Student Visas for Study Abroad: Student Visas, as the name suggests are visas issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a foreign country is for the pursuit of education. Needless to say, while getting admission to the university is extremely important, these legal documents stand in the way of all your pursuits. Every country is governed by its Immigration Laws. These could vary in terms of the requirements of documents to the different proof of funds acceptable to what all the visas would let you do apart from studying in the country. Also, some broad commonalities are visible in all student visa applications.
Simply put, a visa is an official travel document. The visa which is usually stamped or glued onto the passport of the bearer allows him to legally enter a foreign country. A visa can be of multiple types. To start with, there is a Tourist Visa for people looking to visit a country for tourism, there is a Student Visa for students looking to travel to a foreign country to pursue education and so on.
Studying abroad requires meticulous planning to say the least. Students are always advised to plan their admission/ application process keeping in mind university deadlines and working backwards. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policy and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute rush. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should add another couple of extra months to the process as these applications take more time.
Student Visas are often classified based on two broad distinction points
Depending on the length of tenure of the programme the applicant is planning to undertake, the countries often divide the student visa into Short Term Student Visas or Long-term Student Visas. Often, short-term visas are given to students who plan to take a short course of a language or a diploma certificate course and the entire duration is often limited to 90 days (3 months). Long term visas, on the other hand, are given to students who are planning to take up degree courses extending beyond the 3 months. These could include internships and small certificate programmes of 6 months and so on. European Union Countries often have this broad classification.
Irrespective of the duration of the course, some countries classify student visas basis the type of student. This could be the level of degree applied for (undergraduate, graduate or doctoral), exchange student or student applying for a vocational/ diploma course. Broadly speaking, as these visas also depend on the type, of course, the student is applying for, these are somewhat linked to tenure. However, in these categories, the first point of distinction is not how long the programme would be for. If you are, say, for instance, an exchange student, you could be going for 3 months or 3 years, the category would still be based on the type of student and not the tenure.
Every country, depending on their Immigration Laws have a specific list of documents. However, while the exact requirements are different in terms of actual terms, the list is generic. However, there are two documents which you would require certainly.
This is the primary requisite. While you would need a valid passport, what you need to know is that for different countries, the requirement of the validity of your passport might vary. Some countries would want you to have the validity until the end of the course even at the time of applying for the student visa. Some, on the other hand, might let you apply but request you to have a validity that extends beyond the intended stay in the country. You also need to ensure that you have at least two blank pages in your passport for stamping a visa. What is important to note is that in case you have any expired passports, you would still have to submit a copy of all such passports.
The process for applying for a student visa begins with your university offering you a letter of acceptance. Students who have received their letter of acceptance are required to go ahead and begin their Visa Application Process. Candidates can apply for their visa via two methods:
Online Visa Application Process: the more convenient of the two, candidates can apply for their student visa through the online method by simply creating a student profile. The forms are all online and would have to be correctly filled by the student.
Offline Visa Application Process: the offline visa process would require candidates to download the application form, fill in the details and submit it to the required authorities.
The next step includes paying a Visa Application Fee. Every candidate would be required to pay a student visa fee for his application process. The final process would include the student submitting his application process along with their supporting documents.
The main difference between an entry visa and a tourist visa is that an entry permit is not an actual visa; instead, it’s permission to allow you to enter a specific country, while a tourist visa allows you to enter and visit your destination country for up to six months. An entry permit is usually issued on top of a tourist visa, and you have to apply for the permit one or two days before you enter the country, while you need a tourist visa months before you travel.
Entry visas for pre-approval purposes. This type of entry visa is issued only as a means of a pre-approval travel authorization. For example, you already have applied for your tourist visa, and your application has been approved; some countries require you get an entry visa just to show you have permission to enter your destination country.
Entry visa for specific purposes. This type of visa is issued for persons who have a unique situation. For example, India issues entry visas for Persons of Indian Origin and family members of Employment Visa holders in India.
Single entry visa. This type of tourist visa allows you only to enter a country once. After you use your visa, it’s no longer valid; this means that even if you leave the country before your visa expires, you can no longer re-enter with the same permit.
Multiple entry visa. A multiple entry visa allows you to enter a specific country more than once while the visa is valid. However, once your visa expires, you must apply for another permit.
An entry visa is valid only until you enter your destination country. A tourist visa can be valid anywhere from 15 days to 180 days, depending on the country and whether it’s a single or multiple entry.
US tourist visa Valid for 30- 180 days per entry (issued for ten years)
UK tourist visa Six months
Australia tourist visa Up to 12 months
Schengen visa for tourist purposes 90 days
Canada tourist visa Six months per entry
The fee for an entry visa is usually $20, but it can also be free of charge. Tourist visa fees change depending on your destination country and visa type (single or multiple entries).
The United States USD 160
Canada CAD 100
The UK GBP 89
Australia AUD 135
Schengen Visa EUR 80
A permanent resident (PR) is someone who has the right to live and work in the United States permanently. Permanent residents are often referred to as “green card” holders.Being a permanent resident is not the same as being a U.S. citizen. Permanent residents may become naturalized U.S. citizens eventually.
PR holders are allowed to remain permanently in the U.S. To maintain your status as a permanent resident in the United States, you must have a primary residence in the United States and obtain a Re-entry Permit from USCIS for any trip outside of the United States which will last longer than one calendar year.
UW-Madison is only able to file a permanent residency application for certain employees
Additionally, there are numerous other ways to obtain permanent residency on your own without UW-Madison sponsorship. The most common ways are by a petition you file that prove national interest or exceptional ability, sponsorship by a qualifying family member, investors, religious workers, asylum, and the diversity lottery.
An individual who was previously on a J-1 or J-2 visa and is subject to the two year home residency requirement is not eligible for PR until the individual has either waived that requirement or been in their home country for two years.
When a foreign national obtains permanent residence, the spouse and all children under the age of 21 are also eligible to receive permanent residence, as long as they were included in the application.
The decision to file a permanent residence application must be authorized by the appropriate Dean’s office in consultation with IFSS. No promises can be made to current or prospective employees that the University will file or obtain permanent residence on their behalf. The petitioning process is lengthy, involving up to three government agencies, and the final decision to grant the permanent residence must be made by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. It is never a certainty that the permanent residence will be approved.
