Which Countries Offer Best Stay Back Options After Completing Your Degree? 

Students who have travelled abroad to pursue higher education often find themselves in love with the country they are in. This makes them wonder how they could stay back and extend their time abroad.

In essence are three types of student visas:

1. F1 student visa

2. J1 Exchange visitor visa

3. M1 Vocational/ Non-academic student visa

An F1 student visa is the most common type of visa used by international students as it is necessary for academic studies abroad. This type of visa also allows students to work part-time on or off-campus. J1 Exchange visa is used by students to obtain practical training that may not be available in their country. This type of visa places similar restrictions on students working part-time as the F1 visa provided the visa is approved by the exchange visitor program sponsor.

Lastly, there is the M1 visa for Vocational/ Non-academic studies but the holder of this type of visa is not allowed to work during the course of their study.

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Here's the list of the countries offering best stay back options after studies :

#1. USA:

• Post Study Work Visa Options in USA for International Students

The F1 visa allows international students to stay in foreign countries and study there. Once the student’s course is over he/she can opt to stay back. Initially, students can stay back for 1 year, but if a student has opted for courses or a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics then they will be allowed to stay for 2 years. In order to stay back, international students must submit an OPT ( Optional practical training) to the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service) and he/she must complete a certificate course provided by their University. The student then has to fill an I-20 form to apply for the OPT which is sent by a designated school official to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The student must then find a job within a stipulated time of 90 days or the student will not be allowed to stay back.

#2. Ireland:

• Post Study Work Visa Options in Ireland for International Students
  

All the students except those from the European Union need to have a valid visa to study in Ireland. If an international student desires to do a short-term course of fewer than 90 days then he/she will need a C-study visa while the students who apply for a long-term course need a D-study visa. Ireland also offers a stay back option to its students under the Third Level Graduate scheme. To avail of this scheme, a student must have a Visa stamp 2 and should have completed his/her Masters or Doctoral degree from a recognized Irish Higher Education Institution and awarded by a recognized Irish Awarding Body for the completion of the above-mentioned degrees. The students pursuing degrees under NFQ (National Framework of Qualifications) level 8 can stay back for only 1 year while the students pursuing an NFQ level 9 degree will be able to stay back up to 2 years for finding a job. After that one can also apply for a Green card.

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#3. Germany:

• Post Study Work Visa Options in Germany for International Students
  

In Germany, a student’s visa automatically expires immediately after the completion of their course. So it is suggested to apply for a residence permit before your visa expires. Germany allows international students to stay back for 18 months to find a job after they have graduated. If a student has gone back to their home country but wants to visit Germany again to find employment the work visa of 6 months is issued to him/her. Once an international student finds a job then he/she has to apply for a separate work and residence visa altogether. One can also apply for an EU Blue card which works in any other European country.

#4. United Kingdom:

• Post Study Work Visa Options in UK for International Students

In recent news, the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has declared that from 2021 international students pursuing their undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. will be allowed to stay back in the UK for 2 years instead of the current 4 months. As soon as a student finishes his/her course then he/she can apply for a Tier-2 Work Visa or a Tier-5 Work Visa which is a visa given to students to undergo professional training. After 5 years of working in the UK with a full-time job, good moral conduct, and no criminal record one can apply for an ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) visa and become a permanent resident in the United Kingdom.

#5. New Zealand:

• Post Study Work Visa Options in New Zealand for International Students
  

New Zealand is quite welcoming towards international students. If a student is enrolled for a course less than three month’s duration then a visitor’s visa will be appropriate but any course exceeding three month’s duration will require a student visa. To get a student visa, the student has to submit all necessary documents along with a police certificate showing you are of good character and that you have sufficient funds to live in New Zealand. Only then will you be given a student visa of no more than 6 months. One can stay back and get a Work Visa for 1 year but if he/she is from the UK or Canada then they are entitled to get 23 months’ time for their Work Visa after graduating. Once a foreigner has held on to his Work and Residence visa for 24 months then he/she is eligible for permanent residence.

#6. France:

• Post Study Work Visa Options in France for International Students

In France, international students who have enrolled for a course have to apply for either a Schengen Visa/ Short term visa, a Temporary long-stay visa, or a Long-stay visa according to the duration of their desired course and the fee for the Visa is 100 Euros as well as VFS Service charge and handling charges. This Visa allows international students to study in France with a prior agreement of the French Government. A student from the European union however doesn’t need any visa to study in France. After an international student has graduated, as per the immigration rules of the country the student has to leave France. However, an international student can apply for a residence permit for France if he/she has paid employment and every International student .who has completed a degree at the master’s or a higher level in France can extend his or her stay for up to one to two years.

These are some of the stay back options for an International student.