As an international student wishing to continue your post-secondary studies in a Canadian or US educational institution, you can use the following guidelines to increase your chances of getting a VISA!
We believe if you follow these guidelines, your visa success becomes very high and we can help you doing that.
The following information is based on the actual statistics at the various visa offices.
- When to Apply
- Financially Stable Students
- Age of Students
- Gender
- Unstable Areas in the World
- Education GAP
- Student’s Background Matches the Selected Program
- Level of Education the student is Applying to
- English Language Requirements
- Write a Good Study Plan
- Tuition Deposits
- Tuition Payments
- Previous Visa Refusal
- Existing Immigration Files
- When to Apply
The sooner a student applies for a program the better from a school and Visa perspective.
Historically, schools post the grades that students need to enter a program. By applying early, these marks are used and the processing time is quicker. As it gets closer to the deadline schools tend to get busy, taking longer to process applications because they have many applications.
Also, many schools will collect application so they can compare students and choose the best candidates, consequently the required marks may be higher than listed on a school's website.
Statistically, Visa Officers tend to approve student applications more often when there is a minimum of 2 months before the student would start their program. So, if the time to get a visa in your country in 1 month, then the student should be applying for the program 3 months before the program starts.
(time to get a visa in your country + 2 months before the program starts = when student should apply for visa) .
Adding the school's processing time will give you the best time to apply for your students for different school intakes(September, January & May).
Please note this is not saying you will not get a visa or be accepted by applying later, just that there is an advantage to applying earlier.
Also note that we usually don’t accept applications 3 months before the start date (except for students in Canada and countries with short visa processing times).
- Financially Stable Students
Make sure you can provide proof of financial support at the beginning of the process so we and the schools are not spending time on students whose file will not be accepted due to insufficient funds.
- Who is the your sponsor? The closer the relationship i.e. parents, siblings, spouse etc., the more likely you will get a VISA.
- How much money should be in the bank? A minimum of the first year’s tuition fees plus cost of living for the first year. The more money, the better the chances of successful visa.
- How long should the money be in the bank? A minimum of 4- 6 months.
- Age of Students
While technically there is no age limit for people to apply for a student visa, our statistics show the Visa offices often refuse older students. Less than 10% of students who are older than the below noted numbers are granted a VISA.
- Applicant is older than 25 years and is applying for undergraduate studies
- Applicant is older than 35 years and is applying for graduate studies.
- Gender
Statistics show that female students are more likely to be accepted than male students. Depending on the country, 55 – 65% of the student visas granted is for women.
- Unstable Areas in the World
Statistics show that countries with unstable governments and countries bordering these areas are often scrutinized more carefully and there is a lower chance of visas in these areas due to security concerns. Please note that Iran is not considered an unstable country.
- Education GAP
If you have an Educational gap of 6 months or more, you must provide a resume or explain what you have been doing during this time.
Students who have only completed high school are good candidates up to 3- 5 years afterwards. Once a student has been out of high school for more than 5 years the chance of getting a VISA is very low in most countries (less than 10% on average. Please note some countries like China, Korea, Japan etc. are treated differently).
Students applying to Postgraduate and Master's programs are good candidates for up to 5 to 7 years after completing their diploma or degree. After 7 years the chance of getting a Visa is significantly lower. The only exeption to this rule is if the student has been working for a large global or international company in a good position during this time.
You must have at least 2 years work experience for that experience to be accepted by a Visa office at a subject you are eligible to study.
- Student’s Background Matches the Selected Program
If you apply for programs that are not related to what you have already studied or to your work experience, you have a low chance of receiving a Visa.
Select programs that are related to your work or educational background. Please provide a resume if you are applying for a program based on your work experience. Remember, once you are enrolled in a program at a College or University, you have the option of changing programs if you find it is not what you really wanted.
- Level of Education the student is Applying to
The Visa offices also refuse students who are applying for another undergraduate degree (especially in the same field). To fix this, apply to a Masters or postgraduate degree.
Alternatively, you can apply to a masters or postgraduate program at a school that also has the undergraduate program you are interested in, so if you do not like the post-graduate degree you would have the ability to switch programs.
Please note: You can have a 2 year degree and apply for a 4 year undergraduate degree. You are required to show how the program is related to your background and you have the required prerequisite courses.
- English Language Requirements
Statistics show Visa offices often refuse students from Nepal, Bangladesh, Algeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq and Syria who do not meet the minimum English requirement and need a conditional offer letter. So if you are from one of the said countries, please provide English scores (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.) and apply for only non-conditional programs.
- Write a Good Study Plan
“Statement of Purpose/ Study Plan – Study plan: Please submit a study plan which answers the following question and includes any other information relevant to the processing of your application:
Why do you wish to study in Canada in the program for which you have been accepted?
b. What is your overall educational goal?
c. Why are you not pursuing a similar program in your country of residence?
d. What research have you done into studies in your country of residence or of citizenship?
e. How will this program enhance your employment opportunities in your country of residence or of citizenship? What are the job outlooks for the program?
f. What ties do you have to your country of residence or of citizenship?
g. What is your parents’ or guardians’ immigration status in their current country of residence? What are the financial assets owned by your parents?”
h. Do you have a travel history? Please mention about your previous travels. In case you do not have the same, please confirm if your parents or sibling have a travel history.
i. Who is sponsoring your education and why are they sponsoring your education.
We will ask all our students to answer the above questions.
- Tuition Deposits:
You are required to pay tuition deposits by schools.
When a student does not pay them, they will be refused a visa by the visa office as the student has not met the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) requirements.
Schools charge tuition deposits to make sure a student has the money to attend classes, is serious about attending their school and to save a seat for the student.
- Tuition Payments
Our statistics show that the chance of getting a Visa increases by 30 % across all countries and as much as 60% in certain countries.
We ask you to pay a minimum of 50% of your first year tuition fees or the schools required tuition deposit (whichever is more).
- Previous Visa Refusal
You MUST provide this information. If you lie, you will be blocked from getting a VISA for 5 years.
- Existing Immigration Files
Statistics show that students with an open immigration file are very unlikely to receive a visa as the visa officer will question the students reasons to return to their own country after completing their studies.
