Some people who will continue their studies abroad definitely need good preparation. However, many still feel 100% ready if they have received a Letter of Acceptance, funding/scholarship and accommodation guarantee. However, one step must be carefully considered: applying for a study visa. If this step fails, you will have to repeat the application process from the beginning and may have to pay another fee.
You need to know a few things about a study-abroad visa
What is a Study Visa
As the name suggests, a Study visa is a visa that a person needs when studying (college or school) abroad. Its function is the same as a regular visa, namely a residence permits in a country other than the country of origin. However, it only applies to studying while running a college or school within a certain period. Without this visa, completing your studies in the destination country is not possible, even if the university has officially accepted you.
This visa is exclusively for studying, so you cannot engage in other activities like working, starting a business, or participating in official political endeavours while using this visa. However, in certain countries like the Netherlands, permission is required to undertake part-time work with minimal working hours. Because it is only valid during the study period (for example, four or two years), you must also go home immediately after completing your studies. You cannot continue to live there on a study visa.
If you want to continue to work or travel, you must renew your residence permit by creating a work or visit visa. Each country has its policy for study visas, so make sure you first check at the embassy/consultant of your destination country what the name or type of study visa is. In Australia, authorities categorize study visas into several classes according to the particular course individuals intend to pursue.
Every Country Has Different Requirements
The requirements or procedures for making a Study visa in each country may vary, although they are generally similar. Some countries require a certificate of being free from certain diseases, and some need you to attach a certificate of relationship with the person who pays for your tuition if you do not use a scholarship. For that, you must ask in detail about the requirements for a study visa for the country you will study in.
Knowing the Process and Manufacturing Costs
The requirements or procedures for making a Study visa in each country may vary, although they are generally similar. Some countries require a certificate of being free from certain diseases, and some need you to attach a certificate of relationship with the person who pays for your tuition if you do not use a scholarship. For that, you must ask in detail about the requirements for a study visa for the country you will study in.
Anticipating Failure to Make a Study Visa
The difficulty of getting a study visa is relatively relative. The process should run smoothly if you have appropriately fulfilled all the document requirements and completed the costs.
However, due to the tight submission timeline, many individuals need help with problems or even experience failures. It becomes evident that incorrect or insufficient documents are present, and consequently, there needs to be more time to rectify the issues. Register as early as possible so you have enough time if there are problems with document requirements.
In addition, you also need to prepare yourself for the interview process. Master the material or knowledge about your chosen university and study program to show that you are ready to study and live in the country. Make it clear that you are not going there to study, not because you want to stay and travel.
After you know about a study visa, it would be nice to know how to get it fully approved. You can see these five steps:
1. Check Your Language Certificate
You need a language certificate to apply for a study abroad visa. Depending on the language of your course, your country of destination may require you to attach a certificate of results from a language test such as IELTS or GDS to apply for a Visa. But keep in mind that some language test certificates have a validity period. For example, TOEFL and TCF certificates are only valid for two years. When submitting, your test results must still be valid. Otherwise, you will need to retake the test.
Some language tests are different, so you must take the proper one. For example, IELTS has two types of tests: Academic and General. For college matters, you must take IELTS Academic. It’s different from the TOEFL, which consists of 4 types: IBT, CBT, PBT and ITP. The certificate of results from these four types of tests can be utilized for college-related objectives, although the ITP variant is typically not globally recognized. So, you can only take this test if your destination university is willing to accept a TOEFL ITP certificate because currently, the TOEFL ITP is not widely used by universities abroad.
2. Check Photo and Document Requirements
Read and follow all Visa photo and document requirements to the best of your ability. If your photo adheres to regulations (such as incorrect size or background colour) or if your document needs to be completed, the authorities may reject your application. In such a case, you will need to initiate the new process. You can visit studios with experience making Visa photos to avoid photo problems. To help complete the documents, you can make a file checklist that includes information on costs, terms and the period needed to obtain these documents. These documents include:
- Valid passport (minimum six months)
- KTP/Family Card/birth certificate
- Visa application form
- Letter of Acceptance from the destination university
- Passport photo
- Proof of financial guarantees such as scholarships/study sponsors, or if using personal fees, attach evidence of the ability of funds to finance the study.
- Visa payment proof
- Last education certificate
- The results of the English test score or the language of the country of interest
3. Check the Blank Page in the passport
Ensure that your passport has 4-6 blank pages. While the study visa occupies just 1 page, numerous countries mandate having at least two blank pages facing the passport for the visa application process. If there is no available blank page during submission, you will be requested to renew your passport. Naturally, this situation will cause a delay in your Visa processing. Moreover, verify the validity period of your passport. Some countries stipulate that your passport must remain valid for at least six months from entry into the country to obtain Visa approval.
4. Schedule as early as possible to apply for a Study Visa
Study visas may take several weeks to process. Therefore, schedule a visa application at the embassy/consulate in your destination country as soon as possible. If the application time is too close to the departure date, there is a possibility that your visa has yet to be processed on the D day. When scheduling, confirm the location of the Visa application. This must be considered because some embassies have delegated Visa processing to other agencies, such as a UK study visa, which can only be submitted at VFS Global.
5. Translate and Photocopy All Documents
All documents in Indonesian that are part of the Visa requirements need to be translated into English by a sworn translator. Some embassies/consulates have a list of sworn translators you can contact to translate your documents. However, if the translators on the list are busy, you can also look for other certified translator services on the Translator Association website.
This task should be completed well before your scheduled Visa application to allow for revisions in case of translation errors. Certain embassies/consulates may request original documents and photocopies to meet Visa requirements. Aside from ensuring the clarity of photocopies, it would help if you also verified whether specific agencies need to legalize the photocopies. During submission, it’s advisable to seek confirmation from the receiving officer that the provided photocopies are acceptable.
As a precaution, keep a copy of all Visa application files. You may need the information contained there.
So, prepare your study abroad plan carefully. Hopefully, the tips above are helpful for those of you who want to get your study visa approved immediately. Need help to apply for a study visa? Don’t worry. iStudentPlus can also help you apply for a study visa until you get it. So what are you waiting for? Contact us, and everything will be easy.
