Student Visas
The student counsellor needs to be aware of visa types, requirements, and conditions affecting international students in the destination country.
Student Visa Types
Student visas can be divided into different types, depending on the category of the course, and the level and duration of study. The student counsellor needs to know the different types (or subclasses) of student visas in each destination country. These can vary considerably in their details in different countries, but in most cases are linked to the different sectors in the country’s education system. Thus there may be separate types of student visas for:
- Language schools
- Primary and secondary schools
- Boarding schools
- Vocational and technical education
- University and higher education
- Post-graduate research
- Speciality colleges
- Study under the auspices of aid programmes or otherwise government-sponsored.
Each of the student visa types may be of different duration and have distinct conditions attached to it. The student counsellor needs to know whether the particular student visa type allows short- or long-term stay, single or multiple entry, or other specifications. In addition, different visa types may have restrictions on what the student can do while in the destination country. In particular, some student visas permit students to work part-time in addition to their studies, while others prohibit work while studying.
If a student wishes to study a series of courses, usually their student visa will be based on the highest-level course. The courses should normally be related and form a clear learning pathway from lowest- to highest-level courses. For example, a student may need to undertake language and foundation courses prior to a university degree course in order to meet its entry criteria. In such a case, the student needs to have valid offers of enrolment in each of the courses (intention is not enough). Note that later offers of enrolment may be contingent on successful completion of the earlier courses.
Student Visa Requirements
To qualify for a student visa, international students must meet the requirements of that visa. The requirements vary for different visa types and in different destination countries. However, some fundamental requirements apply to most student visas. These include:
- Valid enrolment
- Academic, age, and experience requirements
- Language requirements
- Financial means
- Health and character
- Valid documentation
- Guardianship of minors.
Valid Enrolment
As a rule, applicants for student visas need proof of enrolment in a course at an education institution registered for international students. The enrolment must be verified by an official confirmation of enrolment from the education institution. For the enrolment to be legitimate, prospective students must meet the entry criteria for the course. Students may need to supply supplementary documentation to authenticate this.
Course Prerequisites
Prospective students must meet the course entry prerequisites. Courses differ in their academic, age, and career requirements. For example, most courses have minimum academic prerequisites, without which the student is unlikely to be able to cope with the level of content or teaching methods of the course. Similarly, there may be a minimum (or maximum) age for course entry, based on the cognitive development expected of students in that age range. Some courses may specify prerequisite career experience (e.g., business or technical courses).
Language Requirements
In addition, international students usually need to prove their proficiency in the language of instruction. They may be required to supply proof of acceptable scores in standard language tests, or enrolment in an appropriate language course prior to the main course.
Financial Means
Normally, prospective students must demonstrate that they have access to sufficient funds to pay tuition and living expenses. This is so even when they qualify for a visa which permits part-time work while studying. Immigration authorities may specify acceptable sources of funds, including student savings, family funds, or loans from approved sources.
Health and Character
Usually, visa applicants must be of good character and in good health. Good health may be determined by relevant questions in visa application forms. In some cases, immigration authorities may demand health checks or medical examinations. Students are usually required to obtain approved health insurance for their stay in the destination country. Good character may be demonstrated by means of suitable referees, testimonials, etc. Immigration authorities may do a police clearance check to ensure the applicant has no criminal history.
Valid Documentation
International students may have to supply supplementary documentation to prove that they meet the above requirements. This documentation must be relevant and authentic. Which documentation is relevant is decided by the destination country’s immigration authority. For example, a qualification from the student’s home country will only be accepted as a prerequisite if the destination country recognises that qualification or its equivalence. The authenticity of documents is usually established by supplying certified copies and/or translations, or (less commonly) original documents.
Guardianship of Minors
When prospective students are not yet legally adults, there are usually special conditions regarding their care and welfare. In particular, the student’s parent or guardian must sign enrolment and visa application forms, and any other contracts involving the student. While studying in the destination country, the underage student must live with a parent or approved guardian. Approved guardians might include relatives, homestays, boarding schools, or other acceptable care arrangements. Guardians may be subject to suitability conditions and police clearance checks. It may be possible for the student’s parent or guardian to obtain some form of guardian visa, and travel to the destination country to look after the student.
Student Visa Conditions
While studying in the destination country, international students must comply with the conditions for their specific type of student visa. The student counsellor needs to make sure their students are aware of these conditions. Clearly, the exact criteria for the conditions vary across types of student visas. However, in most cases, a number of key issues relate to student visa compliance while studying in the destination country. These include:
- Attendance
- Academic performance
- Address and contact details
- Changes to enrolment
- Work
- Travel
- Duration and expiry of visa
- Renewal specifications
- Completion of course
Attendance
Most student visas specify a minimum course attendance rate. That is, students must attend a minimum number of scheduled lessons or breach their student visa conditions. Education institutions are often required to monitor student attendance and report non-attendance to the immigration authorities. Unless the student has compassionate or compelling reasons for missing classes, the immigration authorities may rule that the student is not a genuine student and cancel his/her student visa.
Academic Performance
Similarly, students must achieve satisfactory academic results to be regarded as genuine students. Education institutions are often required to monitor international students’ course progress and report unsatisfactory progress to the immigration authorities. If they do not improve their results, students may have their student visa cancelled.
Address and Contact Details
International students are usually required to notify their education institutions and immigration authorities of any change of address or contact details.
Changes to Enrolment
Student visas are issued for the specific courses for which students provide proof of enrolment in their visa applications. After they have begun their studies in the destination country, international students may wish to change this enrolment to a course that suits them better. They may wish to change to a different course with the same education institution, to the same course with a different institution, or to a different course with a new institution.
To do so, students generally need the permission of the immigration authorities and may need to obtain a release from the initial education institution. It is doubtful that permission will be granted unless there is a good reason for the change. If the change of enrolment is permitted, the students will need to revise their visa details and may need to reapply for a new student visa.
Work
The purpose of a student visa is to study, so many types of student visas specify that students are not permitted to work in the destination country. The penalty for doing so is cancellation of the student visa, and offending students may be fined and deported.
Some student visas allow students to work part-time while they are studying. Long-term students (e.g., university students) may also be allowed to work full-time during vacation periods. Such work allows students to supplement their incomes while studying. However, the student counsellor should warn prospective students that:
- They cannot expect to meet all tuition fees and living expenses from such work
- There is no guarantee that suitable work will be available
- Working may help financially, but it is unlikely to provide substantial funds
- They need to balance any work activity with the time burdens of their course (i.e., work must not interfere with study time).
Travel
Single-entry visas, as the name implies, allow a single entry into the destination country. If the student leaves the country, the visa automatically expires. Most student visas allow multiple entries for the duration of the visa, allowing students to go home or travel to other countries during vacations.
Duration and Expiry of Visa
Student visas normally have a limited duration, with an expiry date which is soon after the end date of the student’s course. The student counsellor should make sure that students are aware of their visa expiry date. If the student does not leave the destination country by the visa expiry date, they risk detention and deportation as illegal aliens.
Renewal Specifications
In cases where a visa needs to be renewed, the student’s counsellor should make it clear to the student when, where, and how to accomplish this.
Completion of Course
Once students complete the course on their initial student visa, their options are normally to apply for a new student visa for another (higher-level) course, apply for a tourist visa, or leave the country.