Demystifying the student visa

Student Visa

You’ve already checked to make sure that the institution of higher education that you have been accepted into is legitimate (Yes, there are many horror stories out there) – you can always check this off with the embassy of the country in your home country.

The next step involves obtaining a student visa so you are all clear to catch your flight and go! And remember you'll need a valid passport and plenty of extra passport photos on hand to provide with your application - ready? Here are some tips for when you start gathering paperwork together:
 
Some important things to note:

Remember that every country has its own visa application and process. Take a look at the individual embassy website for the country you are applying to, and follow the requisite steps accordingly.

1. Try to apply at least three months in advance of your departure, to make sure the process is completed smoothly and with a lot less panic on your end.


2. You will need a letter of admission acceptance, written in your name, from the institution abroad, to present to the visa authority. Always keep an extra copy or two of this handy.


3. For most countries, you'll be asked to provide evidence of the fact that you are able to pay for your education - usually bank statements and tax return forms are the most useful documents to use for this. But do be sure to look out for any exact instruction on this topic.


4. Remember that application fees can be costly, as they tend to be in the currency of the country you are applying to – and do also make sure you are prepared for how payment must be made. Each nationality often pays slightly different amounts for visas from one country, so do make sure you have the right fees ready.


5. If you plan to work whilst studying abroad, you may be required to apply for a different type of visa.

Before submitting your documents, make sure you have copies of everything - cases where the visa authority has lost submissions is not totally unheard of - remember they are often overwhelmed with applications during certain times of the year.

The application process can be a bit tedious – but one important thing to do is make sure you read the instructions properly and follow them accordingly. Do be wary of scammers posing in the form of agents, who are not always a reliable representative of you, for the purposes of visa approval. It is always better to apply directly to the individual country embassy or high commission visa department for your own visa.