Getting a Visa Is Easier Than You Think

When it comes to studying abroad, a visa often seems like some fairy-tale dragon guarding the gates of a castle. But in reality it is simply a set of papers that aren’t so hard to gather, as long as you follow certain rules. 
 

What kinds of visas are there at all

Tourist — for short trips: to see the country, get to know a university, or brush up on the language for a couple of weeks. Easier to obtain, but it doesn’t give you the right to study in earnest.

Student — for programmes lasting from several months to several years. This is exactly the visa you need for school, college, a Bachelor’s or a Master’s. It often allows you to work a limited number of hours and can become the first step towards a residence permit.
 

Can you go without a visa?

Yes, you can — for tourist trips. Citizens of Kyrgyzstan can enter 27 countries visa-free, including such international education hubs as Turkey and Malaysia. That will be enough for language courses and summer programmes, but for serious study even in these countries you will need to obtain a student visa.
 

Where it’s harder, where it’s easier

Countries can be roughly divided into three camps:

• The “New World” (USA, Canada, Australia) — high requirements for financial guarantees and a serious interview at the embassy. In the USA, for example, they even check your open social media. Canada and Australia are now rigorously filtering out those who come not to study but to work. But if everything is above board — your chances are good.
• Europe — most often you need a national category D visa (a Schengen visa won’t do for studying if you’re staying longer than 90 days). The requirements are clear and transparent: have an admission and money in your account — and you’ll get the visa.
• Asia (China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia) — the procedures are becoming simpler and more transparent. A medical certificate and on-site registration are often required, but there are fewer refusals over «unclear suspicions» than in the West.

 

The main pitfalls — common to many countries

Mistakes in your documents. A typo in your name or address — and refusal. An unpleasant and critical detail.
Money in your account. In most countries you need to prove that you can pay for tuition and accommodation. But the requirements for the amount, the «settling» period of the money and the form of the statement differ everywhere. There is no universal recipe.
The interview. At the embassy they want to see a genuine student, not a tourist who has decided to stay. You need to answer questions clearly in English or the country’s language. That said, this is a skill you can build up.
Travel history. If you have had refusals before, or you spent a long time neither studying nor working — you’ll need to provide explanations.
 

How do we help?

We don’t get the visa for you. But we do everything so that you don’t trip up over nothing - we check your documents before submission, advise you on the best way to confirm your finances without unnecessary spending, train you for the interview and help with letters of explanation if there are any «blank spots» in your history.

A visa is just one stage. And with our help it stops being frightening. Choose your country, and from there we’ll sort out its visa subtleties together. And remember the main thing: with no panic and proper preparation, everything will work out.