What Documents Are Required For A student Visa?

Going to a foreign country, taking up a particular curse or program, and living there for a few years is very exciting. Apart from getting access to premium educational facilities, Indian students also get the opportunity to learn about different cultures and interact with fellow students hailing from other countries and ethnicities.

When an individual receives a student visa in their hands, they get a step closer to realizing their dream of pursuing a course of their choice in a reputed foreign university. The process of getting a student visa has never been simple. The applicant has to go through steps before procuring a student visa. However, the process becomes much simpler if they have all the requisite documents in place.

Most Popular Destinations to Study Abroad for Indian Students

There are more than 190 countries in the world. However, not every country attracts students from different parts of the world. If a particular country has a reputation for being an educational hub or serves as the home to several prestigious educational institutions, many Indian students would want to come there.

Here are some of the most popular destinations for Indian students:

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is widely recognized as one of the best countries in the world for international students. Some of the best educational institutions in the world are based in the UK. However, that’s not the only reason why many Indian students flock to the UK every year.

The UK is also known to be one of the best destinations for Indian students planning to study abroad. Every year, several Indian students inquire about UK student visas from India. Some of the most reputed universities in the UK are the University of Oxford, University College London, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, and Imperial College London.

The United States

No list of the best foreign universities can be complete without mentioning the educational institutions based in the United States. The US happens to be one of the most multicultural and diverse countries. Because students of different backgrounds studying together in an educational institution, nobody feels lonely or left out.

While pursuing an educational course in the US, an Indian student also gets to explore all this great country has to offer. From natural landscapes to scientific wonders, there is a lot that a student gets to see and experience while studying in the US. Overall, studying in the US is a very comfortable experience for international students.

France

Because of its rich culture and historical artifacts, France is one of the most ideal destinations for architecture students. Some of the best institutions that offer courses on architecture in France are the Grenoble Alpes University, Central School of Nantes, Aix-Marseille University, Paul Sabatier University, and the University of Tours.

However, architectural courses are not the only thing French universities are known for. Indian students apply for a variety of other courses and programs as well. Inquiries for the student visa process in France are carried out by students interested in a variety of subjects or courses, including medicine, engineering, computer science, music and literature, among others.

The Netherlands

Apart from the universities present and the courses offered, Indian students check a variety of other factors while deciding to study in a particular country. While there are several reputed educational institutions in the Netherlands, many Indians choose to study in this country owing to the quality of life it offers.

The Netherlands is one country that is known for inclusivity and being welcoming to people of all ethnicities and cultures. This is one reason why many Indian students prefer studying here. Since most people in the Netherlands are comfortable speaking in English, students don’t face any communication issues.

Canada

While Canada has many reputed colleges and universities, some Canadian cities, particularly Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, are known to be educational hubs. When an international student applies for a course in a Canada-based university, it would be a good idea to check the city in which the university is based.

Since many people of Indian origin live in Canada, Indian students do not need a lot of time to adjust to their new surroundings. While studying in Canada, they can befriend students from different countries. Some of the best universities in Canada for Indian students are the University of Alberta, the University of Toronto, McGill University, the University of Montreal and the University of British Columbia.

New Zealand

The academic structure and curriculum in New Zealand have evolved greatly with time and that’s one of the reasons why the country attracts Indian students from all parts of the world. While the courses and programs are structured very well, the faculty members in these universities are also highly experienced and accessible.

Any Indian student, who has studied at a New Zealand university, would know that the New Zealand student visa processing time is 20-30 days. After finishing a course or program offered by a New Zealand university, an Indian student can look forward to promising career opportunities. The multicultural nature of the country also plays an important role in making Indian students feel comfortable about being there.

South Korea

If there is one country that has caught the attention of many Indian students in the last few years, it is South Korea. The country has the kind of environment that is highly conducive to students coming from different countries. At least 14 universities in South Korea enjoy a very high global ranking.

Recently, many young people based in India have shown a keen interest in exploring the culture of South Korea. This has happened because of the popularity of the shows and music being made in the country and reaching out to a large audience in India. Things like this contribute to generating interest in a country.

Steps to Apply for a Student Visa for Overseas Education

The process of applying for a student visa gets very easy if the applicant has a fair idea about its various steps. Delays or issues crop up when the applicant skips a step or does not execute a particular method correctly.

1. Apply for a Course

Once a student realizes they are interested in overseas education, they first need to apply for a course or study program. Somebody not enrolled in a foreign university cannot apply for a student visa. Therefore, before applying for a student visa, an individual ID must choose a study program and apply for it.

2. Schedule an Appointment at the Consulate or Embassy

Once the applicant receives confirmation from a foreign university about being accepted for a course, they should start looking for a consulate or embassy in their own country and schedule an appointment for a visa interview.

3. Compile the Documents

While applying for a visa, the student must show or submit many documents. Firstly, they should get complete information about all the documents that are required to be submitted. After that, they should get all those documents in one place.

After photocopying the documents, they should get them certified or approved with an apostille stamp. They must also reach out to somebody at the visa office and find out if any documents need to be translated into another language.

4. Visa Application Fee

After the documents are verified, the applicant must pay a specific amount as the visa application fee. The amount of money they must pay as visa application fees would depend on the country they plan to study in. For instance, the Germany study visa fee is 75 Euros or INR 6,300.

5. Student Visa Interview

The applicant will be given a date and time to appear for the visa interview. This interview is to be taken very seriously. It would not be a bad idea for the applicant to speak to individuals who have appeared for a student visa interview in the past and take some tips from them.

The more prepared the applicant is, the higher the chances of them doing well in the interview. It is very important not to miss this interview. If missed, the interview has to be scheduled again, which could result in delays.

Eligibility Criteria and Documents to Apply for a Student Visa

To apply for a student visa, the applicant must possess a passport with a minimum validity of six months. If the passport is not valid for the next six months, they should get it renewed before taking further steps in the application process.

After filling up the student visa application form with all the necessary details, the student should submit a couple of passport pictures. They will have to show the admission letter of the university they applied for and got through. The authorities will also ask the applicant to show a document that serves as a testimony to the fact that they have enough funds.