Visa Shake-Up: Impact on Indian Students in Major Countries!

Indian students planning to pursue higher education in English-speaking countries will need to reconsider their options. This is because the UK and Canada have recently revised their admission rules for universities. In December 2023, Canada updated its requirements to ‘better protect international students. One significant change is the increase in the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) amount from CA$10,000 to CA$20,635, nearly doubling the previous requirement. Germany and Australia have also been gradually increasing their GIC amounts by 10% annually.

Germany
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, Germany requires a minimum deposit of €11,208 for a study visa as of May 2023. 

United States
As per the student visa news, the US embassy in India requires F, M, and J visa applicants to provide correct passport information for profile creation and visa scheduling or risk appointment cancellation.

Canada
In Canada, designated learning institutes (DLIs) are required to verify every applicant’s letter of acceptance with the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to combat acceptance fraud. 

United Kingdom
The UK visa fees have also increased from £363 to £490, and the Immigration Health Surcharge has risen from £264 to £1,035. Additionally, from 2024, international students will be restricted from bringing dependent family members with them to Canada.

Australia
For Australia, the required score for a Test Graduate visa has increased from IELTS 6.0 to 6.5, and for a student visa, from 5.5 to 6.0. International students must show savings of $24,505 as evidence of financial capability. There is also a two-year extension of post-study work rights for international graduates with specific degrees.

France
In France, post-study visas have been extended to five years for master's degree students. Those who studied a semester in the country for master’s can now avail a five-year short-stay Schengen visa for job opportunities.

Ireland
Talking about Ireland, international students with bachelor’s or master’s degrees can stay for two years on a post-study work visa, while PhD students can stay for up to three years. 

Italy
The student visa news also highlighted that students aiming for Italy can stay there for 12 months after completing their graduation. 

New Zealand
New Zealand allows the IELTS One Skill Retake option, offering flexibility for students to retake a test for any of the four skills if needed.

Undoubtedly, these significant visa changes will affect Indian students planning to pursue their studies in these countries. For more such student visa news, follow amber news.