Student Visa Application

If you are a student planning on going abroad to complete your higher studies, then you will most likely need a student visa in order to be able to enter the country where you intend to pursue your course
A student visa, is a visa which is issued to you, if the primary purpose of your visit to the country is to pursue a course at a university or other institute of higher learning
One of the biggest hurdles many students face in their quest for an abroad education is the visa process. Each country has its own immigration policies and requirements for entry
The article below, provides details about the student visa and its application process

What is a Student Visa?

A student visa is an official stamp placed on your passport by the immigration authority of the country you intend to study in
The visa on your passport essentially states that you are eligible to seek entry to the country in order to live and pursue your studies for the stipulated amount of time
A visa does not however give you the right to entry into the country. Rather, it gives you a right to seek entry to the country. You will have to go through immigration process at the port of entry in order to get the final approval to enter the country

When should I Apply for a Student Visa?

Your journey for an abroad education starts with the planning process, which you should commence well in advance of university deadline dates
You will ideally apply for your student visa as soon as you receive your acceptance letter from the university where you intend to study
You should check with your university to know more about the country specific conditions for obtaining a student visa. You can also reach out to our overseas education advisors to get expert guidance on the process

What are the Different Types of Student Visas?

Visa category based on duration of course

This visa category is based on the length of the course you are planning to take.
If you are planning to take a course that lasts for six months or more, you would require a long term student visa
If you are planning to take a course that lasts for less than six months, then you should apply for a short term student visa

Visa category based on the program type

Most countries have different visa categories for different types of students or programs
If you are a full time student, you would be in a different category, as you would be were you to be an exchange student
For example, full time students at universities in USA would need the F1 student visa, while Exchange students would need the J student visa for entering the United States

What Documents will I need for Student Visa

You will typically need the following documents to apply for a student visa. Depending on the course and country you are applying to, you may need additional documents.

A valid Passport with a valid expiry date and at least two blank pages on your passport
Proof of acceptance to the university that you have applied for
Documents to prove that you have access to enough funds to cover the cost of your stay and education. You can show this either in the form of your income, your parents income, student loan arrangement or scholarships if available
Proof of being proficient in English such as test scores of IELTs, PTE or TOEFL if you are planning to take a course whose medium of instruction is English. However if you intend to take a course in a different language you will need to provide your test scores in that language

What is the Application Process for a Student Visa

You will typically go through the following steps for your student visa application

Your visa application will essentially start with application to the college of your choice
Once you have received your acceptance letter then you will need to submit your application for a student visa
You can apply for a student visa online or in person
You will need to visit the consulate of the country where you intend to study in order to complete an in person interview for most cases
Once you have successfully applied for your student visa, then you should wait for the passport with the visa stamp to be delivered to you
Once you have your passport with the visa stamp in your hand you are free to travel and join the course at your university

To get more details about the student visa application which are customized for your profile, you can reach out to our expert overseas education advisors at Global Tree