What to do if Your Student Visa Application gets Rejected: Expert Tips & Solutions

Did your student visa get rejected? Understand some of the common reasons that lead to student visa rejections and learn how to overcome them through this article. Also, understand if you can reapply without having a gap year here.

After receiving the offer letter from a university, the first step to studying abroad is getting your visa stamped. We need to understand that these two approvals have a huge difference. A university application needs you to explain why you want to study a particular course in the chosen college. At the same time, a student visa is written to explain your desire to study abroad in a particular country. Making a study visa application lightly may cost you your dreams.

Students who get their visa applications rejected to study abroad may not know what to do next. To counter this question - what to next if student visa application gets rejected, we have got some expert tips to help students find their way out or the next best option. Read the article to know the reasons behind visa rejection and what you should do thereafter. 

What is a Student Visa?

With the help of a student visa, international students can travel to a different nation to pursue studies at an institution of higher learning. Those applying for a student visa need to be holding an offer letter from an accredited, recognised institution located in the selected country. Some documents you need to keep handy to apply for a student visa include an offer letter, passport, proof of funds to cover your cost of studies and living, health insurance evidence, etc. You may also be asked to submit a police clearance certificate (PCC). 

Top Reasons for Student Visa Rejection

There can be multiple reasons for student visa rejection abroad. Each country has a different set of visa rejection reasons. The possible aspects that we tend to miss out or not pay attention to while applying for a student visa are:

• Lack of sufficient financial funds or proof to support foreign education
• The inability to confirm a necessary return to India after completion of education
• Incorrect or false documents
• Inadequate language or communication skills
• Misbehaviour during the visa interview
• Failure to explain the reason for choosing a particular course, university, or country
• Inability to provide convincing answers during the interview

Though the visa process and its requirements for most of the countries are the same, the reason behind a rejection may vary with different countries. 

What to do if your Student Visa is Rejected?

If your student visa application gets rejected, applicants should understand what went wrong and try and fix it. To be able to tackle the student visa appication rejection we have some tips. There are only three steps involved:

Step 1: Understand why the Student Visa was Rejected

There can be many reasons behind a visa rejection. Upon rejection, you would be given reasons that may have led to that rejection. These are given in pointers. No pointer is highlighted, stating that you did not meet a certain requirement. However, if you find the reasons for visa rejection, the next step would be to rectify that or not repeat that mistake in your next application.

On the other hand, if you fail to recognise what went wrong and do not know what to do next, do not be disheartened. There are some common grounds based on which a student visa is generally rejected. This will help you analyse your application and prepare you better for the next time.

However, there are a few provisions through which you can get accurate information about your visa process and visa rejection reasons. For instance, if your application for a Canada student visa got rejected, and you are not a Canadian citizen or do not hold a Canadian PR, you can apply for GCMS or CAIPS notes through a consultant or a representative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Global Case Management System or Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System will provide details about your visa application. It takes around 35-40 days for you to receive these notes. You must check similar facilities for other countries as well. Such facilities allow you to get in-depth information about your visa application.

Impact of Backlogs on Visa Application

A common query we often come across is whether or not a visa application is affected by backlogs. Please read the impact of backlogs on a visa application. Backlogs have a direct impact on university admission but not on visa approvals. Some countries are strict towards backlog acceptance while some are quite lenient. Nevertheless, there is a limit to backlog acceptance in every country. Check out where the backlogs matter and where they don’t and up to which extent they are accepted.

Step 2: What steps should follow if a student visa gets rejected?

If you successfully establish the reason behind the previous rejection, your second step should be finding a solution. For example:

• If the visa was rejected due to finances, make sure that your finances are clear before the next time you apply.
• If you have provided inappropriate information that can be rectified, it is better to check it thoroughly before re-applying.
• If your intention of visiting the country was unclear the last time, make sure you portray your home tie-ups very strongly (to convince the visa officer that you are not a potential immigrant).
• Choosing the right university and course is very important if you do not sound ready in your visa letter/SOP or interview. The course, department, and university details should be at your fingertips.
• If you were nervous the last time in the visa interview, practice well, be honest, be confident, and be clear with the facts for the interviewer.

In another case, if you cannot identify the cause, it is recommended that you consider the timeline of your visa application.

Timing Matters - Apply for Student Visa on Time

Early applications have higher chances of being accepted. The visa officers are loaded with a huge pile of visa applications thus the late applications are more vulnerable to rejection.

Step 3: Re-applying for Student Visa

The last option on the list is to reapply for a student visa. For this, applicants may have to pay the entire student visa application fee again. Also go through the whole process once more. Visa re-application has two parts:

1. You may apply to the same country.
2. You can look for study options in other countries if you have multiple rejections from the same country.

Let us discuss these possibilities in detail:

Re-applying in the Same Country

If your visa application was rejected the first time, you can re-apply. Many students are granted a Student Visa the second time whose visa applications were denied the first time. You must identify and rectify the reasons which may have caused the rejection.

If you had a visa interview, you can ask the visa officer the reason for rejection. If you weren’t required to appear for an interview, you will receive a document stating the reason for rejection. Next, try to eradicate the reason and apply for your Student Visa again.

If you are tired of being rejected by the same country's visa officers and do not wish to re-apply, there are plenty of other options to explore. Try looking at universities in other countries that offer the same quality of education (at times, the same quality at a cheaper cost).

For instance, if you face rejection in an American student visa application, you can consider studying in Australia or exploring universities in the UK. You may also try your luck  European countries as they offer high-quality education.

Many students prefer going to German universities for their higher education. These countries have many high-ranking universities on the top universities list. The visa process for these countries is easier, comparatively.

If studying abroad is a must for you, you should wait for the next intake and prepare for the same. Having decided to re-apply in the next intake or next year, you should utilise this time to add to your academic or professional qualifications.

Wasting a whole year or even half a year doing nothing is harmful as it makes you look unfocused and lazy. It would be difficult to convince the admissions officers and visa officers about the gap year. You may utilise this time for some relevant activities, such as:

Can a Student Visa Get Rejected More than Once?

Yes, your student visa application can get rejected over one time. Every country has a set of stringent immigration norms and policies which your visa application should follow. The problem arises if your application is unable to meet the fixed requirements. If your application is rejected twice, you must carefully analyse what’s wrong with it and see that the next time you apply should be the final time. You will have to recognize the gaps or errors in your application and treat them seriously. Your application will get rejected if the submitted documents are incomplete or have flaws.

It can also get rejected if there is insufficient or missing proof of funds to cover your cost of studies and living abroad. Your academic qualifications and certificates should also be accurate and authentic, otherwise the immigration authorities will have another reason to reject your document. Students are therefore recommended to consult an agent if their visa application is rejected more than once and get help with the same.

What if Student Visa Still Doesn't Get Accepted?

If the student visa application still does not get accepted, applicants have two solutions. Either they can forfeit their dream of studying abroad and pursue something ese, or they can get some hands on experience. Let us discuss both the options:

Academic Pursuit: Pursue Something Useful

Pursuing any short-term course, acquiring an online certification, or joining a training centre related to your choice of subject will be beneficial. It will add to your knowledge base and increase the list of skills and qualifications to your resume while strengthening your candidature. You should sound determined to learn and focus on your academic goals.

Professional Pursuit: Apply for a Job/Internship

While preparing for the next time, you can start working in the meantime. This will add more work experience to your CV, making it easier to get re-admission the following year. Having more on-field experience will only make your application look more credible and considerable over the others.

The information above should help you deal with visa rejection. However, if you do not wish to waste more time and just focus on education, you can apply to Indian universities.

Tips to Avoid Student Visa Rejection

Candidates should keep a few things in mind to ensure their visa application is not rejected. They should be well aware of the causes that can lead to their visa application being rejected and avoid making them. Invest a good amount of time in making a list of all the important factors you need to remember before drafting your visa application. Some of them have been listed below:

• Early Application: It is always good to draft and submit your application early as it increases the chances of getting accepted. If you submit your application late or during the peak admission season, the chances of it getting rejected may increase as many reach the visa executives altogether.
• Verify Your Documents: Have all your documents in one place before submitting student visa application. Avoid giving any incorrect info through your official documents and ensure based on on the shared checklist, all are uploaded.
• English Language Proficiency Proof: Many countries need students applying for higher education at their institutes to prove they have a good grasp of English. For this purpose, they must submit a language proficiency score certificate for TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/DET, etc.
• Confidence during Interview: When you appear for the visa interview, maintain your confidence as much as possible. Respond honestly and try to state the reason for your studying abroad as elaborately as possible.

Tip: The next time you go for a visa interview, you will find Interview Tips for Student Visa helpful.