7 Most Common Mistakes of Student Visa Application 

No one ever regards the application process for international studies, as being complete, till the study visa has been approved. Though the success of every activity on the international education preparation checklist is essential and laudable, a student visa approval letter is often the highlight of the entire process.

This is because, with it, time becomes the only factor standing between you, as a prospective student, and your international education experience. 

Unlike other Visa types, the student visa is only reserved for individuals who have been offered provisional admission into a government-approved university or college.

If your application process and further approval are not successful, the admission and any arrangements attached to it, like scholarships, research fellowships, and teaching assistantships, would all become void.

Student Visa Application Requirements 

The requirements for student visa applications vary from one country/territory to another.

However, irrespective of the intended study destination, some vital documents are often requested by every country’s embassy. These documents include

The admission letter

This is the paramount requirement for every student visa application, irrespective of type.

Student visas are reserved for individuals who intend to study, hence, the admission letter is required to prove that you already secured a place to study.

The application fee payment receipt

Before the commencement of your student visa application, you are required to pay a non-refundable application fee, usually in the currency of the country or territory being applied to.

Proof of funds

The proof of funds is one of the most significant documents for visa consideration. It’s the consular’s only evidence that you have sufficient funds to foot your living and study expenses.

International passport

The international passport is an integral document for student visa application, consideration, and approval.

Generally, embassies accept passports with a minimum of six months validity. However, you are advised to apply for your study visa with a long-time valid passport.

Other documents

Some other documents are requested, during visa application, interviews, and other stages of the process.

These documents include Passport photographs, academic preparation documents, and a return flight ticket.

Common Mistakes of Student Visa Application 

Some common mistakes of student visa application include

Application for the wrong study visa type

Visas are grouped into different categories to fit the various travel purposes and intended length of stay.

Some visa types like the study visa are further divided into subcategories. The United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, France, Canada, and the United States all have different sub-categories of the study visa that must be meticulously selected from.

Most students have been denied study visas, and have ultimately lost the opportunity to put their admission letter to good use because they applied for the wrong visa type.

Late application

You should start your visa application process immediately after admission approval.

Every year, a countless number of prospective international students lose out on the opportunity to pursue their academic goals because of late visa applications. 

Poor attention to detail & providing wrong information.

All information filled into the visa application form is thoroughly scrutinized by the consular during the visa interview and further consideration exercises.

As an applicant, if you fail to cautiously fill these forms with the right information, you would be setting yourself up for a visa denial letter.  

Inconsistency of names on documents

Inconsistency of names on the application documents is a leading cause of student visa denial.

The name on every document should be painstakingly spell-checked and verified to ensure that there is no discrepancy. Documents including the passport, previous certificates, bank statement, health insurance form, and visa application form.

Where the last name on the passport differs from the current last name; usually as a result of marriage, a court affidavit can be used, or more so, an entirely new passport, with the new last name. 

Failure to prepare for the student visa interview 

Consular officers thoroughly observe every demeanor and activity of an applicant during the visa interview.

From your introduction to poise, dressing, articulation, and language, everything is been put into consideration before the big decision.

Some students visa applicants fail to acknowledge the importance of showing up for their interview on their best behavior. 

Unsubstantive financial evidence

Countless students, even after successfully navigating other stages of international education preparation have been denied study visas on the grounds of financial incapability. On some occasions, the applicant had the financial strength to comfortably live and study in the country of their choice but couldn’t provide valid evidence. 

Studying as an international student is cost-intensive. This, coupled with the usually high cost of living in most international study destinations obliges consular officers to thoroughly scrutinize the financial evidence.

The most substantive manner to present proof of financial strength is with bank statements. This bank statement must reveal the availability of substantial funds, or transactions over a given period. Failure to present this evidence in an embassy-specific manner could deny you a study visa.

Forged documents & their implications: 

A 2017 report by the police special fraud unit revealed that over 50 Nigerians use forged documents to apply for visas monthly.

The temptation to apply for a visa with forged documents could easily get looming, in the hope that the authorities won’t pay attention to all the documents.

However, the consular officers pay painstaking attention to every single document and if any of them is discovered to be forged you would be facing serious juries.

As an applicant, you would, in addition to being denied the visa, attract a jail term and permanent inadmissibility into the said country.

 

In conclusion, 

You need an admission letter from a government-approved institution for your student visa application. Some students who have successfully navigated every other level of international education preparation, have lost out on the opportunity to pursue their academic goals in the school and country of their choice because they failed to identify common study visa application mistakes; and avoid them. 

As an applicant, you can avoid these mistakes and many more by following the steps shared in this article. Start by applying for the right visa type, doing so on time, paying attention to every detail on the application form, and properly preparing for the visa interview.

We can help you through the entire process.