Your arrival in the host country marks the beginning of your academic journey.
Several administrative procedures are mandatory during the first few days to validate your student status and ensure a smooth installation.
Altea Consulting Services guides you step by step through each process to make your integration simple and stress-free.
🇫🇷 In France #
- Validation of the long-stay student visa (VLS-TS)
- Mandatory within the first 3 months after arrival.
- Validation is done online through the OFII (French Office for Immigration and Integration) website.
- Fee: around €60 (electronic tax stamp).
- Local administrative registration
- In some cities or student residences, the prefecture may require a proof of residence or a registration at the town hall.
- Opening a bank account
- Necessary for housing payments, receiving scholarships, and accessing certain aids (such as CAF).
- Altea helps you choose a bank suitable for international students (Banque Postale, Société Générale, N26, etc.).
- Health insurance registration
- Free registration with the French Student Social Security (via etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr).
- A supplementary health insurance is recommended to cover additional medical costs.
- Obtaining your student card
- Issued by your university after final enrollment.
- This card gives access to student restaurants, discounted transportation, library services, and more.
Altea Consulting ensures your documents are ready before departure to simplify all these steps upon arrival.
🇩🇪 In Germany #
- Address registration (Anmeldung)
- Must be done at the town hall (Bürgeramt) within 14 days of arrival.
- This document is required for almost all other administrative processes.
- Opening or activating your blocked bank account (Sperrkonto)
- Activation of the blocked account used for your student visa.
- This proves your financial capacity during your stay.
- Health insurance registration
- Mandatory registration with a public insurer (AOK, TK, Barmer…) or a private one depending on your profile.
- Student card and transportation pass
- Once enrolled, your university will issue your Studentenkarte, giving access to public transport and library services.
Altea helps you complete your Anmeldung, activate your blocked account, and choose the right health insurance for German regulations.
🇺🇸 In the United States #
- F-1 visa validation and I-94 verification
- Check your I-94 form on the immigration website to confirm your legal status.
- University enrollment
- Meet with your international advisor to finalize your SEVIS registration and class schedule.
- Opening a bank account
- Useful for local purchases and money transfers. Popular student banks include Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo.
- University health insurance
- Most universities require mandatory health insurance.
- Some institutions allow you to provide an equivalent private plan if it meets their coverage requirements.
- Social Security Number (SSN) (if doing authorized work or internship)
- The SSN is required for any paid work on campus.
Altea assists you before departure to ensure all university-required documents are ready.
💡 Altea Consulting Services Tips #
- Keep a digital copy of all your administrative documents (visa, passport, housing, insurance, etc.).
- Inform your university and Altea of your final address as soon as you settle in.
- Download useful local apps (transportation, banking, health insurance, campus tools).
- Take advantage of student welcome services offered by universities and local associations.
