I N S P I R I N G I N N O V A T I O N I I N N O V A N T E P A R T R A D I T I O N Reception Guide for Foreign Scientists ENGLISH VERSION March 2008
Do you wish to join us? Be welcome! Government services are here to help you through administrative steps. Wo are we? Contents Administrative steps 1.1) Before leaving a) Do you need a visa? Citizens of the European Union Citizens of European Union countries in a transitory regime Algerian citizens Citizens outside of the European Union b) Registering on the Kastler Foundation s website : FREE card for invited research worker (recommended) c) Opening a bank account d) Taking out an insurance 1.2) Arrival in France e) How to obtain a residence permit (if you stay more than 3 months) Citizens of European Union countries in a transitory regime Citizens outside of the European Union Dependants f) Medical check-up Living in France g) Housing h) Food i) Health care j) Moving around k) Entertainment l) Paying income taxes Recommended websites Correspondents Who are we? The Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint Etienne (ENSM.SE) and its current news can be found on the institutional website: www.emse.fr. Do not hesitate to consult the English pages.
Administrative steps 1.1) Before leaving a) Do you need a visa? More information >> http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/ NO for citizens of the European Union Free movement. The citizen of a country that joined the European Union before 1 May 2004 doesn t need a visa or a residence permit. Wo are we? International > accueil des étudiants étrangers > accueil des chercheurs étrangers > langues étrangères NO for citizens of European countries in transitory regime For the citizen of a country that entered the European Union between 1 May 2004 and 1 January 2007 doesn t need a visa. YES for Algerian citizens Algerian citizens cannot benefit from the reception procedure nor from a specific visa labelled «scientific research worker». You will be given a temporary employee visa. The employer has to complete «the procedure of introduction of the foreign worker in France» with the Regional Employment Office (Direction Départementale du Travail) and the International Migration Office. Duration of the formalities: 3 to 4 months. YES for citizens outside the European Union Receiving foreign scientists in France (outside of the European Union) has been simplified thanks to the reception procedure stamped by the préfecture and by the French host institution. Currently - with the 2006-911 Law Scientists with a Master s degree (or preparing a Master s degree) can benefit from this measure. In some specific cases, some countries are exempted from visa. What is the reception procedure of foreign scientists outside of the European Union? The ENSM.SE will provide you with the reception procedure about 1 month before your departure for you to apply for a visa to the French Consulate. Necessary documents to a visa - original copy of the reception procedure - 4 ID photographies - copy of the passport - documentary evidence of the financing of the residence in France - proof of residence - if the scientist is married, a marriage certificate or a family record book for registration of births and deaths - if he/she comes with one or several under-aged children, an extract of birth certificate with filiations or a family record book for registration of births and deaths.
Cost of a visa: - long stay (more than 3 months) D mention = 99,00 - short stay (less than 3 months) C mention = 60,00 For the spouse: Scientist visa. For the children: - If they have their own passport: apply for a long residence visa with a visitor mention for each child («voir carte de séjour des parents» mention). Only in this case, the child will have a right to the family allowances. - If they are inscribed on the passport of one of their parents: inscribe them on the father s visa application (or mother application according to the inscription on the passport), and make sure that there is the mention «+2 xs» on the visa (according to the number of children). - You should ask for a Document de Circulation pour Etrangers Mineurs (DCEM) so that the children can be allowed in France again in case you leave French territory. - For the children born in France, this document is called Titre d Identité Républicain (TIR). Wo are we? Advice: You are highly recommended to bring from your country these documents translated into French by an expert translator. Advice: If you come with your family, you have to inform the ENSM.SE about it as soon as you begin with formalities. All the members of your family who come with you have to apply simultaneously to the Consulate for their visas. b) Registering on the Kastler Foundation s website : FREE card for invited research worker (recommended) More information The services of the Centres de Mobilité Français will help you before, during and after your stay. >> http://www.fnak.fr Consult the guide of formalities and visit the website in order to benefit from the many services: preferential fees, insurance, language classes, meetings c) Opening a bank account If you haven t got a bank account in France, the opening of an account is part of the steps you have to undertake as soon as possible before your arrival. You should: - Ask your bank before your departure in order to know if it has branches in France or agreements with a French bank. - Ask the ENSM.SE that will open a bank account for you. Indispensable documents for the opening of a bank account : - Identity (passport, visa, residence permit) - a certificate of non resident: document which proves that the Scientist pays taxes in his own country..
d) Taking out an insurance How to benefit from a social security cover As you are a wage earner in France, you benefit from the national Social Security system as regards health expenses resulting from sickness and accidents. If you have a work contract, you benefit from sickness insurance and industrial accident, as well as your spouse and your children. It is also recommended: - To contribute to a complementary health insurance (Mutuelle) - see Kastler Foundation. - - To have a compulsorily Civil Liability insurance. If you are registered on the Foundation Kastler website, a valid offer has been negotiated everywhere in metropolitan France, covering the whole guarantees usually necessary to the residence of the invited research workers in France. A contract has been elaborated with the Cabinet ABC ASSURANCES and the AXA Groupe - Assurances. We think this offer is the most adapted as regards guarantees and prices. - Of course, you can subscribe separately to each insurance (medical costs, habitation costs, private insurance, or civil liability contract + private responsibility + assistance and don t forget school insurance)! - This offer is reserved both for the foreign research workers preparing a thesis or an equivalent, and for the research workers who have already obtained this degree. The Carte de Chercheur Invité number is required for the subscription. - - Make sure an assistance and precaution clause is included in your contract. More information http://www.ameli.fr/l-assurance-maladie/connaitre-l-assurance-maladie/ http ://www.fnak.fr 1.2) Arrival in France When you arrive, please arrange to meet the Human Resources Department: Fabienne DEMEURE demeure@emse.fr phone: +33 4 77 42 02 64 e) How to obtain a residence permit (if you stay more than 3 months) The application for a residence permit is initiated by the Human Resources Department of ENSM.SE. The applicant should not take any step beforehand. Citizens of European Union countries in a transitory regime A residence permit is necessary if you have obtained a Master certificate abroad. You don t need a residence permit if you have obtained the Master certificate in France. Citizens outside of the European Union The first application for a residence permit must be formulated in a delay of 3 months after the arrival in France. You have to collect the printed forms at the Human Resources Department.
Official documents necessary to present the application for a scientific residence permit: - The reception procedure stamped by the Prefecture - The original of the birth certificate translated into French or English (expert translator) - Copy of the marriage certificate if you are married - Copy of the MASTER certificate - Work contract as soon as you receive it - The insurance certificate - The proof of residence in France - The photocopy of your passport - The photocopy of your visa (or of the last residence permit in case of renewal of the application) - 3 identical ID photographies Dependants: - The Scientist s spouse obtains a «private and family life» residence permit that allows him/her to work in France (all activities). - Under-aged children don t need a residence permit till their majority (except for emancipation or paid activity at 16: case of the apprentices). Advice: For all the administrative documents required, you will have to present the original documents and give their photocopies. The original documents in foreign languages must be given with a French translation: only the ones made by expert translators will be accepted. More information You will find on www.service-public.fr all the information concerning your rights and steps in France. f) Medical check-up - The medical visit is compulsory with an expert doctor for the work contract (list transmitted by the Human Resources Department > you must give the medical certificate to the Human Resources Department. - You will receive notice of a meeting by the Agence Nationale de l Accueil des Etrangers et des Migrations (ANAEM) for a medical exam in order to obtain the residence permit > Certificate of medical control to transmit to the Human Resources Department.
Living in France In each host establishment, a correspondent is at your disposal in order to facilitate your demands. You will be transmitted the address details by Fabienne DEMEURE on simple request. g) Housing You will find on http://www.st-etienne-metropole.com and tourisme-st-etienne.com some information about housing aids, advice to help you set up, useful addresses, etc. You should find an accommodation before your arrival in France because you will be asked a written proof of accommodation for many administrative steps (residence permit, opening of a bank account). Nevertheless, if you have a problem to find an accommodation before your arrival, do not hesitate to choose a temporary accommodation solution (hotel, student hostel) to carry out all your administrative steps once you are in France. Before choosing an accommodation, make sure what your needs are (proximity of your workplace, quality/price ratio, type of accommodation you wish) and forecast a budget to pay charges annexed to your accommodation renting (lease, guarantee, charges not included in the rent, etc). When you move in, contact the following agencies in order to subscribe to: - Electricity/gas: RTE GET Forez Velay - 04 77 59 43 00 http://particuliers.edf.fr/141412i/edf-part/pages-transverses/foreignresidents.html - Water (Stéphanoise des Eaux): phone: 0 810 36 83 68 - Phone: you can choose between several phone companies such as France Telecom (phone: 10 14), Cegetel (phone: 0 800 959 959), etc. These calls are free. h) Food - France Telecom administrative restaurant for lunch (see the registration to the Human Resources Department or contact Michèle Pic : mpic@emse.fr) - Restaurants in Saint Etienne. More information > Tourist office: http://www.tourisme-st-etienne.com/
i) Health care You generally have to pay in advance for medical costs. Nevertheless, you will be refunded by your health insurance and your private insurance. You will find on www.ameli.fr all information and forms concerning social security, access to medical care and to prevention in France. The social security cover begins on the first day for a residence of more than 3 months. The Human Resources Department will make your application for a registration number to the Social Security (CPAM) for you. j) Moving around A Saint Etienne map is at your disposal on the ENSM.SE website: http://www.emse.fr/spip/-plan-d-acces-.html STAS transport (bus, tramways): http://84.96.79.222/images/stas%20plan%202007.pdf SNCF transport (trains) : http://www.sncf.com/index.php?lang=en_en Taxi: Radios Taxi - 04 77 25 42 42 k) Entertainment Saint Etienne metropole: http://www.st-etienne-metropole.com/spip.php Tourist office: http://www.tourisme-st-etienne.com/site_ang/index.htm Kastler Foundation: http://www.fnak.fr/index.php?setlang=e l) Paying income taxes Ask Fabienne DEMEURE demeure@emse.fr - +33 4 77 42 02 64
Recommended websites www.service-public.fr ("Etrangers en France» column) Information on the rights and steps for people living in France. www.ameli.fr Information on the social security cover together with online forms like certificates. www.finances.gouv.fr All the answers to the questions about taxation and ways to pay for the income tax. www.caf.fr Information on the access to the benefits. You can consult your personal file online. Forms are also at your disposal. www.travail.gouv.fr Loire s Prefecture: Direction départementale du Travail, de l Emploi et de la Formation Professionnelle (D.D.T.E.F.P) Correspondents Who to contact? - Fabienne DEMEURE Bureau du service des Ressources Humaines 158 Cours Fauriel - 42023 ST ETIENNE CEDEX 2 demeure@emse.fr Phone: +33 4 77 42 02 64 For any queries regarding? - Administrative assistance for the formalities about the arrival in France (obtaining or replacing the residence permit) - Employment return - Preparing the work contract - Interface between the laboratory and the wage earner - Contract management (vacations, sick leave, industrial accidents...) - Wages management - Employer s certificate - Welcoming correspondents in each entity For any queries regarding - Housing. - Organisation of your professional life. Download this document Print