France Work VISA

France Student VISA requirements and application procedure

 

Are you one of those students who have decided to study in France and live in a non-EEA/EU country you are on the right page. If you are from an EEA/EU country you will not require a student’s visa to study in France. For other nationals let us have a look at some details about the French student’s visa.

 

1. Decide a study plan:

It is extremely important to have a study abroad plan when you first decide to study in a foreign country. If one wants to study in France, it is crucial that you know which course you want to pursue, which colleges you will apply to, which intake is suitable for you. Once you start applying to universities, you will receive an admit from the universities which have are ready to recruit you. Once you accept an admit, you will soon receive an acceptance letter from the university. The acceptance letter is an important document for visa purposes. 

 

• Schengen short-stay student visa: This visa is issued for a duration of up to 3 months. It can be applied by students who want to pursue short-term programs or usually some language courses. You can renew the visa when it expires and it is not required to be accompanied by a residence permit. However, there is a limit to its renewal. 

 

• Temporary long-stay visa: This visa is issued for a duration of 3 to 6 months. You cannot renew this visa. You will require a residence permit along with this visa.

 

• Long-stay visa: This visa is valid for the whole duration of the program. It covers 3 years of bachelor, 2 years of master’s or 4 years of Ph.D. courses or any other course. It is called the VLT-TS and considered as your residence permit, hence you do not need a separate residence visa. 

 

 

3. Details of application:

A student visa can be obtained from campus France or a French Consulate in your country. Campus France promotes higher education in France and has a local office in almost all countries. Registering with Campus France is required by a few countries to apply for a student visa. On the official website of the French Consulate in your area, you have to schedule an in-person interview or make an appointment. The availability of slots and dates will help you choose the right time for you to attend the interview. The date of the appointment should be scheduled at least 90 days before you leave for France. For a visa to be issued it takes around 5 to 7 business days or a little longer in a few rare circumstances.  

 

4.  French language requirements for a student visa:

While applying to a French school, most schools require you to provide proof of your French language proficiency and also your English language proficiency. Since you have an acceptance letter from the university at the time of visa application means that your language skills have been verified as required by the school. Hence the consulate will not ask for a separate proof for the same when you apply for a student visa. 

 

5. Some important documents to be kept ready are:

• A valid passport

• Visa application form

• Recent photographs

• Enrolment and Acceptance letter from your university

• Documents for accommodation arrangement

• Airline ticket/reservation 

• Financial documents showing (around 620 EUR/ month) enough resources to pay for your expenses while you are studying in France

• Medical insurance that might cost between 350 - 725 EUR per year

• French language proficiency certificate

• Proof of nationality

• Receipt of visa application fees

 

6. Residence permit in France:

In the 1st year of studies, one may only require the student which will be considered as proof of residence. When a student first arrives in France, he needs to register at the local French office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) after 1 month of arrival. They will also ask you to take a medical clearance examination to validate your visa. If you have plans to extend your stay after 1 year, you must apply for an official French residency card. It is known as 'Titre de séjour' or most commonly called the Carte de Séjour (CDS).

 

7. Working while studying as an international student in France:

Every international student can work while studying only if they fulfill certain conditions. Officially students are permitted to work part-time (around 60% of regular job hours for a year) only if they have a valid residency permit. When applying for employment opportunities, you must inform the employer that you are an international student. University jobs are the safest from the perspective of visa regulations, justice to study time, academic and work time balance, experience exposure, etc. Students can also work during vacations and summer breaks for regular working hours.

 

 

How do we help you with your visa applications?

 

If you are a Whizstorm student, and you are being recruited by any university or college for your higher education abroad, our experts will provide you with the latest information and at all times keep you updated about your visa application process and status. They will help you locate and gather all the documents required by the authorities. They will assist you to prepare for the visa interview and make you feel confident before you take the interview. You can take a mock interview that takes away all the nervousness about the interview. Whizstorm experts will ensure that your visa process is hassle-free and eliminate the risk of any complications.