The lowdown on visas - Scholarships, Work, Processing Time, Eligibility

The lowdown on visas - Scholarships, Work, Processing Time, Eligibility

Edited By Hema Gopalakrishnan | Updated on Jan 17, 2023 08:13 PM IST

Students should apply for a student visa as soon as they have been accepted to a foreign university. However, each country will have different visa procedures, eligibility criteria, and visa classifications. In order to submit a successful application, students must be aware of guidelines and specifications. Given below is how to apply for visas for some of the most popular study-abroad locations.

This Story also Contains
  1. EUROPE
  2. IRELAND
  3. CANADA
  4. GERMANY
  5. USA
  6. UK
  7. AUSTRALIA
  8. Visa Eligibility
  9. Visa Checklist
The lowdown on visas - Scholarships, Work, Processing Time, Eligibility
The lowdown on visas - Scholarships, Work, Processing Time, Eligibility

EUROPE

Visa categories

Category

Description

Student Schengen Visa

Stay, study in any Schengen country for a maximum of 3 months or 90 days

Can travel between the Schengen countries

Long-Stay Study Visa

Apply in embassy of the country where you’ll be studying

Visa is for courses that are longer than six months.

Visa includes a residency permit.

Student Visa in Europe

Issued by individual country

Usually issued for 3 months; after which students should register in the foreigner’s registration office in the city where the university is located.

Necessary for permission to stay in the country for the duration of the course.

Processing time

Student Schengen Visa: Submit application in the embassy of the Schengen country where you will be spending most of your time. Processing time is usually 15 days.

Long-Stay Study Visa: Apply at the embassy of the country where you wish to study. Processing time is usually 2-5 weeks.

Student Visa in Europe: Apply as soon as an offer or admission letter comes through. The processing time will vary based on the country.

Work

International students studying in Europe can work part-time in certain countries. The rules differ from country to country. For instance, Germany allows work for 120 full days or 240 half days in a year and full-time work during vacations; France, on the other hand, allows 964 hours in a year which is 21 hours per week.

Popular exams to study abroad:

IRELAND

Visa categories

Category

Description

C Study Visa

For programmes lasting under 3 months or 90 days

D Study Visa

For programmes longer than 3 months.

Processing time

Apply at least three months before the intended date of arrival

Processing time is 8 weeks or longer

Work

Students can work part-time while studying. They can work for 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours during vacations.

CANADA

Visa categories

Category

Description

Canada Study Permit

Required for a course lasting longer than 6 months

Valid for course duration and 90 days after that

With the study permit students require a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (ETA) to enter Canada

Processing time

Between 3 and 4 weeks.

Work

Students can work for 20 hours per week during the course and can take up jobs on or off campus. Students can work full time during vacations. Canada recently announced that students eligible to work off-campus on their study permit can work for more than 20 hours per week while their course is in progress. This permission is in effect from November 15 and valid till December 31, 2023.

Best countries to study abroad:

GERMANY

Visa categories

Category

Description

Schengen Visa

For up to 3 months.

German National Visa

For courses lasting beyond 3 months.

Processing time

Usually 15-30 days after the interview

If additional documents are required or if there are a large number of applications, it can take 6-12 weeks.

Work

Germany allows work for 120 full days or 240 half days in a year

Students can work full-time during vacations

Cannot be freelancers or self-employed at any point during the course of study

A job as a research assistant or student assistant at the university will not be counted towards the limit

Best option is a job related to the field of study

List of scholarships to study abroad by country:

USA

Visa categories

Category

Description

F-1 Student Visa

To study at a university or English language institute

J Exchange Visa

For student exchange at university or high-school level

M Student Visa

For non-academic courses or vocational training

Processing time

F-1 Student Visa:

Result may come the same day

Issued 120 days before the starting date of course

Can enter the US only 30 days before the course starts

Work

F1 or M1 visa allows work on campus and in particular training programmes

No off-campus work allowed in the first year of study. Students may work in the student centre, cafeteria, or library

After the first year, students can pursue off-campus employment through one of the following:

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

UK

Visa categories

Category

Description

Standard Visitor Visa

For short course lasting less than 6 months

Short-Term Study Visa

For English language course that last between 6 and 11 months

UK Student Visa or Student Route (Formerly Tier 4 Visa)

For a longer duration course

Child Student Visa

For children aged 4-17 who wish to study in an independent school

Processing time

Apply within six months of receiving the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number. The number must be entered in the application.

May take up to 3 weeks

Work

Number of hours of work permitted depends on the course. Student enrolled in the following types of courses can work up to 20 hours per week:

Full-time degree-level course

Transient student from an overseas university who has enrolled in a course in the UK

AUSTRALIA

Visa categories

Category

Description

Independent ELICOS Visa (Subclass 570)

For an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students.

Schools Sector Visa (Subclass 571)

For children who want to attend primary or secondary school in Australia.

Vocational Education and Training Sector Visa (Subclass 572)

For vocational or training certification courses

Higher Education Sector Visa (Subclass 573)

For qualification degrees such as associate, bachelor, graduate, master's, and higher education diploma and advanced diploma.

Postgraduate Research Sector Visa (Subclass 574)

For master's or doctorate degrees requiring original research.

Non-Award Sector Visa (Subclass 575)

For programmes without Australian awards attached.

Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector Visa (Subclass 576)

For programme sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Australian Department of Defence

Processing time

Most student visa applications for Australia take around 4 weeks.

Work

Australia allows up to 40 hours of work over two weeks during term time and unlimited work hours during holidays.

Visa Eligibility

The Table below shows the standard set of factors that determine whether a visa will be granted.

Eligibility criteria across countries

Eligibility Criteria

UK

USA

Ireland

Australia

Germany

Canada

Europe

Minimum age

17


18

18



17

Minimum level of education

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Proof of acceptance

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

English language proficiency test

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Identity documents






3


Residence permit





3



Overseas Student Health Coverage




3




Welfare documents if under 18




3




Visa Checklist

These are the documents you’ll need to support your visa application, listed by country.

Eligibility criteria across countries

Visa checklist

UK

USA

Ireland

Australia

Germany

Canada

Europe

Photograph

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Application form

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Visa application fees

3

3

3

3



3

Valid passport

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Letter of acceptance

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Statement of purpose

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

English proficiency test scores

3

3

3

3

3

3


Education and work experience records

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

Genuine Temporary Entrant Statement




3




Proof of funds

£1,334 per month for London; £1,023 per month outside London

USD 10,000

€7,000

AUD 21,041

€11.208

Financial documents

Scholarship or €631 per month, last 3 months’ bank statement

Health insurance



3

3




*CAS number

3







ATAS certificate

3







DS - 160, Sevis and For I-20

3







Birth certificate





3



Medical certificate






3

3

Police verification record






3

3

German language proficiency





3



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