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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
- EUROPE
- IRELAND
- CANADA
- GERMANY
- USA
- UK
- AUSTRALIA
- Visa Eligibility
- Visa Checklist
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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