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A study visa is an immigration document issued by a government, embassy, or consulate general that grants it to study legally in a specific country for a certain period. Without a study visa, you will not be able to study abroad.
Every country has its process and fees for applying for a visa, and some countries might even require you to travel to an embassy or a consulate for the further process. Each country has a different set of immigration laws, which could vary in terms of the requirements of the documents.
When should one apply for a study visa?
Studying abroad requires meticulous planning, and students are always advised to plan their admission process while keeping the university deadlines in mind. A student might also be subjected to an English eligibility test per the policy. They should have all the required documents handy for seamless application processing. Many experts advise students to apply for visas 1-3 months in advance to avoid any last-minute rush.
What types of visas do I need?
Student visa classification is based on the program. Every country has different rules and regulations when applying for a student visa. However, depending on the length of tenure of the program he used, the country divided the study visa into long-term or short-term. The short-term visa is being offered to students who plan to take a short course in any language, and the duration of this visa is 90 days. The long-term visa is given to students planning to enroll in a degree course that extends beyond three months.
Student visa classification is based on the type of program. Some countries also classify student visas based on the type of student. It could be the level of degree applied for, which could be graduate, undergraduate or doctoral.
What is the type of document required for a study visa?
The type of documents required for a study visa differs from one country to another depending on its immigration laws.
- Valid passport
Having a valid passport is very important. However, the requirement for the validity of the passport may vary, or it may differ in some cases. Some countries would want you to be valid until the course’s end. Some countries, on the other hand, might let you apply. However, they also might ask you to have a validity that extends beyond the intended stay in that country. One should ensure they have at least two blank pages in their passport for stamping a visa.
- Proof of Bonafide certificate
A bona fide is a document issued as proof that an individual belongs to a particular institute. Regardless of which country you are applying to, you must prove that you are a bona fide student if you apply for a study visa.
- Financial transparency
Many countries would require you to prove that you can cover all the tuition and college expenses. Financial lucidity also means you should have the funds to stay in that country for the intended study period. Many nations out there would expect a student to demonstrate that the student is equipped to deal with college and tuition expenses and also have the funds to manage the cost of the stay in that particular nation for that stipulated period.
- Popular scholarships for studying abroad
It is a dream for many students out there to get into the best universities or Ivy League colleges. Many universities, governments, and numerous associations offer specific scholarships to capable students.
- Language proficiency
One more thing that matters a lot in various countries is the proof that one can communicate in the language which would be the medium of instruction in that country. Most students plan to study in English-speaking countries, and most of them require you to provide solid proof that you can communicate in English. One might have to undergo various English Language tests such as IELTS and TOEFL.
Many universities also might accept different tests. Hence, before you undergo any difficulty, you should check whether the immigration department of that country recognized the test. You need to meet the minimum score requirement. Otherwise, the visa would be rejected.
Every college or university has prescribed English language requirements the students should qualify. The students should check the university requirements to know how proficient one should be.
Most students are allowed to work for almost 20-25hours/week after their semester begins.
