Visa and Immigration: Information regarding Student Visas for UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and More

With World Politics going through a massive upheaval, studying abroad has an added dimension: “The Post Study Work Visa”. Never heard of it? Don’t worry, because you will find a detailed explanation about everything in the next few paragraphs. Promise.

What Is a Post Study Work Visa?

Well, to put it in easy terms, a post study work visa is the permission given by any country to immigrants to continue working as a full-time worker in that country’s local job market, post their education from the country itself.

How To Get Hold of a Post Study Work Visa? What Is The Procedure?

Different countries have different rules regarding the procurement of such post study work visas. However, some countries which are rather lenient about allowing international students to stay back after their graduation and work alongside the local people have a fairly easy process and is pretty achievable with some paperwork at most.

Others, which are strict about maintaining their job market integrity, can make life difficult for you by complicating and twisting the VISA process to the extent where you can no longer ask for one yourself but rely on your future employer (if any) to “Sponsor” your work Visa.

Crazy, right?

Immigration Regulation: A Country-Wise Description

Click below for country-specific regulations

Australia

The Australian Graduate Migration Scheme has the following details:

Eligibility Criteria For Post Study Work Visa Australia

For a post study work visa Australia, International Students must graduate with one of the following:

• Bachelor (Honours) qualification
• Masters or Masters Research Qualification
• Doctoral (PhD) qualifications

International Students must have at least two years of academic study in Australia at either the Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral level. Graduate Diploma Holders aren’t eligible.

NOTE: The subject area of the field of study does not affect the students’ eligibility for a post-study work visa. So, a Masters in CS will also grant you a post study work visa Australia, and so will a PhD in Medicine, as long as the degree obtained is recognized.

Duration of the Post Study Work Visa Australia

The duration of the work permit is dependent on the following students with a :

• Bachelor Degree: 2 year
• Master’s Degree Coursework: 2 years
• Master’s by Research Degree: 3 years
• Doctoral Degree (PhD): 4 years
• Students have received a minimum of 6 in each band of IELTS exams

Terms and Conditions for Post Study Work Visa Australia

• Only Courses registered on the CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Course for Overseas Students) and completed at eligible universities or education providers in Australia that are accredited to offer such degrees will be deemed eligible.
• The Standard time of obtaining a degree will be referred to as the duration of the study period. If a student takes longer to finish his/her degree due to any unforeseeable circumstance, the extended period won’t be considered.
• Graduate Diploma Holders aren’t permitted to apply for a post study work visa Australia. However, if a graduate diploma is done followed by a master/ doctoral degree, the duration of the diploma will be counted towards it.
• Multiple Masters won’t have any cascading effect on your Work Permit Duration. So if you do a double Master’s degree within two years, you will still be applying for a 2 Year Work Permit.
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Job Scenario in Australia

Those who want to pursue a job as a Financial Analyst, Site Manager, Data Analyst, Development and Operations engineer and sales manager will be happy to know that the Australian Job Market has a huge demand for these sectors.

Other booming job opportunities include Architecture, Supply Chain Manager, Lawyers, and Senior HR Professionals. Also, the IT sector in Australia is a major economic booster for the country, and as such, skilled migrants with technical know-how are in great demand. Consult the SOL (Skilled Occupation List) to make sure you are going for a masters in a related field, or else, it might be difficult to land a job as an immigrant.

Verdict

It is a country that can be kept as a solid backup option if someone wants to explore areas outside the EU and USA. Australia has a stable economy and a fairly open job market, thanks to the fact that it wasn’t affected hugely by any of the economic meltdowns. In addition, it is considered one of the best countries to live in, so all the effort that you may have invested in obtaining a post study work visa Australia will pay off. So if you have very good English Speaking Skills and do not mind spending some big bucks for your masters, Australia is definitely something you should consider.

Canada

For a post study work visa in Canada, candidates can pursue Graduation Work Permit Programme (PGWPP). The following are the details regarding the same:

Eligibility Criteria in Canada

1- Students need to study full time in Canada for at least eight months on a student Visa in Canada.

2- Students need to have graduated from:

• The public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
• The private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions
• The private secondary or post-secondary institution (in Quebec) offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a DEP(Diploma Etudes professionnelles) or ASP (Attestation de specialization professionnelle).
• Canadian Private Institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees, but only if you are enrolled in a program that leads to a degree authorized by the province.

3- Students must apply within three months of receiving written confirmation from the institution indicating that he/she has met the academic requirements of completing the academic program.

4- Students must complete and pass the program of study they are presently enrolled in and received a notification regarding their eligibility of obtaining their degree corresponding to their course.

5- There could be a specific SOP for Visa required.

Duration in Canada

• The PGWPP offered is never more than the length of your course duration. That is, if someone does a master’s degree for nine months in Canada, he/she can be eligible for a work permit no more than nine months in duration. A Canadian student Visa 
• Course Duration < 8 months: No Work Permit
• Work Permit no longer than the course duration: Course Duration > 8 months and < 24 months.
• Course Duration > 24 months: 3 Years of Working Permit may be issued.

Terms & Conditions in Canada

1- Students who have received partial or full grants from the following scholarship scheme are not eligible to apply for PGWPP:

• Students who participate in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Programme funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
• Participants in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by GAC.
• Recipients of funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
• Candidates of Canada-Chile Equal opportunity Scholarship.
• Participants of the Canada-China Scholars Exchange program.
• Students of the Organization of American States Fellowships program.
• Participants of Distance Learning Programme either from Abroad or from within Canada

2. Students must be 18 years or older at the time of application for PGWPP.

3. Students must provide a supporting letter from your institution outlining the duration of the studies and the program code.

4. Recipients of PGWPP following any other programs of study previously are not eligible for reapplying to the same scheme.

Job Scenario in Canada

One of the most booming job markets globally, Canada has an unemployment rate of 8.2 %, way less than in other countries.

More importantly, Canada at this moment has several domains where there is skill shortage such as Data Analytics, IT, Trade (Commerce) and Health Care. Therefore, graduates who want to enter into Professional services are very welcome to go to Canada to procure a work permit and work there.

Canada has introduced relaxed PR regulations to attract more talented people globally and is right now very immigrant-friendly.

Verdict

If you can handle the harsh winter of Canada and don’t mind learning French, then there is no reason why Canada should not be on your list. With world-class universities, excellent work-life balance and great job opportunities, it is definitely on the cards if you want to work for some time after your masters!

France

The French government entitles students who go to France to pursue their higher education to remain in France post-graduation, under a “Temporary Residency Authorization” (aka ASP) that allows them to stay after completing their course for professional reasons. This is, however, non-renewable.

The French government also issued an alternate Residency Permit called “Plurennial Residence Card”, aka “Passeport Talent”. This is to facilitate the entry of International Talents into France. This gives a right to have a job.

Given below are all the necessary details regarding the different schemes:

Eligibility Criteria in France

1- International Non-EU Students must pursue any of the below-mentioned three degrees to benefit from the ASP:

• Degree equivalent to a Master’s
• Degree categorized as level I by the “Conference of Grandes Ecoles”, which is equivalent to a 5-year studies course.
• Professional Licence

2. The ASP allows students to work in jobs in relation to his/her study course.

3. The job attained by the student must pay at least equivalent to 1.5 times the “SMIC”, i.e. minimum legal wage. Also, for obtaining the student visa, a student must be able to provide enough financial support to fend him/her during their stay. The minimum is 615 euros/month.

4. The ASP is also given to entrepreneurs for starting their own company.

5. For the Passeport Talent Scheme, to be eligible, international students must meet the following criteria:

• Young graduated qualified employees or employed in an innovative company where the student has to be a holder of a degree equivalent to Master’s, issued by a national compliant higher education institution. Students must be holders of a work contract superior to 3 months. The annual gross wage for the job has to be at least equivalent to 2 times the minimum legal wage.
• Company Creators
  Holders of a degree equivalent to a master and prove an investment of at least 30,000 euros in a company project.
• Highly qualified workers
  Holders of a degree represent three years of higher studies and a work contract over 12 months with a French employer with an annual gross wage equivalent to the reference average annual wage (defined by the Ministry of Immigration).

Duration in France

• The duration of residence permit for internationals who hold the Plurennial Residency Card is four years. In addition, the Residency Card allows them to keep their family in France as well for the duration.

Terms And Conditions For Post-Study Visa in France

(Related to extending the ASP)
1. The rule for extending your ASP is simple. You have to apply for a “Status Change”, i.e. upgrade your status from a student to one of the following:

• Student –> Employee

This is for those students who can prove an employment contract concerning their study course.

• Student à Auto-Entrepreneur

It is for students who want to start their own company. The field of work must be related to the study course followed, and the company’s viability must be proven.

2- For Indian Students only, there is, however, very good news. Due to the recent bi-lateral student exchange program signed by our very own PM Narendra Modi, Indian students under the ASP are eligible for a 24-month post-study temporary residence visa instead of the 12-month tenure. This is done to ensure the number of student exchanges between the two countries.

Job Scenario in France

It is one of the better places in the EU to work at. Even though the French Unemployment rate is marginally higher than the EU average, graduates from top universities are not to be considered for such a scenario, and most of them manage to land pretty decent jobs.

Banking, R&D, IT & Engineering are some of the fields that have witnessed maximum growth.

The average workweek in France is 35 hours which is significantly less than the world average. Plus, five weeks of paid annual leave is granted to each French employee.

Finding a job becomes easy if you have good French Language Proficiency and also the French income is taxed based on five different bands with 0% tax for incomes below 9,500 euros and 45% for a yearly income of 150,000+ euros.

Verdict

Definitely worth it. It is not exactly easy to land a job in France, but it depends on how much effort you put in. So if you aren’t repulsed by the idea of learning and speaking French, or like the French Cuisine and Culture, then it should be one country to watch out for. Plus, who wouldn’t want to study in a country whose capital featured as the “Best Student City in the world” for three years and which has 3 out of the 4 Best MIM Programmes in the world?

Italy

EU students can enter Italy and study there merely with the help of a passport. Yes. It’s that simple for non-Italian EU students to study in Italy. No Separate Student Visa is required.

Coming to the not-so-lucky non-EU international students who wish to study in Italy—they will have to apply for a student visa to pursue their higher education.

However, All international students will register themselves at the nearest Police Station (Questura) to obtain what is called the “Residence Permit” within eight working days of their arrival in Italy.

Eligibility Criteria Italy

• A student applying for the VISA must have an admission letter from one of the Italian Universities and a valid passport (Preferably with two blank VISA Page).
• Students should not have any criminal records against their names.
• Students must provide financial documents to prove that they can sustain themselves during the entire study period.
• This is something bizarre, but to be eligible to be granted a VISA, students must furnish their flight itinerary, showing the purchase of a valid return ticket and enough money to be able to travel back to your country.

Duration in Italy

• The Student VISA issued is generally for the course duration only. However, for non-Italian EU students, since they only require a residence permit, they can work in Italy for as long as they want, but with a valid residence permit.
• Non-EU students enrolling for only PhD and 2nd degree Masters (ECTS of 120) can apply for a temporary residence permit once their study permit for the course duration gets over, an extension of 6-12 months.
• Therefore, it is important to land a job within the expiry of the VISA. Or else, pack your bags and head home!

Terms and Conditions for Post Study Work Visa in Italy

• To apply for a temporary stay permit extension, one must show the economic capability of at least 8,500 Euro in your bank account and prove a valid housing contract issued by the Municipality.
• Students can only work up to 4 hours a day and 20 hours per week while on a study VISA and work full time during Vacations. Anything more than that, the student will have to convert his student visa into a work permit.
• For internship post-graduation in Italy, students will have to ask for a renewal of student residence permit at the Questra, which doesn’t guarantee automatic renewal. So beware while applying for an internship. Also, the internship period cannot be longer than 12 months.

Job Scenario in Italy

The Italian Job Market is counted as one of the slowest growing economies in the EU, thanks to the economic meltdown in the last decade. Unemployment is on the rise, and the start-up cost of an enterprise is very high.

Productivity is going downhill in Italy, with construction, banking and service sectors being the worst hit of the lot. Also, there is no unemployment benefit.

Verdict

For the time being, Italy should not be kept as the first preference for those students who want to work for some time after completing their masters. The Job Market is not projected to turn around big time in the coming years or so. Hence, if you are really into Italian culture or food or want to stay In Italy to pursue an Italian masters, the best bet will be to learn Italian beforehand and aim for only the topmost universities.

Germany

For Germany, the process is as easy as it gets. There is no need for any student visa or residence permit for EU students to study or enter the German Labour Market, owing to the Freedom of Movement amongst EU Partner countries.

For non-EU Students, the situation is not so bad either! Generally, students pursuing their degree at any authorized German Higher University get a residence permit for the duration of their course. They also get another extension of the permit to facilitate the job search.

Apart from this, there are four types of visa: the German Residence Visa for studying, Visa for Jobseekers, the EU Blue Card Work Visa, and the self-employed visa. Below are the eligibility criteria for the same:

Eligibility Criteria in Germany

• The eligibility of a German Student Visa is pretty straightforward, wherein a student has to furnish a document saying that he/she has been accepted into a German University.
• He/She has to show sufficient funds to support him/her during the stay.
• For the EU Blue Card, a person has to show that he/she is currently employed in a job in Germany and has an annual gross salary of more than 49,600 Euros.
• For the Self Employed Visa, a student has to abide by the following:
• There is commercial interest or regional demand for your products or services.
• Your business activity is likely to have a positive impact on the economy.
• You have secured financing for your business by way of capital or a loan commitment.
• Only the non-EU students need to agree between the student and the German company for the internship visa. Also, the company has to apply to the BA on your behalf, and only after they allow you to carry on will you become eligible to work as an Intern in Germany.
• For being eligible to obtain a job-seeker visa, you have to provide proof of adequate funding to sustain you during your stay in Germany and also must have a degree equivalent to that of the German Degrees.

Duration in Germany

• The study Visa for pursuing any higher education courses, such as Masters/PhD, is a two-year permit given to the students, even extended under special circumstances.
• The Study Visa can extend upon graduation to make it a work permit for 18 months.
• The EU Blue Card allows students eligible for one to get a PR (Permanent Residence) status. After 33 months of being an EU Blue Card holder, get the PR in 21 months if the student can show a German Language Proficiency equivalent to B1 level of CFER.
• The internship Visa is variable depending on its length but has an upper limit of 12 months.
• For Entrepreneurs, if their business idea turns profitable and can prove to run, one can apply for a residence permit extension of 3 years and, after that, apply for a PR.
• The Job Seeker Visa duration is of 6 months.

Terms and Conditions in Germany

• Students can work during their studies for up to 120 full or 240 half days annually.
• Some internships do not require the agreement of the BA. These include internships under EU-funded programmes (Leonardo, Socrates, Erasmus, etc.).
• If you are over 45 years old and applying for a self-employment visa, a residence permit will only be issued to you if you can also provide proof of adequate provision for old age.

Job Scenario in Germany

When it comes to the EU, hands down, the most stable and booming economy is Germany. The labour market is open for both Germans and international alike. Excellent PR and Visa regulations make every job seekers dreamland to be in.

However, knowledge of German is essential but not sufficient to guarantee you success while job hunting. Besides, like their French counterpart, Germany has a 35-hour workweek for several sectors now and, as such, boasts of an excellent work-life balance.

Verdict

Germany is the best option for someone who aspires to work in the EU. Relaxed visa and specific PR regulation, complimented with heavily subsidized higher education and health care plus a great work-life balance amidst a challenging and positive job market, makes it the top destination for most students.

Netherlands

The Netherlands, being another heavy-weight member of the EU, allows EU students unrestricted access to both the Dutch Universities for pursuing higher education as well as entering the Dutch job market and staying there for as long as they like.

Unlike their lucky EU counterparts, non-EU students have to apply for what is called a “Provisional Residence Permit”, aka MVV and a” Residence Permit “to ensure their stay for at least as long as their course duration is.

Apart from the student Visa, Netherlands offers the “Orientation Year Visa”, aka “Zoekjaar”, for international students who have come to pursue higher education, allowing them to extend the stay post expiry of their student visa.

Other categories of visas that students often take help of to stay back in the Netherlands are the “Highly Skilled Migrant Visa” and the “Work Permit”.

Eligibility Criteria in the Netherlands

• For the “Zoekjaar” eligibility, a student must have studied either a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree at an NVAO-accredited institution in the Netherlands.
• For the “Zoekjaar” Visa, a student has to complete either a PG course of 12 months duration or a PhD from a Dutch University or an ERASMUS MUNDUS Master’s course.
• If you are searching for a job under the “Zoekjaar” scheme, you have to find a job that pays you around 30,000 Euros.
• For the highly skilled migrant Visa, students below 30 years of age need to furnish proof of having a job in the Netherlands that pays him/her around 40,000 Euro gross salary annually. Thus, for students above 30 years of age, the bare minimum salary required is around 55,000 Euro at the least.
• You must provide proof of your health insurance to apply for a residence permit under any of the schemes mentioned.
• For getting the MVV, a student must show sufficient financial means to support him/her, with the bare minimum being 833 Euros per month.
• However, for the “Work Permit”, the only eligibility you have to consider is finding a Dutch Company that will employ you. Generally, the company arranges the ” Work Permit” on your behalf.

To apply for a Work Permit, students must make sure that their employer gets registered with IND.

Duration for Post Study Work Visa in Netherlands

• Zoekjaar: 12 months of extension offered to students who have graduated from a Dutch university to look for jobs, post expiry of their study Visa.
• The Duration of the Student Visa is generally equivalent to the duration of the course plus an additional three months for the university’s administration processes.
• The high skilled migrant visa duration is for as long as you have a job in the Netherlands.
• To apply for the Dutch PR, a foreign national must have spent five continuous years in the Netherlands minimum.

Terms and Conditions

• The “Zoekjaar” is non-renewable, so students must be proactive and try to land a job before their visa expires and apply for converting their Zoekjaar to a Work Permit.
• During the Zoekjaar, if you find any work, the employer need not apply for a work permit.
• For EU Students, only registering with the IND office is enough. No need for Visas. (Not true for Bulgarian and Roman nationals)

Job Scenario in the Netherlands

Netherland is a popular site for foreign investors, and the main sectors of growth are related to agriculture, engineering and service sectors. Therefore, students with transferrable skills such as Management, Marketing and Bio-Engineering can find umpteen job prospects in the agro-based sector, which contributes to the countries’ prosperity.

The Dutch average 40 hours of work per week and has a national average starting wage of around 30,000 Euros/annum.

However, to obtain a work permit, every Dutch company must prove that no other Dutch national is more suitable for doing this job. It means you have to be spot on with your skillset and knowledge of the Dutch language as it can be a handy asset.

Verdict

Compared to other European countries, most Dutch people speak relatively good English. Still, it is a good idea to use the opportunity to learn Dutch – especially if you are considering working in Holland after your studies and wish to integrate with the Dutch society.

The location of the Netherlands means weekend or summer trips to other European cities like Prague, Bruges, Paris, and Budapest come by cheap and easy.

Many international students choose Netherland for their strategic location as well! A thriving economy, a proper Visa and Work Permit regulation, as well as an excellent quality of life, with a more or less fairly competitive job market, makes the Netherlands one of the most attractive EU countries to be in.

Switzerland

Switzerland has always featured amongst the best countries to live in the world and for all right reasons. The country is another EU Member country. It allows the EU/EFTA students to study without any Visa, unlike their non-EU counterparts. They who have to apply for a Visa to study in Switzerland, aka “long term residence permit”.

Also, post-graduation, students who wish to work in Switzerland for some time can opt for a residency permit extension to allow foreign nationals graduating from Swiss Universities to find employment.

To get a work permit, the student’s employer has to deal with such intricacies on his/her behalf.

Eligibility Criteria For Post-Study Visa in Switzerland

• Students who are non-EU foreign nationals will need to apply for a student visa. For which they have to furnish an acceptance letter from one of the Swiss universities.
• For applying for any of the Swiss Visa’s, a student must show their financial stability to sustain themselves.
• To make sure that you can sustain yourself in a foreign country, you may need to take a language test.
• To get the residency extension after the expiry of your student visa, you will have to prove your residence in Switzerland. It is where you plan on staying and a degree completion certificate and sufficient funding to back oneself.
• To get the Swiss Work Permit, non-EU students will have to find a Swiss Employer who will apply for the work permit in place of them.
• For a student visa, confirmation of course fee and students medical cover is a must to be given a study visa.

Duration in Switzerland

• Students generally get The Long term visa as per the course duration.
• The extension of residency post completion of the degree is given to a maximum of 6 months.
• The work permit is valid for as long as the candidate is an employee of the Swiss Job Market.
• For PR, however, a long duration of 10 years or so have to spent in Switzerland to obtain it.

Terms and Conditions in Switzerland

• The maximum extension of the residency is six months.
• The students hunting for jobs under the extension cannot work for more than 15 hours/week.
• You cannot come to Switzerland under a short term stay visa of 90 days and later convert or upgrade it to a student visa.
• Students get a maximum of 2 weeks to report your arrival and arrange for your residence permit from the canton migration offices.
• While awaiting your residency, students will be given an attestation to open a bank account. They are barred from leaving the country during that period.
• Even if you have a student visa, you can only work up to 15 hours a week during the term and full time during holidays. But that too only after you have stayed in Switzerland for six months minimum.
• Your family members can’t join you in Switzerland while you are still on a student visa. Only foreigners holding a PR can do so. In exceptional circumstances such as holding confederation grants or other academics scholarites.

Job Scenario in Switzerland

Unemployment is extremely low at 4.85%, and the salaries are some of the highest-paid in the world. Though many people may argue that Switzerland is also one of the most costly countries to live in, the salaries are extremely high.

Switzerland is not a “Welcome-one-and-all” country like Canada or Germany. But it has a restrictive quota of allowing foreign nationals into the job market. So even though the benefits one may reap are high, but so is the competition.

The demand for skilled labourers is mainly in engineering and IT sectors, Financial Analysts, Consulting, Pharmaceuticals, Banking and Business Analysts.

Verdict

There are probably a handful of countries globally where everything is more or less perfect for work-life balance. Ample holidays, Paid leaves, subsidized healthcare, fantastic educational institutes with reputed world-class b-schools like St. Gallen & IMD, and very high quality of living make Switzerland one of the major study abroad locations world.

USA

The United States of America now mainly has two types of VISA for their international student cohort.

The first one is termed the F-1 visa, aka Optional Practical Training (OPT), mainly taken up by most international students who have chosen the USA as their study abroad destination.

The other visa is for specialized fields, aka H-1 B Visa and is the one that had all the changes lined up once President Trump came into power.

Other Visas include the J-1 Visa for exchange students and visitors and the O-1 visa for the extraordinarily talented person with national and international recognition for their expertise.

Apart from this, the very popular US Green Card is also there, but to get one is equivalent to getting a lottery nowadays. Not kidding.

Eligibility Criteria for Post Study Work Visa USA

1- F-1 Visa needs the following eligibility criteria to be met:

• Students have to document sufficient funds for sustaining themselves in the USA during their stay.
• They must provide strong ties to their home country via Bank Accounts, Family, Assets or Job offers.
• Candidates should remain enrolled full time in their programme for which they got the F-1 visa.

2.For the H-1B Visa :

• A requirement of a US Employer who can sponsor the visa.
• US bachelors or equivalent
• A correlation between the job and the applicant’s education
• An approval from the labour condition attestation from the Department of Labor.

Duration in USA

• The OPT under the F-1 Visa allows students to stay back for 12 months in the USA to put their knowledge into practical application. In addition, a further 17 months extension is given to students of a STEM degree, thereby allowing a total of 29 months of stay back in the USA.
• H-1 B Visa is granted for an initial period of 3 years, and a further extension of 3 years is allowed. However, you cannot increase the H-1 B Visa for more than six years, and if you have to keep on working in the USA, then you may as well apply for a US Green Card.
• The O-1 and J-1 Visas are both terms specific visas and, as such, allow the applicants of these Visas a fixed short term to stay, and expiry of the visa leads to deportation.

Terms and Conditions for the Post Work Study Visa USA

• Family Members and Spouse can accompany a person on either L-1 or H-1 B or O-1 Visas by applying for a J-1 Visa, during which time they can work, but the student cannot use their income to support him/her.
• Don’t move out of the country while your H-1 B Visa is pending
• For qualifying for an H-1 B Visa, your job must pertain to your education. Else you may not be eligible for one.
• There is an upper cap of 85,000 H-1 B Visas of any specific year.
• For applying for an OPT under the F-1 visa,  do so within 60 days of completion of your degree.
• The Previous minimum wage for H-1 B Visa was ~60,000 USD. The recent development aims to push that as high as to more than two times the existing one.

Job Scenario in USA

The US Job Market can be best termed as “hostile” towards foreign students. Even though there is no language barrier and the competition is fairly even between nationals and internationals alike. However, just like 4-5 years back the employment prospects are still not good for internationals.

Verdict

Start applying for the American Universities now If you want to live the “American Dream”. Also, be ready to take on the rather daunting task of obtaining the much-prized H-1 B and Green Card Permits. You need to buy the trade-off for an increasingly competitive job market for security. Also, enjoy leading a life in one of the most advanced countries in the world.

Singapore

The Republic of Singapore is an extremely attractive city-state not far from India. The economic and social development, the quality of its universities and the business infrastructure offering good employment attract Indian students to this financial hub of the Asia Pacific region. Moreover, the visa regime is easy and does not impose prohibitive requirements for the issuance of student visas.

As per the latest news on a post study work visa in Singapore, here is what you need to know:

Eligibility Criteria in Singapore

1- Any foreigner wishing to pursue full-time studies in Singapore in a case trusted institution that:

• Has registered with the Ministry of Education (MOE); or
• Is not required to have registration with MOE but had obtained permission from the Commissioner, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to submit Student’s Pass applications for international students intending to take up its courses; or
• Has a license by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to operate as a Childcare centre.

A foreigner is exempted from applying for a Student’s Pass if he/she is a:

• Dependant’s Pass holder studying in a Government/ Government-Aided/ Independent school/ Foreign System School/ Kindergarten registered with MOE or Childcare centre licensed by MCYS;
• Immigration Exemption Order holder; and
• A visitor who has been granted a short-term Social Visit Pass at the Singapore Checkpoint and wishes to attend a short course can be completed within the validity or 30 days, whichever is shorter. It must satisfy two other criteria, that are, the course:

1. Must be a complete module and stand-alone module of its own. Student’s Pass exemption scheme does not include Courses with multiple programme modules; and
2. Must not involve hands-on practical occupational training and/or industrial attachment, which interact with walk-in customers or be conducted at premises that are also places of business, e.g. hair salons and beauty salons.

Duration in Singapore

One to three months of stay back option is available to students. A student may be granted a short stay pass to stay a little longer. If the student wishes to stay longer to look for employment, then they may also apply for a one year, no-renewable social visit pass for a longer-term stay.

Terms and Conditions for Post Study Work Visa in Singapore

Students cannot stay in Singapore on their Student Pass to look for a job like in some European countries or the USA.

But does that mean that students have to come back to India after completing their education?

The answer is…not necessarily.

Students studying at private universities in Singapore who want to stay back and work after completing their degrees usually receive a visa extension of 1–3 months (depending on each institution). And once the students get employed, an S pass gets issued to them by the ICA department.

On the other hand, government institutions, polytechnics and some leading foreign campuses of overseas universities usually issue Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP). It is valid for one year for students who want to stay back and search for jobs completing their studies in Singapore.

Job Scenario in Singapore

Singapore relies on foreign workers and talents at both ends of the skills ladder. Singapore aims to continue to lure global talent and top management to its shores, most significantly in IT jobs and the technology industry. It has introduced a new class of taxpayers, called “not ordinarily resident,”. These are those who will earn tax exemptions on income earned outside the country.
Recent evidence has shown weaker economic performance, with unemployment rates reaching the highest levels in many years. Yet, on the contrary, Singapore’s unemployment rate is still lower than other developed countries.

Some suitable career opportunities in the financial sector include treasury and risk management, funds management, general debt issuance, investment analysis, investment banking and tax planning. Other service industries include transport, logistics, media and advertising, F&B, wholesale and retail, healthcare, education, social/ community services.

The management culture in Singapore is that the government financially supports many of the large corporations in Singapore. Therefore, people generally work well under pressure as ‘time is money’ to many. Therefore, expatriates who live and work here can easily adapt to the lifestyle and work style in Singapore.

Verdict

The student visa can get renewed before it expires by showing the continuity of enrollment in an academic program. In addition to the ability to fund the further period of stay in Singapore. However, the students must surrender the pass to the ICA within seven days of completion of the academic program or the validity of the pass. After that, a student may be granted a short stay pass to stay a little longer.

Singapore is a user–friendly city, and so is its visa application process.

Ireland

Eligibility Criteria in Ireland

Like most other countries, Ireland requires candidates from many non-EU countries to have a visa to come and study in Ireland. Therefore, if you are a citizen of non-EU countries, you will need a visa to study in Ireland. The student immigration process is divided into two categories, based on whether you are applying for a degree programme offered by a higher education institution or you intend to pursue an English-language or non-degree course.

Also, Non-EU students hoping to come to Ireland to study for more than 90 days have to, by law, register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). (The Garda Síochána is Ireland’s police force). This applies to you even if you do not need a study visa to enter the country. The post study work visa UK fees is around 500 Euros with around 20 euros charge for biometrics and around 600 Euros charge for health.

Before being registered on a degree programme, you must:

• Have a valid passport
• A valid student ID card
• Have a letter of acceptance from the higher education institution, confirming you have been accepted and enrolled on a programme of full-time day-time education.
• Prove that fees have been paid to your preferred higher education institution. Where your fees are below €6,000, the full amount of the fees must be paid in advance. Where your fees exceed €6,000, then at least this amount must be paid in advance.
• Show you have private medical insurance at the time of registration.
• Registration fee of €300 (payment by bank giro or credit card)

Duration in Ireland

• The Spanish Students get the TIE for 12 months initially. Students can renew the TIE for as long as the course duration takes, with an upper limit of 5 years.
• The length of the Work Permit is subject to your work contract length. The Work Permit is provided for 12 months initially.  is renewable as long as the conditions are met.
• The EU Blue Card is as mentioned previously.

Terms and Conditions for Post Study Work Visa in Ireland

Non-EU students approved to study in Ireland with higher education institutions listed on the ILEP can avail of casual work to help support themselves while in Ireland. Students can work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) or full-time (up to 40 hours a week) during holiday periods.

Job Scenario in Ireland

If you are an international student studying in Ireland,

You may have the right to stay and work in Ireland after you graduate. However, your right to work here depends on two things:

 1- Where are you from? There are different rules for students and graduates from countries in the European Economic Area and Switzerland and those from other countries (also known as non-EU students). In addition, there are more restrictions on non-EU students.

2- Where are you studying or working? There are different rules for Northern Ireland (in the UK) and the Republic of Ireland.

If you are from the European Economic Area

The European Economic Area (EEA) includes all of the EU plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. Swiss nationals have the same rights as EEA nationals. If you are from one of these countries, you are generally entitled to study and work without restriction in Ireland or the UK (including Northern Ireland). This means you have a right to take up an internship while you are at university. Also, a right to work after you graduate.

If you are a non-EU student

If you are not from a country in the EEA or Swiss, you are a non-EU student. This is because you must obtain a study visa before studying in Ireland or the UK (which includes Northern Ireland).

While you are at college in Ireland, you can work up to 20 hours per week in term time. You can also work for 40 hours per week in holiday times. If you are at a UK university (this includes Northern Ireland), you can work up to ten hours per week in term time or full time during holidays.

Verdict

The large investments Ireland has made in its higher education system is one of the reasons why the country has welcomed so many international students over the last few years. As a result, Ireland’s universities are among the world leaders in an increasing number of academic subjects.

Among the advantages that make Ireland so appealing to internationals is that the country is part of the European Union. The education system follows the Bologna system. The language of instruction used in universities is English. You can benefit from smaller tuition fees and living costs than in the UK. Moreover, Ireland is known for its friendly people and very safe environment. It was also listed on the top countries where students are very satisfied with their study abroad experience.

Spain

A post study work visa in Spain varies according to country. Similar to other EU Members, Spain allows unrestricted freedom to study and work in Spain for EU/EETA students. For non-EU students, depending on the length of their course, they can apply for one of the student visas.

For study courses of length more than 180 days, a student needs a Visa type D and a Residence Permit. Also, Spain is a member of the EU Blue Card Association.

For Working in Spain, however, one has to apply for a separate Work Permit.

Eligibility Criteria in Spain

• For the student visa type D, students have to show admission to a Spanish Higher Education Institute. There should be enough funding financially to sustain themselves during the entire course term.
• During the whole period of their studies, students need to show the Medical Insurance Coverage worth 30,000 Euros.
• To obtain the Residence Permit, all foreign nationals, including EU members, must apply to the nearest police station upon arriving in Spain for the TIE, aka Foreigner identity Card.
• For courses of less than six months duration, TIE is not required to pursue the same.
• A student has to show at least 5 years of professional experience in a related field, like in most other cases for the Spanish Blue Card.
• For Spanish PR, a student must prove five continuous years of domicile in Spain, with no irregular exits from the country during the period.

Duration in Spain

• The Spanish Students get the TIE for 12 months initially. Students can renew the TIE for as long as the course duration takes, with an upper limit of 5 years.
• The length of the Work Permit is subject to your work contract length. The Work Permit is provided for 12 months initially.  is renewable as long as the conditions are met.
• The EU Blue Card is as mentioned previously.

Terms and Conditions for Post Study Work Visa in Spain

• You cannot come to Spain under a short term stay visa of 90 days and later convert or upgrade it to a student visa.
• Students cannot work if they come for a course whose duration is six months or less as they aren’t provided with the TIE.
• Spanish students are not allowed to work in jobs that overlap with the course timings.
• All the Visa renewals shoulb be done before the expiration of the current visa.

For more details, visit Schengen Visa Information

Job Scenario in Spain

Being one of the most sluggish economies in the EU, many students think twice about working in Spain after graduation. Moreover, unemployment is at an all-time high, with around 20% of the current Spanish Population out of work, only lagging behind Greece. So naturally, this raises a red flag amongst Spanish students.

Spain is also among one of the highest job creators. So this might be a good time to apply for a post study work visa in Spain.

However, temporary contracts are the major problem with the Spanish Job Economic, which renders it unstable.

Verdict

Language Barrier is a headache, more so in Spain, because of the current job market situation. However, the EU has well regarded Spanish b-schools, especially the top three rounded by IESE, IE and Esade. Unfortunately, Spain has pretty limited employment prospects, and salaries are also not that great. However, culturally vibrant and low living costs make Spain a graduate destination for those who dare to take up the challenges and make the best out of their time in Spain.

Conclusion

Now that we have eased out the post study work visa process for you, it should now be a little easier for you to decide on your schools or country you want to study in.