Features and distinctive features of a student visa

Education from Schengen countries or the USA is of significant importance throughout the world, so many citizens strive to obtain it. Russia is not so popular in this regard, since most Russians want to get a diploma from a foreign educational institution. However, to realize this opportunity, you will need a student visa, and for this it is important to know: how it is issued, the cost, extension of validity, in what cases a long-term Schengen visa can be obtained.

What is a student visa and what are its features?

Important! Please keep in mind that:

• Each case is unique and individual.
• A thorough study of the issue does not always guarantee a positive outcome. It depends on many factors.

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A student visa is a mark in a foreign passport, which by its presence confirms the applicant’s ability to study on the territory of a foreign state in a specific educational institution.

Getting it is not so easy - the applicant must meet a number of requirements. One of the main features is the need to obtain an invitation from a foreign organization to undergo training under an accredited program.

Student visa process

Obtaining a student visa is achieved by following a certain sequence of actions:

1. Submitting documents to a foreign educational organization and receiving an invitation.
2. Collecting papers for obtaining a visa. To do this, it is initially recommended to clarify the mandatory list at the consulate itself or when seeking advice from specialized agencies.
3. Filling out the form. When entering information, it is important to pay special attention to each position, since if inconsistencies are identified, the request will be returned, and a certain deadline will have to be met to submit a new one.
4. Payment for studies.
5. Submitting documents to the consulate. You can do this yourself or with the help of companies providing intermediary services.
6. Waiting for the results of the application review.

Applying for a student visa has many nuances, so every step must be thought out, since failure to comply with the established regulations can cause a significant increase in the processing time. As a result, you may simply miss the opportunity to start studying in the current academic year.

Student stamp price

A student visa is more expensive than a Schengen visa. For example, for an American visa you will need to pay not only the consular fee, but also SEVIS (approximately $360). The average cost of obtaining a student visa to the USA from intermediaries is 5-7 thousand rubles. A national visa D to one of the European countries will not cost much less: with intermediaries, the cost of registration, as they say turnkey, will cost at least 500 euros, and if you do everything yourself, you can meet it in 100-200 euros.

If you already know how much it costs to apply for a Schengen visa yourself (only 35 euros), then the new level of costs may surprise you a little. However, in the list of costs for studying in Europe, this is far from the largest amount. You will have to pay for the course of study (at least a semester), insurance for the entire period (at least six months), and rent.

What documents need to be prepared?

One of the key points is the documents for a student visa. However, first you should clarify the list of papers required to receive an invitation. If you plan to enroll in language courses, then an appropriate application and a copy of your foreign passport are sufficient. When choosing diploma programs, you will need a more extensive list:

• statement;
• a copy of a foreign passport;
• diploma of completion of a higher or secondary educational institution;
• resume in English in free format.

Depending on the chosen specialty, other documents may be needed, be it a certificate of completion of individual courses, a portfolio (for creative fields), or a letter from the employer (if enrollment is based on work experience).

Regarding the mandatory items for obtaining the visa itself:

• questionnaire;
• international passport;
• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
• an invitation from an educational institution - it usually contains information about the training program and information about the organization;
• confirmation of sufficient financial security (bank statement or sponsorship letter);
• photographs made in accordance with the requirements;
• documents about the intended place of residence (usually a room reservation in a student dormitory);
• tuition payment receipt.

Most points do not require additional clarification, but some nuances should be taken into account.

Note! Financial security must be confirmed taking into account the entire period of study. As an alternative, you can use the guarantee of an educational organization or the provision of scholarship payments.

Medical insurance is issued for the first 90 days (average value, since much depends on the country). Upon arrival in the state, the student becomes a client of foreign insurers.

Nuances of the student visa process

Obtaining a student visa to Russia for foreigners is quite simple if you take this issue seriously and take care of everything in advance. If we are talking about the desire to enter a university, it is advisable that at the time of receiving the certificate the former student already has a passport and medical certificates in hand. If a foreign citizen goes to courses or short-term training programs, special attention should be paid to the invitation as a basis for obtaining a visa document.

Package of documents

The list of documents for obtaining a study visa may vary depending on the conditions of admission, the age of the applicant and his country of residence.

It is imperative to prepare:

• application (in form) - filled out electronically, a handwritten version is also allowed;
• international passport – its validity should not expire earlier than one and a half years from the date of visa issuance;
• certificate of secondary education;
• an invitation from a Russian educational institution (original) - it must contain information about the university itself, the program and terms of study;
• photo (3 pcs.);
• medical certificate (for EU citizens);
• an insurance policy whose validity period is not less than the duration of the visa. It is important to take out insurance only from those companies that are partners of Russian insurance organizations;
• (valid only for 3 months) if the visa is issued for more than 90 days;
• bank statement confirming the opening of an account (for tuition fees). A must for those crossing the border for the first time;
• a copy of the document confirming payment of the consular fee.

When to serve

The prepared package of documents can be submitted to government authorities 45 days before the expected date of departure.

When re-issuing a visa, it is recommended to contact the relevant institutions 30-40 days before the expiration date of the current document.

Where to submit

Russian diplomatic missions (embassies or consulates) in the home country of the future student are responsible for issuing a study visa. In Austria, Bulgaria, Sweden, Greece, for example, you can obtain such a document at special visa centers. For an additional fee, these organizations can also issue an invitation and solve housing and other everyday problems.

Visa documents must be submitted in person or through a representative (by power of attorney).

How long does it take to process a visa?

The period for consideration of the request, clarification of data and making an appropriate decision is determined by the country. On average it is 4 weeks, but can be significantly increased if:

• the citizen did not provide a complete package of documents;
• consulate staff have suspicions regarding the purpose of the trip;
• The representative office is heavily loaded with work.

To avoid most of the unpleasant moments with the complication of the registration procedure, it is recommended to use the consulting support of specialists before submitting a request. It is not uncommon for stakeholders to neglect this, which significantly increases the time it takes to make a decision.

Cost of the procedure

Applying for a student visa is not a free procedure. The final price tag largely depends on individual circumstances, but generally the amount to be paid is formed from the following items:

Consular fee	It is mandatory to pay, the amount is established by the clause provided in the migration legislation of the country being visited.
Service fee	Relevant if a citizen decides to use the services of a visa center. As a standard, its size approximately corresponds to the first point.
Payment for intermediary services	Used when contacting specialized agencies. The final amount is determined taking into account the price list and the list of completed actions. It is not uncommon for its value to be several times higher than the first two positions.

Note! If we take average values, when entering an educational institution in the Schengen area, you will need to pay about 400 euros.

Production time

On average, the processing time for a student visa can take 3-4 months if you do not yet have documents from the university and proof of financial capabilities ready. But if the package of papers is completed, then you can get a visa in a shorter period of time - 1-2 months.

A long-term student visa means that you must have confirmation of regular deposits into your account for the entire 6 months. The minimum amount of such tranches depends on the level of the country of residence, but it is rarely below 500-700 euros per month.

It is with the preparation of documents confirming financial solvency that a delay may occur if, for example, a certificate of income of the sponsoring parents is not enough. The problem can be solved by a grant for training or by depositing a large amount into an account, which will definitely be enough to live for six months in Europe. For example, in Spain, the minimum for a student is set at 532 euros for one month. This amount does not include payment for accommodation, training and insurance.

What could be the reasons for refusal and what to do next?

A student visa may be refused for the following reasons:

1. Providing false information by the applicant. It is important to take into account the intentionality of providing false information. For example, a small mistake in the date of birth can be forgiven by the consular officer, since anyone can make a mistake. But overestimating the level of income, indicating the wrong place of work, or deception about marital status - all this can become a reason for refusal, and with the introduction of restrictions on re-submitting a request for a long period of time.
2. Providing false documents. In this case, the application is immediately blacklisted - relevant for Schengen countries.
3. Insufficient financial security for the trip. First of all, in this way, the rights of the citizen himself are protected - cases of illegal employment and begging are excluded.
4. Violation of border crossing rules in the past or ignoring the provisions of migration legislation when staying on the territory of a foreign state. The final conclusion is influenced by the degree of violation.
5. Difficulty justifying the purpose of the trip. Typically, a person applying for a student visa should disclose the reason for studying without any problems. Therefore, when inaccuracies arise, completely justified suspicions may arise about a discrepancy between real and actual intentions.
6. Having a criminal record or being under investigation.
7. "Clean" passport. Not the most common reason, since the lack of visa marks cannot be a key reason for refusal, but taking into account other minor violations, the request will be cancelled.

Note! Other reasons may well be accepted if the consular officer considers them sufficient.

After receiving a refusal, the applicant’s further actions are either to correct the identified deficiencies and resubmit the request (if the violations are not too significant), or to appeal. In the first case, you will additionally need to take into account the so-called visa quarantine, when it is better to issue a visa after a certain period - from one to three months.

If only an appeal is relevant, then you need to take into account that you will have to spend a lot of time protecting your own rights and interests. The request for review of the decision and supporting documents are sent to the same consulate where the relevant decision was issued. This must be done within a month. The standard review period is about two to three months. Therefore, in any case, you will have to be patient.