Every international student wants their student visa application to be successful, and it’s downright understandable! For without a student permit, one can never reach their study abroad destination.
To help improve your chances of getting approval, we gathered some helpful tips for student visa applicants whichever country you might be headed to.
Tip#1: Establish strong ties to your home country.
When applying for a non-immigrant visa, applicants should establish strong ties to their home country to prove that they intend to go back home after their studies.
How do you exactly do this? You can show the immigration officers some documents that confirm land/building/house ownership, inheritance, or investments. To build stronger proof, you may include career prospects, future business plans, promised employment, and family relationships as an assurance that you will be heading back home after your studies.
Despite all these suggestions, each applicant’s case is different and there’s no single document that can guarantee approval of your visa application. However, presenting multiple documents may improve your chances of being granted a student visa!
Tip#2: Brush up on your English skills.
Some programs no longer require an English exam to prove your competence level, but you are expected to have a good level of English language ability to complete the course.
There are ways that can tell if you are proficient in using the language. For example, if you intend to study in Canada or Australia, the immigration officers will require a document that will show your profile and intent.
This document is an essay type commonly known as a Statement of Purpose (SOP). If you lack the proper level of proficiency in English, writing your SOP can be difficult and will make it incomprehensible.
This alone contributes greatly to the rejection of your visa application since it can raise doubts among visa officers about your capability of completing the course. So, before or while you start your student visa application, brush up on your English skills and help improve your chances of obtaining an approved visa!
Tip#3: Be true and speak for yourself.
Most student visa applications do not require an interview. But, depending on the country applied for, there are times when your presence is required by the consulate.
In cases when you are requested for an interview, remember to be prepared for probable questions and leave a good impression by speaking for yourself. As a student visa applicant, you have to be well aware of your program, the purpose of your education, and your career plan.
If there’s no interview needed, use this tip when formulating your SOP. Your letter of intent is a chance for you to prove your eligibility for a student visa. Remember to craft your essay genuinely and do not be afraid to show your unique personality.
Tip#4: Choose a program that will help you shape your career.
Out of the suggested helpful tips for student visa applicants, tip #4 by far is considered the most crucial. Choosing the right program will not only affect your future career but will also determine your chances of getting approved.
Let’s say you are a hospitality graduate from your home country. If you intend to pursue further studies, you must ensure that your course is related to your recent education. If there is a need to change careers, you are expected to possess strong grounds for switching professions.
Here’s a concrete example: An educator turned baker decided to make a profit out of her hobby. To gain more skills, she decided to take a program in Patisserie in Australia. Knowing that she’ll be pursuing a course different from her college degree, she used her business permit as proof that she is now taking a new career in bakery and confectionery.
Do you think she is establishing a good justification by providing her business documents? The answer is yes! The scenario shows the student’s positive intention of studying and the program connects well to her career goals.
Tip#5: Be direct, concise, and stay positive at all times!
Either for personal interviews or for written statements, remember to give out answers that are brief, complete, and straight to the point. Visa officers only have several minutes to see the applicant, which means you need to make a good impression from the start of your interview.
Nobody really knows what the outcome is except for the officer, so it helps to remain optimistic throughout your application. If all else fails, gather the reasons for your denial. See how you can supply the information needed and file an appeal if possible.
Tip#6: Think ahead! Prepare all the supporting documents you need.
It pays to review your application a couple of times before submission. This way you can check for inconsistencies, errors, and missing details, and correct and supply them before lodging your application.
The student visa requirements are similar for all countries such as financial documents, admission, and scholarship letters. However, there are specific papers that may be required. The additional prerequisites may depend on your country of destination and your case as the applicant.
It’s important to scrutinize all your information and think like the immigration officers themselves. Do you have questionable data that can be supported by another document? If so, prepare this ahead of time and include it in your file upon submission.
Tip#7: Be organized.
Present your application in an organized manner. Make sure that all supporting documents can easily be scanned by the visa officer. This not only ensures efficiency but also reflects on your character—giving a positive impact on your application.
Tip#8: Remember that your sole purpose for going abroad is to study!
Although international students are allowed to work part-time, it doesn’t mean that you are free to highlight this in your interview or written statement. Doing this will give the impression that you only intend to work, and will ultimately lead to the denial of your application.
Tip#9: Don’t forget to include your dependents.
If you have other family members left in your home country, justify how they can sustain their daily financial needs and who will be in charge of their care without your presence.
Avoid telling the consulate that you plan to send money to your family. This is another ground for denial as it implies that you have no genuine intention of studying.
These helpful tips for student visa applicants are meant to provide you with a general idea of how your application can be affected by different factors. However, the decision is still purely dependent on the immigration officers.
To secure your application even better, seek the assistance of professionals! Tap us now and we will help you pass your student visa application with ease.