A Guide to the Application Process for International Students

Now that you have decided that you would like to study abroad and you have set your goals for your future. What’s next? There are many new and exciting things facing you, but there maybe some days where you will feel stressed out or you may just not have any idea of what to do.

Here are some steps you will be facing when applying abroad.

1. First you need to determine what Major you wish to study and then what country you wish to study.

Choosing to study in another country is not always a easy decision but once you do then you have to decide which country can provide you the best education possible. Parents and students should look closely at the schools, courses, living standards, and the financial aspects of studying abroad.

Now that you have decided on the country to study and the major, you now have to decide how you wish to go about looking for the right school, location, social atmosphere, and so much more because the school or surrounding area is where you are going to live and study for the next few years. You will now be faced with how to gather all the information you will need to determine which school is best for you. You may decide that you need professional help from an educational consultant or you may try to do it all on your own.

Today it is easy to learn about colleges or universities through many sources such as the internet, telephone, or fax, whatever the contact method you should ask the school to forward you a prospectus and application forms that are required for the school. Then you will need to fill out all the forms and supply all other information they request such as essays, letters of recommendation from your teachers, staff, possible volunteer activities, work and employers, financial information, you might need to have your documents translated into English such as your courses, test and diploma and other personal documents requested such as your IELTS or TOFEL scores, and your academic qualifications just to mention a few of the things you will have to provide each of the schools you apply to. Now this is very important that you take your time and make sure everything is done completely and thoroughly because a mistake can cause you not to be accepted or cause you a long delay during the application process.

Within today’s application process many parents and students are sometimes confused, stressed and really have no idea about how to go about finding the right schools not to mention how to handle all the information and requirements that colleges are asking for today. That is why many families are hiring educational consultants such as our company Global Educational Consultants. Students and their families do not wish to make mistakes or leave out information; they don’t know the essay process or many other aspects of applying for college.

Colleges will look at a student’s application closely to determine if you meet their admission rules and your personal and educational details. This may feel like it takes forever and you may feel stressed out that you have not received your acceptance letter to a school yet but if you applied to a number of schools you will be accepted into a college. Once you have received your offers from one or more colleges you will need to determine where you want to really go. You may feel confused when you are trying to make this decision among the schools you were accepted to, you will have so many choices of schools, cities, courses, especially since you do not know anything about where you will be going to school. You can with the help of a consultant such as our company Global Educational Consultants, or possible through your counselor at your school to learn a lot about the schools who have accepted you, or you can visit the school websites for each college again to learn a little more about the school but this process can be time consuming but is a good way to eliminate a few of the colleges you were accepted to, also you may want to talk to friends and family maybe able to help you make your final decision on which college to go to.

2. Passport Application

Once you have received your offers from a college you can then start the passport applications process. You will have to contact your local agency who handles the passport application process.

After you have determined which agency to apply to within your country, you can ask for a application for a passport, during this process you will need to attach certain personal documents, such as, Photographs, the letter of acceptance from the school, your personal identification and all other required information. There is a fee for your passports so do not forget to include it with your application. If you are still a student they may require you supply them with your education records.

Also you maybe required to have documents from the college be translated into your national language and may need to be done by someone who is a translator who can also notarize the document. If this is required make sure it is done and included with your application for your passport.

3. Visa Application

Now that you have your college offer and your passport, the next step is to apply for a visa application. You will need to apply for you visa to the appropriate visa office that represents the country where you will be going to school. Usually, you will be required to attend and interview that will be arranged by the visa officer handling your visa application. To receive a application for a visa you can normally download it from the web, mailed to you or you can pick it up.

The visa process requires you to attach documents that are asked for, such as you’re financial documents issues by a band to demonstrate you have sufficient financial ability to cover your college tuition, fees and living expenses, your photograph, the letter of acceptance for the school, your academic qualifications, evidence of your language ability such as the IELTS or TOFEL exam scores, and your valid passport, you may also be asked to supply information about where your going to live, lease or letter of agreement with them. You should also be prepared to show all original documents to the visa officer and provide him with photocopies.

This interview is very important and you want to make sure you go prepared, you may want to know if you will need to have an interview, how can you set up your interview, how long will it take for the visa to be issued, How ever many of these questions can be answered by visiting their website or by going to the office. If an interview is necessary, then answer the questions simply and correctly to the visa officer. Visa officers may ask many questions but generally all he or she needs to do is make sure your purpose of going abroad is to study, you know what your doing, you have sufficient financial ability to cover your tuition fees and living cost, you intend to return to your country after you have finished you study. Plus during the interview he or she wants you to demonstrate you have sufficient language skills to study and live overseas.


4. Health Check-up

Once you have received your visa, you will need to arrange your health check-up; you will usually be told where you can go to get this check-up. You may have to have some preventative injections for the country you will travel to. When you arrive in the country you will study you might be required to show your health situation documents issued to you. When you go to have your check-up don’t forget to take photographs, passport, id, valid visa and any other information requested.


5. Financial Resources

You may also be asked to submit a foreign Currency Exchange Application within some countries or verify and exchange your money into the currency of the country you will study. For example in China you will be asked to submit your foreign currency exchange application to the Foreign Currency Administration Bureau. You will need to prepare documents which are authenticated by your employer that states that the money you have is legal income, (if you were employed) if you are being sponsored by your family then the authentication should be issued by their employers. You will have to show that you can support yourself within the country you will be studying. You will also be asked to show your visa, passport, what your tuition and living expenses will be and then you will be allowed to exchange the amount needed for one year. Remember to find out exactly what your country requires.

Once you have been approved you need to go to your bank and have your money exchanged into the foreign currency. Your bank maybe able to transfer the money to a local bank in the country you will study in. Finally make sure you do not forget to get your Foreign Currency Carry Permission from the Bureau. You may be asked to provide this in case you are caring cash. I would recommend that you do not carry a large amount of cash anywhere so take care and ask your bank what they recommend you do.

Now Book Your Flight and Enjoy Your Education

Thank you for the useful information.