Individuals who wish to study abroad must acquire a visa to enter the desired country and pursue their academic careers. This article will inform readers about a student visa and additional related details. So, aspiring candidates who want to pursue education in foreign countries must keep reading to know more about it.

A student visa is an official document that allows holders to visit different foreign countries and pursue their education there. It falls under the category of non-immigrant, which remains valid till the end of an academic course in a foreign country.

There are several categories of student visas. For instance, there are 7 categories of student visas in Australia, while the United States extends 3 kinds of student visas – M1, F1, and J1. 

Individuals apply for an F1 visa when they plan to study at an accredited college or university or an approved school in the United States. M1 is issued to students who wish to pursue vocational training or activities at Universities in the United States. On the other hand, research scholars and professors get a J1 visa who are keen to participate in academic programmes that encourage cultural exchange. 

In the United Kingdom, there are Tier 4 and short term student visas. The former are issued when students want to pursue education in the U.K. for more than 6 months. The latter is for those who have enrolled for a course that spans below 6 months. Likewise, the Indian Government also issues multi-travel and provisional student visas according to requirements. 

So, there are different kinds of student visas. Applicants need to select one depending on their requirements.

The eligibility criteria to apply for a student visa varies with each country. However, here are some of the common eligibility parameters that potential candidates must meet before applying for a student visa:

• The school authority must approve the visa application.
• Applicants need to furnish that they have a substantial fund to cover tuition fees and the cost of living for themselves and their family members who have travelled with them to a particular country.
• Should meet character requirements of a destination country
• Hold an excellent academic record.
• Candidates must qualify for health requirements and prove that they can buy a health insurance plan if necessary.

Are you searching "how to apply for a student visa" online? If yes, here's how eligible students usually apply for it -

The application process for a student visa initiates with a university providing a letter of acceptance. However, it is essential to note that application procedures differ in each country. So, it is crucial to go through the instructions set by an embassy of a country where individuals plan to apply. 

Students can apply online and offline. The online application process is convenient where applicants need to create a student profile on the concerned website and fill in the form with correct details. As far as the offline application process is concerned, candidates need to download the form, fill it in with relevant information, and submit it to the destination country's consulate. 

The next step is to pay fees for a student visa. After the payment, individuals need to complete their application process by submitting relevant documents. Apart from it, applicants must note that visa interviews are a mandatory part of the application process for a few countries like the United States.

 Applicants need to submit the following documents during a visa interview:

• New valid passport or previous passports
• Fee receipt
• Passport-size photograph
• Application form
• Appointment letter
• Document confirming the admission to an educational institution of a destination country 
• Document to prove the financial profile of an applicant
• Language Certificate as required by the destination country

Note that the list is indicative, and the documentation process is different for each country. So, individuals must check the website of a country they wish to study to know about any additional document requirements. 

The processing time of application for a student visa varies with every destination country. For example, the processing time of student visa applications in Canada is around 3 weeks. For Ireland, it takes approximately two weeks to process an application request. 

In the case of fees to be paid for processing a student visa, the amount differs from one destination country to another. For instance, candidates applying for a student visa in Australia may need to pay around AU$ 535.71. On the other hand, individuals applying for a student visa (F1) in the United States need to pay SEVIS fees of approximately $339.64. Note, that fees are subject to vary. Therefore, it is crucial to verify recent fees valid on a specific visa type with a consulate, and then applicants can pay the same using online payment modes or NEFT.

The answer is yes. Students can apply for an extension of a student visa when its validity ends before completing their education abroad.

Individuals should apply much before the expiry of the validity of their student visa to avoid any inconvenience. Ideally, students can apply for the same online or through mail 30 days before the expiry of their current visa.

If applicants face rejection in their application for a student visa, they can re-apply. However, individuals must recognise and rectify the cause of rejection to avoid rejection repeatedly.

A visa-application process often consumes time. Therefore, knowing the details of a student visa will streamline the entire application process for aspiring candidates.