Getting a student visa can be hectic, but don't worry—we've got tips to help you navigate the process.
When do you need a student visa?
Typically, if you plan to study abroad for more than 90 days (90 days), you'll require a visa. Not every country has a strong visa application process for U.S. citizens—Ireland, for example, doesn't require Americans to complete in-person interviews—but other countries make study-abroad scenarios fill out tons of paperwork, assemble an array of documents, and a visit to a local consulate general before granting permission to study.
5
steps for getting a
student visa
1. Find the nearest consulate. The consular website of the country you're visiting is easily available through an internet search and should have detailed info about what the application process entails. Moreover, your educational institution usually offers resources to help with this step; if you're confused, contact your school's Study Abroad office.
- If essential, make an appointment for your in-person interview. Most countries have
department areas in major American cities. If you are living far from a
consulate, you'll need to travel.
Book a consular
arrangement as quickly as possible in the wake of being acknowledged to your
abroad institution. Literally, Consulates for common study-abroad places, like
Spain and Italy, advise scheduling an appointment 90–45 days before your
departure.
3. Gather your documents. On the consulate's website, there should be a detailed checklist of documents that you need at your appointment. If you can't find it, or it's not accessible in English, check sites run by major consulates in different American cities to get an idea of what you'll need.
Required documents will likely include the following:
·
The visa
application
·
Your passport and two
passport-size photos
·
Proof of acceptance at
an educational institution in your intended country
·
Transcript from your
current school
· Proof of housing (printouts of hotel reservations work for this; alternatively, you could submit a photocopy of your host's passport along with the host's written consent that you'll be staying there)
·
Proof of health
insurance
·
Proof of satisfactory
financial funds (three months' personal bank account statements)
·
At your appointment,
you will wait in line, and afterward, the person behind the counter will
probably request that you hand over your documents.
4. Pay the Fee. The amount expected to deal with your
application differs by country, yet it is typically something to the tune of
$50-$200. France and Italy are at the less expensive end of that range, China
and Brazil at the better quality. Australia charges more than $400.
5. Wait to get your visa via the mail. When all
your documents are in order, the consulate will refer your passport back to you
by mail with your study visa pasted inside. If you submitted a prepaid,
tended-to envelope, the length of your wait relies heavily on how much money you
spent on delivery — with the more costly 2-day shipping choice; you'll clearly
receive your visa immediately; standard shipping shouldn't take more time.
A couple of consular websites caution, however,
that visa processing can require as long as about a month and a half.
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