A student visa allows academic aspirants to pursue overseas education. Did you know that you have to apply for a country-specific student visa if you are willing to study abroad? Let’s take a quick look at the types of visas required for studying in destinations like the UK, Canada, Australia, the USA and Germany and how to avoid visa delays.

Key Highlights

• Types of student visas
• What causes a delay in the visa process?
• Tips to reduce delay in student visa application

Ø  Fill out the application form correctly

Ø  Submit genuine and relevant documents

Ø  Immediately respond by furnishing additional documents

Ø  Apply timely to avoid last-minute hassle

Ø  Liaise with universities to sort paperwork

• Latest student visa developments

Types of student visas

• Apply for the Tier 4 (General Student) visa for pursuing higher education in the UK.
• Apply for F-1 visa when you plan to study at accredited US universities. A J-1 visa is required to study an exchange program, and an M-1 visa is mandatory for studying programs at technical and vocational schools.
• Apply for a subclass 500 student visa for studying in Australia.
• Either apply for a Schengen visa to study for up to 3 months or a German national visa for studying over 3 months in an accredited German university.
• A study permit is necessary for studying in Canada.

What causes a delay in the visa process?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) received about 1,23,500 study permit applications from Indian students till May 2022. Similarly, other popular destinations such as the US, the UK, Australia, and Germany have witnessed an increase in student visa applications. Pandemic-induced backlog and a sudden increase in the number of student visa applications are the two main factors leading to a delay in visa processing. However, what you can do from your end to curb the delay is submit error-free applications and all the necessary documents.

Let’s look at valuable tips that reduce student visa processing delays

Fill out the application form correctly: Fill out a complete visa application form to get quick visa approval for your study abroad destination. Ensure not to leave any column blank in the form.

Submit genuine and relevant documents: Prepare a checklist of all necessary documents that need to be submitted. For instance, documents like an acceptance letter from your university, academic transcripts, and proof of funds certificate in case of availing an education loan for study abroad are mandatory to support your claims. Moreover, make it a point to submit only genuine documents.

Immediately respond by furnishing additional documents: Sometimes, immigration officials ask for additional information or documents. If the additional documents are not submitted quickly, it may create confusion. Therefore, take prompt action by responding swiftly.

Pro-Tip: Check the country’s official website to know the list of mandatory documents.

Apply timely to avoid last-minute hassle: Waiting longer than usual for the student visa application process is unavoidable owing to conditions that are beyond our control. Thus, after receiving the letter of acceptance from your preferred university, apply for a student visa immediately.

Liaise with universities to sort paperwork: Students should act proactively and collaborate with their respective universities to sort their paperwork. Once the documents are sorted, do not delay the application.

 

Latest student visa developments - 2022

 

Country	Visa processing times and latest developments
The UK	Visa processing time: 3-6 weeks from the date of appointment Graduates from the top 50 non-UK universities of the world can enter the UK by applying for the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa.
Canada	The Canadian student visa process takes: ∼ 12 weeks You can avail remote options if you cannot reach Canada due to visa processing delays. This option will allow you to join online sessions. But please check with your university if this alternative is available.
Australia	Visa processing time: 45 days to 5 months, depending upon the type of visa International students enrolled in Australian universities cannot change their course of study, research or thesis topic without approval from respective authorities.
Germany	Visa processing time: 15-30 days for short-term visas and 6-12 weeks for long-stay student visas From 1st October 2022, The German Embassy has made the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) certificate mandatory for visa application. APS certificate acts as proof, confirming your academic transcripts are genuine.
The USA	Visa processing time: 3 to 5 weeks US Embassy has announced that the US student visa application will get easier in 2023, and you can get an appointment at the nearest visa consulate.

 

 

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