Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 Embassy of France in India

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 France and the EU – Geography, Economy, Politics Departure Visa Budgeting Packing Arrival in France Living in France – Lifestyle as an Indian

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 GEOGRAPHY  Second largest country in Europe  65 million people  2/3 France is mountains and hills  Cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean  Coastline: km (metropolitan)

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 ECONOMY  World's 5th and Europe's 2nd largest economy by GDP  Leading Industries: Telecommunication Defense & Aerospace Ship building Pharmaceuticals Construction Chemicals Textiles Automobile

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 ECONOMY  39 of the 500 biggest companies of the world  World's second largest agricultural exporter  1/3 of all agricultural land within the EU  World's # 1 tourist destination (79.5 million international tourists in 2011)  Paris – most visited city in the world  World's 18th country by GDP per capita (IMF, 2011)

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 POLITICS  Democratic Republic  Presently running 5 th Republic (1958) Local Representatives President Government Prime MinisterMinisters Parliament National Assembly Senate Regional Council General Council Municipal Council Citizenry Constitutional Council

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 VISA – Long Stay Student  Visa type: « Visa long séjour valant titre de séjour » ~VLS/TS catégorie D~ After Arrival in France:  OFII Form to be sent to prefecture (within 3 months of arrival in France)  Medical exam at local OFII center  Vignette OFII Stamp on your passport After this, the visa allows:  Travel in European Union Territory  Work up to 20 hours per week Renewel – after one year, Titre de Sejour to be applied for Visa OFII Stamp

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 Renewal of VISA (2 nd year of Study)  Instead of Visa, student needs « Titre de Sejour Temporaire » 3 months before expiry of Visa:  Contact local “Prefecture” for Renewal Prefecture provides:  « Récépissé » Receipt of Application for Temporary Titre de Sejour  Récépissé + Passport = Valid to travel to- from France Titre de Sejour Temporaire Récépissé

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 Important Documents  Passport  Birth certificate  Academic records  Medical records  Address book  Photographs  Note: Leave an entire set of photocopies with your family.

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 Budgeting  Living expenses: ~ 600 to 800 € /month  Accommodation  Health Insurance  Books & Supplies  Transport  Telephone  Postage  Personal Expenses  Incidentals  Recreation & Travel

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 Packing  Airline Baggage Allowance  Packing list  Start early  Put clear and precise identification tags on your bags  Small items - airfreight / post  Shipping by sea is slow (less expensive)  Bilingual dictionary  Music  Food  Camera  Essential Medicines  Souvenirs

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 Arrival in France  Don’t forget to send OFII form  Inscription Administrative  Inscription Pedagogique  Electives  Time schedules  Open a Bank Account  Part time work APT (Autorisation Provisoire de Travail)  20 hrs /week in France

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 Useful Websites and Contacts  CampusFrance C/o Alliance Française de Delhi 72, Lodhi Estate, Lodhi Road, New Delhi Tel:   Embassy of France in India 2/50 E, Shantipath, Chankyapuri, New Delhi 

Pre-Departure Orientation Session 2012 Make a Successful Stay!  Be POSITIVE  Study, Travel, Network,  Be receptive  Be independent.  BON SEJOUR!