Passport Requirements:

All students will need a passport, valid for six months beyond their date of return to the US. First time applicants can apply at any Passport Acceptance Facility. Routine processing time is approximately 6 weeks. Students should allow ample time to do this, as a valid passport will be required to obtain a visa.

Visa Requirements:

A long stay visa is mandatory for all non-European Union students planning to participate in the Georgia Tech Lorraine Fall and/or Spring Programs in France.

Step 1:  Mandatory online registration with the French Embassy: Campus France Registration
Upon completion of the registration, the student will receive a confirmation message to their Campus France account, authorizing him/her to apply for a visa.

Step 2:  A $70 Campus France registration fee must be submitted to Florence Stoia  (GTL’s Atlanta Administrative Manager) . Please make arrangements directly with Mrs Stoia. The only form of payment accepted is a money order, written out to Campus France. The student’s  Name and Campus France registration number must appear on the money order. (How and where to get a Money Order) Previously, students in Atlanta have used the Publix at Atlanta Station, the Post Office or Western Union to get a money order. Some banks also provide them free of charge.

Step 3:  Purchase the mandatory Medical and Repatriation Insurance from TW Lord. The cost of the insurance is $1.10 per day, and meets the requirements to obtain a visa: minimum insurance coverage amounts and repatriation and evacuation clauses.   The coverage dates must be identical to the dates on the student’s plane ticket.  Upon receipt of the student’s payment, TW Lord will issue the document to be included in the visa application packet.

Step 4:  Online appointment for the student visa application. Students must schedule an appointment strictly within 60 days of departure.  The student’s personal appearance at the consulate is required for finger printing purposes. Schedule an Appointment (Note IE should be used for compatibility purposes)

Visa Application Packet

The following documents must be included in the visa application packet and with you when you go to your Visa Appointment at the consulate.

- Official checklist must be on top of your application packet and the items must be checked off.

- The confirmation email from Campus France allowing you to apply for the Visa ('Congratulations...')

- The OFII Form / Residence Permit Application Form
Fill out the top portion only. This form will be stamped by the consulate and returned to you with your visa. This stamped document is an essential part of the application for the residency card, which is mandatory once you arrive in France.

- A valid passport (valid for 6 months after the student's planned return date)

- Two copies of the passport page containing the student's Personal Information and Passport Number

- Two Long Stay Visa Application Forms. If you need help to fill out this form, please contact Florence Stoia. Your contact in Metz will be Katia Menard. The GTL address: 2 rue Marconi, 57070 Metz, France. The Phone Number :  03-87-20-39-39. E-mail: kmenard@georgiatech-metz.fr

- Non-US Students only: copies of all Immigration Documents (e.g. green cared, signed I-20--check signatures on p.2, J-1, or other US visa, etc.)

- Two recent passport-type photos (see precise photo requirements)

- Proof of financial support: students needs to prove that they have at least a balance of $820 for each month they will spend in France (i.e. $820 X number of months in France)
Accepted documents: recent personal bank statements scholarship award, parent(s) recent bank statement with a letter of guarantee (attesting their relationship to the student and clearly stating that they will provide $820 per month for their son/daughter)

- Insurance letter from TW Lord

- Copies of your Student ID card and Driver's License if applicable

- Letter of participation from Florence Stoia

- A copy of your travel itinerary

- Visa Application Processing Fee (cash payment only).
View the current Long Stay Visa Application Fee (French Consulate web site), subtract $70.00 from the total for the fee already paid to Campus France.

The consulate will notify students when their visas are ready for pick-up. If a student cannot return to the Consulate to retrieve the passport, visa and OFII form, a prepaid self-addressed FEDEX or UPS envelope must be submitted.

Graduate students planning to go to Georgia Tech Atlanta
Students going to Georgia Tech Atlanta must contact Isabelle Hindre for the visa application procedure.

The visa application to go to the USA is totally different than the application  to go to GTL-France.