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10 Common Student Visa Questions

In this article we answer 10 common questions about applying for a student visa to help make your visa application quick and easy.

It is important that you keep up to date with the current visa requirements to guarantee visa application success for your chosen destination. You can keep up to date by reading our free student visa articles on our blog, and by following us on Facebook and twitter.

1. Where do I start?
2. Where do I apply for my student visa?
3. What type of student visa do I need?
4. How much money will I need?
5. How good must my English be?
6. Can my family travel with me?
7. Can I work on my visa?
8. How long can I stay?
9. Are Governments trying to make it harder for international students?
10. Where can I find more information?

1. Where do I start?

You can’t apply for a student visa until you have been accepted on to a coursein that country. So, if you haven’t already done so you need to submit an application for the course you wish to study. Not only that, but you must also ensure that the course you apply for meets the visa requirements of that country.Your student visa acceptance will be determined by a number of factors:

Your country of citizenship
Your chosen destination country
The course you wish to study
The institution you wish to study at
How you plan to fund your study

Different countries have differing visa systems and acceptance procedures, however they are usually very similar:

To study in the UK you need 40 points to apply for a UK student visa through the UK points based system. 30 points are awarded for doing a course at an acceptable level with an approved education provider (also known as a sponsorship). 10 points are awarded for proving that you have enough money to cover your study and living costs.
To study in the US you need to prove that you have a permanent residence in your country of citizenship, have the funds to support your study and intend to return home once your study is complete.
To study in Australia you also need to prove that you have sufficient funds to support your course fees and living costs. You will also be assessed based on the subject you have chosen and your country of citizenship.
To study in Europe you do not require a visa if your country of citizenship is an EU member. If you are outside of the EU you should check your chosen destination’s visa requirements for more specific details.

Wherever you chose to study we advise that you apply for your visa as soon as possible.

2. Where do I apply for my student visa?

Usually you will apply for your student visa in your own country. This will require you to visit an application center where you will submit your application paper work and provide any biometric information that is required.

Below is a list of Visa application centers for the following countries:

UK Visa application centers
Australian visa application can be submitted online and biometric information can be submitted at one of the Australian visa application centers.
For a US Student Visa you are required to attend an interview at the embassy or consulate.

3. What type of student visa do I need?

If you are studying abroad for your post-16 education you will require a general student visa.

In the UK this is called a Tier 4 (General Student) visa.
In the US this is called a F-1 visa.
In Australia your visa type will depend on your country of citizenship and your chosen subject.

4. How much money will I need?

This is one of the most common questions and is an important factor in your visa application process. It is necessary for you to prove that you have sufficient funds for your course fees and living costs, however the money required can vary depending on country and region within that country. Some countries require you to prove that you have funds for the entirety of your course, while others only require proof of funds for the 1st year.

For a UK student visa you will need to prove you have funds for the following:

First year of course fees
£5,400 (£7,200 inner London) to cover living costs for nine months

For an Australian student visa:

Return air fare
Course fees
AUD 18,000 per year living costs

For a US student visa:

Proof of liquid assets to cover cost of first year study and living expenses
Proof of readily available funds to cover remaining years of study

We have created the diagram below to help visualise this difference by country for required proof of funds for 1st year postgraduate study.

1st year postgraduate student visa funds proof Please note these figures are an approximation for proof of funds required for 1st year.

5. How good must my English be?

Obviously the course you have applied for may require you to have already completed an English language certificate, but in addition to that tighter immigration rules mean you must prove you have a good understanding of English at the border crossing.

For example new changes to the UK student visa mean that if you are unable to communicate without a translator you will be denied entry.

6. Can my family travel with me?

Your family can travel with you if you meet each countries visa requirements. In the case of the UK student visa you must be on a postgraduate course at a University of more than a 12 month duration, or a Government sponsored student.

For the US student visa you will have to prove your relationship to your dependent, and they will also have to apply for their own visas.

For the Australian student visa you will have to prove that you have a sufficient level of funds available to support each dependent.

We advise that you check the specific requirements for your chosen destination.

7. Can I work on my Visa?

Generally on a student visa you are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week. You can only start working once your course has started.

The same rules usually apply for any dependents you may have.

8. How long can I stay?

On a student visa you are allowed to stay for the duration of your course, as specified in your initial visa application.

You will also be allowed to stay for a short time following the completion of your studies however this can be anything from 60 days to 4 months depending on your chosen destination.

9. Are governments trying to make it harder for international students?

While it may appear that countries are making it more difficult to study overseas the changes in the immigration laws do actually protect your international education.

The aim of these restrictions is to prevent bogus and unrecognised colleges offering poor study courses to international students. Therefore ensuring you receive an excellent education from a recognised institution.

10. Where can I find more information?

For more information on student visas StudyLink recommend the following resources:

Good look with your visa application. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments, and if you think any of your friends will find this useful be sure to share it with them via facebook and twitter.

Rating: 3.3/5 (3 votes cast)

Posted in Student Visas uk student visa | 33 Comments »

Tags: Student Visas, uk student visa

Yatin Sharma

I would like to apply for job at study link.

Can you provide me an e-mail id of HR?

Rregards

Yatin Sharma
9810021128
ellen

hi,

i’m still under government loan for my degree study. am i able to apply visa for postgraduate study in UK if i haven’t clear my loan yet?
admin

@Yatin, thanks for you interest but we have no vacancies at present.
admin

@ellen, if you can prove that you have available funds for your postgraduate study in the UK this should not be a problem.
Yatin Sharma

Could you please provide me the HR e-mail id so that I can send my resume for future vacancy.
trung

giup do toi voi chuong trinh cua toi
trung

help me to improve everything!!
http://yahoo.com omar

Hi,
I want to apply for Canada Study visa for English Language Course, 1 year is duration for the course
Do I need to go for IELTS Test ? Because I’m going to study English Language Course .

my father will pay my fees and show his account

My Question is in canada Where we can Check the Institute Name and Values
Yatin Sharma

you check on http://www.accc.ca
BJ

HI,

thank you for the regular updates on all the information needed.Is there any colleges offering ‘FORENSIC COMPUTING’ besides the ones in UK..i’ve been looking for the college but yet to find any..any help/guidance would be much appreciated..thank you

Regards,
BJ
Yatin Sharma

u would like to study Masters or UG. In the UK u will find.
BJ

I am going to do my UG..anywhere besides UK.
Yatin Sharma

please tell me exact interest of country where u would like to study.
BJ

Currently, i am a student from Malaysia..The destination does not matter as i have the required financial support..For the moment i am looking for the colleges offering this particular UG course so i can start with the application..i have found some UK colleges but i don’t have intention of studying there..
Yatin Sharma

ur nationality is Malysian. y don’t to study in the UK y. UK is better option for study. whats ur back ground and how much you have scored in class X and XII. Did you have maths in ur class XII.
BJ

I am Malaysian and we don’t have XII here..the studying module here is entirely different..i am currently doing my Dip. in Software Engineering..my background as in??
KISHOR R RATHOD

Myself , my wife and our only son have UAE RESIDENCE VISA and my son will pass his 12th STD from INDIA
Our Nationality is INDIAN
Can I apply for Student Visa for my son for CANADA OR USA from UAE?
Pl reply me
Yatin Sharma

if you and ur wife and son have UAE nationalities then yes you can apply ur son’s visa from UAE.

If you are working in UAE and your family is UAE then also you can apply.
Yatin Sharma

If you son is studying in India then it is advisable to apply from India.
hafiz yasir sultan

thanx for guiding me.i want study in itlay plz help me.
Nikunj Patel

Hello,
I am already in the USA and i would like to apply for student visa what do i do now. Is indian 3 years bachelors degree equivalent to US 4 years bachelor degree ? Do i need all that documents which i am submitting with the application from india ? Plz reply me asap.
http://yes atif

Hello. sir i am studing in UK for english language course but during this course i want apply study and move canda/australia from uk if i am overseas student.If is it possible??

please reply me ASAP.
Sunin_007

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to inquiry about the visa. I am a Nepalese citizen currently on a student visa in UK. I am planning to do a further higher course in Australia but i am not sure weather i will be able to apply from UK or do i need to go back to Nepal to apply for a student visa. I am in UK since 5 years and my current visa expires on September 2012. I Google it but could not find the information that i need so could you please tell me what i need to do. I look forward to hear from you soon.
http://twitter.com/StudyLinkAbroad StudyLink Abroad

@Sunin_007 Ordinarily you will have to apply from your home country. You could get in touch with the Australian Embassy in the UK and direct your query to them. However, as I understand they do not have an Education Officer available there and will probably direct you to this website: http://www.uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/study.html

Good luck with your studies.
YATENDRA JAIN

Hello There, I am an Indian citizen, Can somebody please tell me the checklist of the documents which need to be attached with the UK Tier 4 General Student Visa application.
Rosschenn

Hi. I’m from Philippines and I’m currently securing the requirements needed for my student visa application for Australia. I just want to ask if it’s possible for me to include my sister’s-in-law bank statement since she’s the one financing my study in Australia. Thanks!
Rosschenn

By the way, my sis n law is a prosecutor working here in Philippines..not an Australian citizen. thanks!
Michael

Hello i’m from Northern Ireland and thanks for explaining all that stuff to me. Everywhere I looked I couldn’t really understand it until I looked here. And I would like to know if it would be better if I had an Irish passport or a British one. If it makes it any easier or does it really matter. But thanks anyway
Vatsalananal

if i will be staying with my uncle so how much of funds do my parents have to show
Sneha_lama143

I am residing in uk since two years and last year I have applied for my visa but still I haven’t got visa, I don’t know why? But now I have made up my mind to go back to my own country but I don’t have passport and I don’t have money to get ticket as well. In this case what steps can I take? Anybody have any idea please help me please I don’t want to waste anymore time here. Thank you.
D.R. Lama
one-visa.com

I like the way you describe the whole process of student visa. These questions are really common. You describe the entire question with answer now there is no space for new question. I got all required information for my student visa.
Cheemapreet98

I am from india. Ihave done my Graduation in Bsc(it) now I wish to apply for masters in U.S.A. …plz help me …..give general information how to apply …….My relatives are living in Cincinnati I can stay with them how much expense i will have to pay ……help me plz……
Waqasafzal786

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