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STUDYING ABROAD IS TEDIOUS BUT FRUITFUL

Considering the current global scenario, delays seem inevitable

Planning your educational journey abroad can be tedious but extremely rewarding. There are a million factors to consider before you start your application process and a million more until it is complete. From selecting the correct course and university to mapping out the application process, everything needs to follow a strict timeline for a successful admit, this includes the visa application process as well, which is arguably one of the most crucial aspects of the college admission process.

Delay in visa acceptance is not a new phenomenon. However, it has been especially tough in the past couple of years. Considering the fact that the world came to a standstill due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is no surprise that the visa acceptance experienced a steep fall as well.

Recently, although most travel restrictions have been lifted and many countries are beginning to issue new visas to hopeful students and working professionals, many are experiencing major delays in receiving answers to their applications. Typically, students receive a response on their visa applications within three to four weeks. However, some recent applicants have had to wait six long months to receive a response, and the response they receive is not a favourable one. Countries such as Germany, Canada, the UK and the US, which are the major educational destinations for students, are reporting severe delay in issuing visas.

Several reports state that approximately 45,000 students moved to Canada in 2021, and up to half of them were from India. However, this rate has steeply declined in 2022. The scenario with the US visa applications is no different. In 2020, approximately 1.1 million international students were enrolled in institutes across the US, almost 20,000 less than 2019. This number has since seemingly decreased.

A number of students had to start their courses online, which is taking a toll on their mental health. There have been reports where students are forced to push their admission to the next term or forfeit it completely due to their visa not arriving on time.

Many of these students come from average Indian families and it is no surprise that pursuing education abroad puts a lot at stake for them. Students have to pay their tuition fees well in advance before they move abroad, which is a huge financial investment. In such cases, delays in visa arrivals put a huge burden on the entire family. Moreover, students tend to take gap years before they start their college application process, a delay in visa threatens the loss of another year or term before they can start their education again.

But hope is not lost! Many international universities are allowing students to allow five to six weeks for late arrivals on campus. They are also offering students to push their admissions to the next semester completely in case of further delays. International visa authorities have also acknowledged the frustration and disappointment of students and have promised to implement different measures to reduce the wait time. Similarly, government officials in India are also working with the international authorities to ensure a quick and timely visa application process. Moreover, several embassies are focusing on clearing their student visa backlogs before they start issuing travel/tourist visas, which certainly help in reducing the timeline for the student visa.

However, considering the current global scenario, delays seem inevitable. Although the tide is slowly turning and government officials are trying their best to find a timely solution to this concern, students are also doing the best from their end by keeping their universities updated regarding their visa application status and preparing for contingency plans in cases of delays.

(The author is a certified at Coach of Life, USA)