Starting June 1, 2009, people with student visas ("visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour") for longer than three months are exempt from requesting temporary residence permits for the 1st year of their stay in France.
You are a student and you have this new type of visa: you still need to contact the Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration (OFII) upon your arrival to take a medical and have your visa approved as a residence permit.

You will have to pay a tax of €55 by purchasing an OMI stamp (or an ANAEM stamp).
Algerian students who request their first 1-year "residence certificate" also have to pay this tax.

N.B. : If you have another student visa or a visa "concours études" :
Please don't send any document to OFII. You need to apply for a "titre de séjour" (residence permit) at Préfecture de Police de Paris.
More informations on the Préfecture de Police website >>

Contacting and dealing with the OFII (Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration )

> If you reside in Paris: until the 4th of September 2011  all contact should be postal:

Upon your arrival in France, you should contact the OFII's regional department for your place of residence (see address below) in a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (document provided by La Poste):

- The OFII certificate request form (given to you by the consulate), which is signed by the diplomatic or consular authority, after filling in the sections concerning your visa number, the date you entered France or the Schengen area and your address in France
The OFII certificate request form can be downloaded on the OFII website >>
-  A photocopy of the pages in your passport with information on your identity, the visa and the stamp showing the date you entered France or the Schengen area.

Upon receipt of these documents, the OFII files your application and mails you an application registration confirmation in a regular letter and, in another regular letter, sends you a call for the medical examination and for visa approval.

In addition to this invitation, you will receive a stamp note on which you will need to affix an OMI or ANAEM stamp worth €55. You may purchase these stamps in tabac outlets or tax offices.

Appointment at the OFII:
The day of your appointment, you should bring the following documents:
- your passport with the appropriate visa
- proof of residence in Paris
- a valid passport photo (from the front, head uncovered)
- a stamp note and an OMI or ANAEM stamp worth €55

This procedure applies for all students holding a new visa.

> If you reside in Paris: from 5 September to10 November 2011 you must go to the "Service d'accueil des étudiants étrangers" at Cité Internationale Universitaire in Paris :

With the following documents:

- the OFII certificate request form (given to you by the consulate), which is signed by the diplomatic or consular authority, after filling in the sections concerning your visa number, the date you entered France or the Schengen area and your address in France
The OFII certificate request form can be downloaded on the OFII website >>
- your passport and the copy of the pages in your passport with your identity information, the passport's validity, the visa and the border control stamp with the date you entered France
- a valid passport photo (from the front, head uncovered)
- proof of residence in Paris

Address :
Service d'accueil des étudiants étrangers
Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris
Maison Internationale
17, boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris
Transports : RER B Cité Universitaire
From Monday to Thursday, from 8.35 am to 4.30 pm, on Friday from 8.35 am to 4 pm.
www.ciup.fr

Upon receipt of all these documents, the OFII files your application and gives you an application registration certificate and a letter calling you for the medical examination. You will then receive a stamp note in the post. The day of your medical examination, the OFII approves your residence permit visa.

Appointment at the OFII :
The day of your appointment, you should bring the following documents :
- your passport with the appropriate visa
- stamp note and €55 OMI stamp

The OFII certifies that these formalities have been completed by acknowledging the visa stamp on your passport. This certification makes your visa applicable as a residence permit.

OFII address

If you live in Paris, the medical will be carried out by:
OFII – Paris Regional Department
 48, rue de la Roquette
 75011 Paris
 Metro station: Bastille (exit Rue de la Roquette)

If you do not live in Paris, you will find the contact details of the OFII in your Département of residence at the following address: http://www.ofii.fr/qui_sommes-nous_46/ou_nous_trouver_mieux_-_flash_933.html?recalcul=oui.
It is advisable that you find out more about this procedure as it may differ from that of the Paris office.

Medicals

On the day of your appointment, you will have mandatory medical and paramedical check-ups including, in particular, a chest X-ray, weight, height and vision tests and possibly a blood glucose test, etc.

This preventive check-up is done to:
- detect any health problems and where necessary refer you to a health centre for a full check-up and medical care
- bring health risk factors to your attention: dietary imbalances, diabetes, AIDS, etc.

You may eat or drink before attending your medical. Bring your health record if you have one, including prescriptions for medication and glasses, if you wear them. After your medical examination, keep your copy of your medical certificate (it is marked with the word "Intéressé" and will be requested when you renew your permit)

Purchasing an OMI or ANAEM stamp

Here are a few addresses of tax offices and public revenue department branches where you can purchase the stamp (from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.):
> 29 rue Moulin Vert - 75014 PARIS - (Tel.: +33 (0)1 40 52 50 50) - Metro station: Alésia
> 18/20 rue Geofroy Saint Hilaire - 75005 PARIS - (Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 08 56 03) - Metro station: Censier-Daubenton
> 5/7, avenue Bouvines - 75011 PARIS - Metro station: Nation

If you cannot keep your appointment for reasons beyond your control, you must write to the OFII Paris Division at the following address to request a second appointment:
OFII Paris Division - 48, rue de la Roquette 75011 Paris

Please note: OFII will only issue one other appointment for a medical.

At the end of your first year of studies in France, if you would like to continue your studies

You must request a temporary residence permit from the Préfecture in your place of residence two months before your residence permit equivalent visa expires. 
If you live in Paris, you must ask for an appointment on the Préfecture de police de Paris website >>

It is recommended to keep all the documents related to your studies, your housing and your financial means (all bank statements).

Information can be obtained from the Paris Police Authority :

Préfecture de Police de Paris
Tel : 08 91 01 22 22 from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm.
E-mail : prefpol.dpg-6eb-etudiants@interieur.gouv.fr
Download the Préfecture de Police leaflet intended for foreign students >>