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Aid for apartment for non EU citizens


Stefan

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A friend of mine who is a French citizen has told me that if I come on a student visa to France, I will receive aid on my rent.

I would like to know for sure if this is true.

Does anyone know the answer or can someone point me somewhere where i can find the answer for certain?

 

Thank you in advance!!!

-Stefan

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Students here in full time education are able to claim both CROUS and CAF for their bourse needs but it is dependent on the family income if they are still with their parents. Not sure about non EU citizens as I say it is means tested and to what you will receive (I know full well because for the past three years my daughter has been in receipt of these grants for her continued education). All you can do is apply online to the CROUS site for the town/city where you wish to study and they will ultimately decide for you if and what you may be entitled to although without putting anything into the pot first it may be refused point blank. French people are not always sure of their facts I can tell you that where benefits and such are concerned as the goal posts are continually being moved to take new factors into account. You will also have to subscribe into a student health scheme such as SMEBA.
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Non-EU students are unable to get a bourse from le CROUS (as there are residency requirements of at least two years), but you are able to claim the CAF, ie housing assistance.

Are you the same Stefan who's been emailing me? If so, you should know that how much money you get from the CAF is based on your age (and not only your income), and it starts dropping significantly after the age of 26.  So if you're 30, I wouldn't count on getting much more than 50-75€ or so per month (let's say for a rent of 300€ per month), while someone under 25 could get up to 200€.

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Yep, its me. =)

I have been doing beaucoup research regarding this... the process has been very frustrating to date and I am VERY happy that you two have been returning my emails!!!

 

I have to find an appartment tres vite... And I would like to know what steps I need to take in order to secure the appartment, and get any aid that might be available to me?

 

I am about to receive my pre-registration from l'ecole dans Aix en Provence. I will apply for my student visa very soon. My main thing now is making sure I have a place to lay my head when I arrive.

 

-Stefan

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I agree with Lori, I just looked and there are several "résidences" suggested on their website.  I'd start contacting them right away and see if they have anything available.  Or why not try looking on anyone of the roommate sites (craig's list, etc)?  You might have a hard time finding logement before you leave - in that case, you're better off booking a hotel or a hostel for at least a week. 

Finding an actual apartment will also be hard because landlords normally insist on you having a French garant, ie someone in France who will write a letter saying they will pay your rent in the case you cannot.  Another thing to think about is that with an apartment, you will need to put down three months rent before you even move in (two for the deposit and one for the first month), so you're looking at already 1000€ minimum before you've even set foot in the place.  Not to mention all the furniture and whatnot that you will have to buy.   I really think you're better off going with one of the résidences.

As for the CAF, that's a process that you start after arriving here.  Once you have a place to live, you will need to go see them and fill out an application and have your landlord fill out some paperwork as well.  Then, everything will be on hold until you get your carte de séjour.  Just so you know, it can take up to 4-5 months to start receiving help, but like I said before, in your case it probably won't be much anyways.

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