Q: What documents are generally required for visa?
 

A: Docs. Required are your academic documents, experience letters if any, sponsor bank statement, sponsor business documents, visa fee in form of Draft, photos, completely filled in visa application form & affidavit on stamp paper from student.
 

Q: Is bank statement is compulsory & if there are any alternatives?
 

A: Bank statement of last 6 month from sponsor bank is usually required. It should be computerized with Manager signature & on original headed bank paper. You may provide National Savings Certificate copies, Bank loan letter or Bank supporting letter if your sponsor can not show bank statement.
 

Q: How much amount should be in bank statement?
 

A: End balance on Bank statement should be equivalent or more than the total amount of student 1 year Tuition Fee plus 1 year living cost. For example if your 1 year fee is UK Pounds 7000 ( Rs 7,50,000 ) & 1 year living cost is UK pounds 6000 ( Rs. 6,50,000 ) than your statement should have end balance of 7+6 = 13 + Lac Rupee or more.

Note: Visa officers are usually interested in end balance & if you have higher balance in previous months & low balance in last than its not acceptable. Also if there was very small amount in previous months & exactly before applying for visa, there is a huge sum of money deposited in bank, its not acceptable.
 

Q: Can I show property documents, land, savings, prize bonds?
 

A: Yes, you can show all of these documents but in addition to bank statement only. Copies of land registries in Urdu & lengthy land revenue documents are not needed.
 

Q: Can I have two sponsors?
 

A: No. Its better to have only 1 sponsor. But if your parents / brothers / personal account have some deposits in bank , you can show them as additional item, but your main sponsor should be only ONE.
 

Q: I have a bank statement 1 month old / I have a statement of last 4 months only – Can I use it?
 

A: Yes. You can use both types of statements if its not possible to have current bank statement
 

Q: Can I withdraw money from my bank after getting bank statement for visa purpose?
 

A: Its desirable that you should not with draw any amount until you will hear about your visa approval / denial
 

Q: My bank do not have computer, so can I provide handwritten statement?
 

A: Generally, visa officers are not happy to see handwritten statements. If it is not possible at all to get computerized statement, try getting typed statement.
 

Q: What is visa success ratio in year 2004/5?
 

A: Visa success depends on your visa file. Generally, ratio stands at 50-60% approvals. For UK, visa success ratio is excellent for September entry & poor in other times of year
 

Q: What is the MAIN factors on which visa officer judge an application?
 

A: Visa officer generally judge each visa application on following criteria:

• Student Age – Should be ideally between 18-25 years

• Education history – Should have continue educational history without gaps & have good grades throughout academic career

• College & Course selected abroad – Should be relative to previous studies. For example, if you have BCS & are going to MSC Computing, you have good chances. Your institution should be accredited & having good reputation. Generally, Govt. owned institutions have good scope than private.

• Your sponsor relation with you, his / her occupation & bank statement with his / her supporting documents.

• Quality of visa file, Visa application form filled in, information you have about your selected College abroad, its location, course start / end date, mode of assessment etc. You must show that you have searched other institutions also before selecting the desired University. 

Q: Can I ask my elder brother / friend / father to fill in my application form?
 

A: Generally you should fill in your form in your OWN HANDWRITING OR you may copy the form & ask your elder relative to help you fill in. Visa officer some times ask you that you have filled in form yourself or not? Or they can refuse visa if signature at the end of form are not similar to signatures on your passport
 

Q: How much duration visa will be issued to me & can I travel to Pakistan during holidays?
 

A: For UK – Visa will be issued for the duration of course ( 1-4 years )
For Ireland – Visa is issued for only 3 months & you have to extend visa after arriving in Ireland. Procedure is simple & you have to take a confirmation letter from Irish College that you have enrolled with it & paid full fee. Then you have to take that letter to nearest Gardai ( Police ) office & they will stamp your visa for a year.
It is multiple visa & you can travel to Pakistan whenever you like
 

Q: Can I transfer to other country after arriving in UK / Ireland / Singapore / Switzerland?
 

A: Yes you can, but its advisable to spend at least 1 academic year & complete your course before transferring to other country. You have to TAKE VISA for that country & have to fulfill all student visa requirements for that country including Sponsor, Bank letter etc)
 

Q: My visa was refused for UK / Ireland, can I reapply & what are chances now?
 

A: YES. You can reapply whenever you like. You must provide us refusal letter so that we can see on what grounds you can reapply. For

Ireland – If you are refused, its better to do appeal. Our appeal person will help you filing it & its FREE. Please contact our nearest office or send email at info@sesinternationals.com

UK – You may reapply with stronger documents & addressing the reasons of refusal. For example if your visa was refused stating that your English is poor, you must supply IELTS / TOEFL score in your second attempt.
 

Q: Do IELTS / TOEFL compulsory for Visa?
 

A: No. its not compulsory although chances of success will greatly enhanced if you have IELTS / TOEFL valid score.
 

Q: What if I do not have sponsor & can not arrange bank statement ?
 

A: Any body can sponsor you ( your parents, brothers, relatives, uncles, cousins or even friends ) So try finding a good sponsor with all documents as it’s a requirement of visa.
 

Q: What is visa processing time?
 

A: For UK – Its 6-8 weeks & Interview required. If you are applying in Fast track Student Select Scheme through British Council ( Only if you have IELTS 6.0+) it is 2-4 weeks & NO INTERVIEW is required

For Ireland – It is 6-8 weeks & no interview required
Switzerland – 6-8 weeks & interview is required at Swiss Embassy Islamabad
Singapore – 4-6 weeks & no interview required
 

Q: I was refused some years back & now I am looking to reapply. Can I make a new passport or apply on same passport?
 

A: You may apply on new valid passport.
 

Q: I have issued visa but I cannot go now. Can I extend my visa for further one month?
 

A: No – Visa once issued CAN NOT be extended & if you will not travel in visa time period, you have to reapply & have to go through all visa procedure again

UK – Visa is usually issued for 1-3 years & you can travel at any time
Ireland – Visa is issued only for 3 months & you have to travel before start of course with 3 months
Switzerland – Visa is only for 15 days
Singapore – Visa is only for two weeks ( 15 days )
 

Q: I want to contact visa section, how can I ?

A:UK – British High Commission, Ramna 5, Diplomatic Enclave, Islamabad.
www.britainonline.org.pk
Email Visa Section British High Commission Islamabad: visqry.islamabad@fco.gov.uk
Tel: 051-2822131-5 ( All sections )
FAX: 051 2824728 or 2279355

Ireland – Honorary Consulate of Ireland, 29 Sidco Avenue, Ground Floor, Maulana Din Muhammed Wafai Road, Karachi Tel: 021-9206655 ; 9206654
Email: irishcons@cyber.net.pk