered a compelling reason.
Brazilian students and researchers are worried about this situation.
Publicity
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With our correspondent in Rio de Janeiro
,
Sarah Cozzolino
Leandro de Sousa should begin the process to return his apartment, leave his job, and collect the documents for the visa application.
But his entry into Master 2 at Clermont-Auvergne University next September is totally uncertain.
“
I really have the feeling that we are wasting time, and we have no guarantees,” he
says.
It hurts us because we don't even know how to organize our lives in the next few months.
It's not a simple change of life or a trivial move.
"
A situation that seems unfair to him, even though he will have received his two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine before his trip to France: “
We are prevented from entering France, regardless of our immunization condition.
We have the impression of being left without prospects while waiting for a possible improvement in the health situation in Brazil.
"
Student rights violated
Some 350 students and researchers are affected by this blockage, which violates the rights of Brazilian students, according to the prosecutor Roberto Livianu: “
We cannot admit that after having worked, spent their savings, and their time, students are accepted, then France simply tells them "no".
What would be acceptable is that the idea of the visa is already assumed.
"
Along with other students, Leandro claims that studying should be seen as a compelling reason for traveling to France.
They wrote a letter to the French government.
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