Student visas, as the name implies, are awarded to applicants whose major reason for visiting abroad is to pursue an education. Needless to say, while admittance to university is critical, these legal documents stand in the way of all your endeavours.?
Every country's immigration laws regulate it. These may differ in terms of paperwork requirements, acceptable evidence of money, and what all visas allow you to do other than study in the nation. Furthermore, certain general similarities or updates are present in all student visa applications. We have covered the important nations for visa updates .
Here are some recent visa updates for studying abroad:
- International students pursuing studies in the US can now apply for Green Cards and work for startups during the Optional Practical Training (OPT) period. However, students are still required to demonstrate their intention to depart after a temporary period of stay. This update provides more opportunities for international students to build their careers in the US.?
- The US Embassy in India has issued a policy change regarding student visa appointments in Indian city consulates. The official account of the US Embassy in India declared that to avoid fraud and misuse of the appointment system, we are announcing the following policy change, which will be applied beginning November 27, 2023.
- When creating a profile and arranging a visa appointment, all F, M, and J student visa applicants must use their passport information.?
- Applicants who have created a profile or scheduled an appointment with an erroneous passport number will be denied entry into the Visa Application Centres (VAC). Their appointments will be cancelled, and they will forfeit the visa money.?
- Please keep in mind that if the old receipt was associated with a profile with inaccurate passport information, you will need to pay for a new visa fee receipt.
- International students must apply for and receive a student visa to continue their studies in the United States. You may need an F or M visa, depending on your desired degree of study and kind of school.
- You can enter the country as a full-time student with the F-1 Visa (Academic Student) if you are enrolled in language training courses or a recognised college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, or other academic institution. Students engaged in vocational or other nonacademic courses, excluding language teaching, come under the M-1 visa (Vocational Student) category.
- There have been recent developments in the Australian student visa system. Two Australian universities, Deakin University and the University of Wollongong, are setting up campuses in India, making them the first international institutions to establish a campus in India.?
- Additionally, there have been changes in English proficiency test requirements for international students, and there will be more scrutiny on second visa applications to prolong students' stays. In general, to study in Australia, students must have an overall IELTS score of at least 6.5, with no band lower than 6.0 for postgraduate courses. Candidates for undergraduate courses should have a minimum aggregate score of 6.0.
- Student visa holders will be able to work no more than 48 hours per fortnight while studying beginning in July 2023, equating to 24 hours per week. "This modification has been meant to provide students with additional freedom to sustain themselves while ensuring that education remains the primary aim of their visa," according to the official notification.
- International students, on the other hand, are authorized to work unlimited hours during study breaks set by an institution. Furthermore, if the course contains labour as part of its curriculum, these hours will not count against the 48-hour limit. Furthermore, there are no work-hour restrictions for people earning a master's degree through research or a PhD.
- On March 8, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese proposed the establishment of an "Australia-India education qualification recognition system." According to the new agreement, degrees earned in Australia will now be accepted in India, while degrees earned in India will be recognised in Australia.
- Starting in January 2024, foreign postgraduate students enrolled in non-research courses in the UK will no longer be able to bring their family members as dependents. This policy change may impact the decision-making process for prospective students, as the inability to bring dependents could deter them from choosing the UK as a study destination.?
- Previously, under the dependent visa, overseas students may bring their family members, including wives and children, to the UK. These new limitations only apply to overseas postgraduate students. Dependents were already outlawed for undergraduate students in the United Kingdom.
- This regulatory change will also influence the decision-making process for prospective Indian students. The inability to bring dependents may deter students from selecting the UK as a study location.
- Karunn Kandoi, Chief Experience Officer at ApplyBoard, a global education technology platform, highlights the implications of this regulation and the options available to Indian students for education locations with dependent-friendly rules in an exclusive interview.
Please note that visa policies and updates can change frequently, so it is always important to check with the respective country's embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information and requirements.
