COVID-19 Updates to Study Abroad

December 2020

The novel pandemic has had deep implications for students looking to study abroad. As prospective international students, we understand that these can indeed be tough times. As India's Leading Overseas Education Consultants, we at Edwise have brought together a list of the latest COVID-19 updates from leading study abroad destinations.

USA

The US State Department announced that routine visa services will commence at embassies and consulates around the world. F and J visa appointments will be prioritized for those with urgent travel needs to study in USA.
Students who enter to study in USA are then encouraged to self-isolate themselves for a period of 14 days and monitor their health during the same.
India has formed travel bubbles with 13 countries and the USA is one of them.
To be able to apply for an OPT, students need to be in the USA.
If students have commenced their online classes from home, they must complete one academic year of full-time study in USA to be eligible for OPT
A student's F-1 SEVIS record cannot be activated by the institution until the student physically arrives in the U.S. for their first in-person quarter

Canada

October 20th onwards, those DLI's that have an approved COVID-19 plan, can welcome international students.
To study in Canada, students need to be traveling for necessary purposes only.
Only international students possessing a student permit or one that was approved for a study visa before or on 18th March, 2020 will be permitted to enter Canada.
Students outside Canada are eligible for PSW if they have a study permit, approved for a study permit, applied for a study permit before starting programs in 2020, will apply for a study permit prior to their program in January'21.
Students who graduated or graduating from DLI offering eligible programs can attain PSW if their classes are conducted online due to COVID-19, had to put studies on hold or study part-time due to COVID-19 in 2020.
Students applying for a study permit before starting the program, any time spent studying online from outside Canada since spring 2020 now counts toward the length of a post-graduation work permit. Students won't have time deducted from the length of the post-graduation work permit for studies completed outside Canada until April 30, 2021.

UK

The immigration route for students was altered by the British government on 5th Oct'2020. The Tier 4 route is now being called the Student Route.
The new points-based immigration system comprises of the following:

Students need to highlight that they have an offer from an approved educational institution
They should be able to support themselves financially during their study in UK
Students must possess adequate English language proficiency
In totality, students need to attain 70 points to be able to get a student visa.

Australia

The government is granting visas to those outside Australia. This means, that when the borders are opened, those students with visas will be able to travel.
Post-study work visas for students who are enrolled at universities in Australia will face relaxed entry requirements. Meaning, current as well as new students who are studying online due to the COVID-19, will have this duration counted towards their Australian Study Requirement. Those graduates affected by travel restrictions can apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa outside Australia.
Students who held a student visa on or after 1 February 2020 and couldn't complete their course within the validity due to COVID-19 will receive a waiver in the visa application fee.
Additional time to submit the English language proficiency scores, biometric collection and health checks will be awarded to the students.

New Zealand

In a recent announcement, the government in New Zealand has initiated a border exception category wherein 250 students looking to study in New Zealand through either the Ph.D. or postgraduate programs are set to enter the nation's borders.
If 250 seats aren't filled by the Ph.D. students, the focus will shift towards level 9 Master's students in the same priority categories.
Due to the practical nature of their course, online studies become arduous and thus, they are welcomed in the country. Courses in the realm of medicine, veterinary, engineering, laboratory sciences, agricultural research are expected to be tapped into.
Apart from undertaking COVD-19 tests, before entering the country, students will also be admitted for 14 days in government-managed isolation and quarantine facilities.

For more such COVID-19 updates, get in touch with Edwise today.