Common Questions (Important)

FAQ for Students

Visa Questions ¨C Visa documents, Visa fee, Visa application forms, Visa success ratios, Tips, Reasons of Refusals, Appeal procedure


Admissions & applications ¨C Course choice, selecting a University, Application procedure, Documents for admission, Application fee, Sessions, Time factor


Money Matters ¨C Fee, Payment modes, Refunds, Living Costs, Salaries for students, Scholarships

SI CONSULTANT& You ¨ Processing fee, How to submit application, Where to submit, our terms & conditions, our introduction & status



Commonly asked Questions

Visa Questions ¨C Visa documents, Visa fee, Visa application forms, Visa success ratios, Tips, Reasons of Refusals, Appeal procedure

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: UK ¨C You need your own bank account in your name opened for 28 days or more. Funds should be 1 year fee + 1 year living cost (for London it is 7000 GBP & for outside London it is 5400 GBP).

Loan Letter is alternative

Australia ¨C Bank statement of last 6 months of you, your parents, spouse, and sibling is allowed. It should remain with min. balance required for continue last 6 months.

Alternative is Bank Loan Letter.

Funding required is Full Course Fee + Full course living cost at A$ 12000 per year + Travel cost A$ 2000

NB: Please add 4200 A$ per year for spouse even if he/she is not traveling to Australia.


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: Yes you can.

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 are the MAIN factors on which visa officer judge an application?

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

Student Age ¨C Should be ideally between 18-25 years

Education history ¨C Should have continue educational history without gaps & have good grades throughout academic career

College & Course selected abroad ¨C 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. For UK, your own bank account with required funds.
            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 ¨C Visa will be issued for the duration of course plus 4 months

For Australia ¨C For full course duration

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 ¨C 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 shakeelpk2002pk@yahoo.com

UK ¨C 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: UK- No. it¡¯s not compulsory although chances of success will greatly enhanced if you have IELTS / TOEFL valid score.

Australia ¨C IELTS is mandatory. Minimum band 5.0 is required


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

A:UK ¨C Your own bank account is required

Australia ¨C Your parents, brothers, sister, spouse can sponsor you with 6 months bank statement.


Q: What is visa processing time?

A: For UK ¨C Its 3-4 weeks

AUSTRALIA - Its 3-4 months

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 ¨C 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 ¨C Visa is usually issued for 1-3 years & you can travel at any time

Ireland ¨C Visa is issued only for 3 months & you have to travel before start of course with 3 months

AUSTRALIA ¨C Visa is issued for complete course duration.

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

A:UK ¨C 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

Australia ¨C Visit www.immi.gov.au

Admissions & applications

Course choice, selecting a University, Application procedure, Documents for admission, Application fee, Sessions, Time factor

Q: What course should I select?

A: You must select a relative course for your future studies or course of your choice. For example if you have done BSC Computing from Pakistan, a Masters degree program in Computing will be excellent choice. Following are some popular choices of Pakistani students

Pakistani FA/ICOM/FSC - ¡ú BBA ; BSC Computing; B-Engineering ; Diploma in Hotel Management ; Foundation Program; Diploma in Computing; ACCA / CAT

Pakistani BCOM / ICOM / - ¡ú BBA with exemptions ; MBA; PGD in Business; Hotel Management; ACCA; Foundation Year

Pakistani 4 years BSC Computing - ¡ú MSC Computing; MSc Engineering; Pre Masters Program; MBA

Pakistani BA 2 years- - ¡ú Hotel Management, BBA, ACCA, Foundation Year

Pakistani BE 4 years - ¡ú Masters in Engineering; MBA; Pre Masters Program

Pakistani Medical Degree MBBS- ¡ú Post Graduate MSC program in Health related sciences; Pre Masters program

ACCA / CAT - ¡ú BBA; ACCA; Diploma in Accountancy; BA Finance; Foundation Year


Q: What major factors I should consider to select a University abroad?

A: You MUST consider the following factors

Your selected program availability in selected University - Please browse University web site & contact there International office or concerned department to verify that course of your choice is open. DO NOT forget to see through curriculum details of your selected program at University web site / brochure

University Fee & living costs in that city :

Kindly ask International office to give you EXACT details of International Students. Kindly ask for every detail like Tuition fee, books, Library fee, Lab fee, Exam fee, Health insurance,

Accreditation / Recognition of University in Pakistan & in abroad

Facilities at University ¨C Classrooms, Labs, Research opportunities, Housing facilities, general reputation of University

Location of University ¨C in big city or in small town


Q: What documents are usually required for admission in overseas Universities?


A: Most of the Universities requires following documents from International Students for admissions, scholarship applications & enrolments

Fully completed application form. Do not leave any area blank. The sections which are not applied on you, mark them X

Copies of all academic documents, experience certificates, co curricular activities, character certificates, degrees / mark sheets etc

2 Recommendation Letters from the teachers commenting on your academic suitability, performance in there class, English level proficiency

Student Essay / Statement of purpose written by applicant himself on 1 page outlining his / her past academic history, future plans & giving reasons why you chose the course you are applying.

Proof of English Language proficiency. Following proofs are usually accepted,

IELTS ( 5.5 for UG ; 6.0+ for PG courses)

TOEFL ( 220+ CBT )

WELT ( Warwick University English Test )

British A levels with good English grades

A letter from the institution last attended commenting on your reading, writing & hearing English level

British Council, American Center or NUML English course certificate