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Visa Process

o visit or stay in a non-native country, the entry clearance needed is called a visa. Students opting for overseas education do require a visa as well, which is categorised as Student Pass or Student Visa. Nonetheless, even after the receipt of a university admit, it is often not easy to obtain a visa. Each nation has its own set of rules, abiding by which the students need to ensure a certain extent of value addition during their stay in a foreign country. Besides, they need to absolutely refrain from any kind of malpractices during their study tenure. In addition to that, there is an assortment of formalities and documents involved in the process to be seriously taken into account.

Visas for Different Nations – A Quick Overview

US Visa: The student visa that permits students to study at one of the accredited colleges or universities of the US is called F1 Visa. Once the students have received their I-20 (confirmation of university acceptance), they need to complete the Visa Application Form, pay for the Visa Fee and the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) Fee and book for the Visa Appointment.

UK Visa: The student needs to meet the criterion of Tier 4 points-based system to obtain a UK Visa. One can only apply for the Tier 4 Visa if the 40 points needed under this tier is obtained. Out of those 40 points, 30 points are given for acquiring a valid CAS (Confirmation Acceptance for Studies) from one of the Tier 4 sponsors.

Australian Visa: In the case of Australia, there are various types of visas which are specific to courses. The students need to apply for it 12 weeks prior to the course commencement. In addition, the students need to submit informative and detailed documents related to their finances, career interests, choice of university etc.

Canadian Visa: Commonly termed as Study Permit, the students targeting Canadian Universities have to prepare a number of documents that include academic documents, work experience details (if any), unconditional acceptance letter, scholarship letter (if any), medical reports, test scores, etc.

Mandatory Documents Required

All countries have their well-documented immigration laws; the exact requirements might vary nationwide but there are some mandatory documents, which are generic and apply to all the countries. They are as follows –

• Valid Passport: A valid passport is the most important requisite. The requirement of the validity period might vary from one country to another; while some would approve of the validity which conforms to the course duration, some other might want passports with the validity that goes beyond the student’s stipulated stay. Also, the passport should have at least two blank pages to ensure visa stamping. This should be taken into notice that the students also need to submit the copies of their expired passports.
• Bonafide Document: Across the world students applying for visas need to prove they are bona fide students, which is generally validated by the offer letters from the accredited universities of the respective countries.
• Financial Document: Visa Commissions will closely check the financial background of the students to ensure that the students are not only capable of affording the college expenses and tuition fees, but also have adequate funds to survive through the intended period of study in another nation. While for some countries, the financial guidelines are more lenient; there are countries that require the students to have a stipulated amount ready. European nations like Netherlands and Germany ask for a minimum cost of living as set by their Government and the students need to show the exact amount reflecting in their bank accounts while applying for visas.
• Language Proficiency Document: Another document proof which is compulsorily needed for perhaps all the countries is the language proficiency document; the student needs to be necessarily proficient in the language which serves as the medium of instruction in the targeted college or university. As most students target English language speaking countries, the students need to take language proficiency tests such as IELTS (International English Language Testing System), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or PTE (Pearson Test of English). If the medium of instruction is German, the students need to qualify for certifications according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) Certified Levels.