Students experiences: EMA Visa Survey

Transcription

1 Students experiences: EMA Visa Survey Maria Ustinova, EMA Eurasian Regional Chapter 16 th November 2011, Brussels

2 Main aims: -To collect the information regarding the visa/resident permit application and issuance procedures for Erasmus Mundus students; -To define the main problems faced by face during visa application process; -To collect practical suggestions from Erasmus Mundus alumni regarding the facilitation and harmonisation of the visa application / issuance procedures.

3 Conducted in Fall questions in total: 1) General information (nationality, age, enrollment date, country of residence, etc.); 2) Four sub-groups of questions: First host country and subsequent (second, third, fourth) host countries in Europe type of visa, its duration, visa application process, etc.; 3) Suggestions/Comments.

4 777 respondents; average age 29; 96 nationalities: a) Indians; b) Russians; c) Pakistani/Mexicans; d) Chinese; e) Ukrainians/Iranians/Indonesians.

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6 1) UK ) Spain/France - 102/102 3) Germany ) Italy ) Denmark ) Sweden ) Belgium/Portugal 31/31 8) Norway ) Netherlands - 20

7 Did any member of your family form part of your visa request?

8 How long did it take between your first contact with host country consulate and the delivery of the visa?

9 How did you obtain the information on visa requirements?

10 Between the moment you provided the required documents and the moment you collected the visa, did you have to return to the host country consulate for any subsequent visit (for any clarifications or to provide any additional documents)?

11 Most of the students obtain their first visa in the countries of their residence (home countries), however some students have to apply for visa in another country due to the absence of a specific consulate/embassy: 1)A consulate/embassy is temporarily closed (e.g. Consulate of the Netherlands in Pakistan); 2)A consulate/embassy of a specific country doesn t exist in their home countries (e.g. Spanish consulate in Armenia, the closest one is in Moscow, Russia); 3)A consulate / embassy is situated only in a capital city (e.g. Kazakhstan, Russia)

12 Incomplete invitation letters and contradictions in the supporting documents provided by Consortiums : -Length of the studies ( important for the residence permit issuance, sometimes students have to return to the country of their residence and re-apply again (e.g. UK); - Financial support/description of the scholarship payments.

13 Confusion about visa / residence fee payment High visa / residence permit fees ( UK, Netherlands, Sweden)

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15 How would you assess the visa procedure from the following perspectives: the requirements

16 How would you assess the visa procedure from the following perspectives: written information provided

17 How would you assess the visa procedure from the following perspectives: personal attention provided by consular staff

18 How would you assess the visa procedure from the following perspectives: time taken to obtain the visa

19 Can you rate the support provided by the following institutions (1=none; 2=barely enough, 3= sufficient; 4=good; 5= excellent)?

20 Did you have to obtain a new visa for your studies in the next Erasmus Mundus country?

21 1) France/Germany 70/70 2) Spain 64 3) Netherlands 47 4) UK 39 5) Italy ) Sweden 35 7) Portugal 24 8) Finland - 23

22 Did you apply for your next European host country visa from your previous Erasmus Mundus Master Course host country?

23 If 'No', from which country did you apply?

24 How long before the beginning of your study period in your next European host country did you start the visa procedure?

25 How long did it take between your first contact with host country consulate and the delivery of the visa?

26 How did you obtain the information on visa requirements? International Department or Program Coordinator (e.g. Netherlands)

27 Between the moment you provided the required documents and the moment you collected the visa, did you have to return to the host country consulate for any subsequent visit (for any clarifications or to provide any additional documents)?

28 Can you rate the support provided by the following institutions (1=none; 2=barely enough, 3= sufficient; 4=good; 5= excellent)?

29 Did you have to obtain a visa for your studies in the next Erasmus Mundus country?

30 1) In many cases students describe the visa application process in second countries as smooth (Italy, Poland, France) consular staff is described as constructive, friendly, ready to help, faster. 2) Different approach towards the students of the same study group - while all the documents were duly submitted, I had to wait for 6 weeks and finally I was issued with a 5 months 29 days single entry Visa, unlike all my classmates who were holding multiple entry ones. Even for the 3-day seminar in October, I was the only student whose visa application for Spain was not processed and I had to stay in London.

31 3) Some countries require additional documents, which can be obtained only in the home country - criminal record (e.g. Belgium from all countries where student had lived before), the medical certificate, the apostile of the previous diplomas, high school diploma (short validity of these documents); 4) Rejection of ACE insurance documents; 5) The requirement to translate all visa supporting documents in the local language (Portugal, Italy, Spain, Germany) 6) Duration of the first host country visa (e.g. UK 6 months, no resident status ; Spain - 3 months but with note for 6 month)

32 7) Visa for multi-mobility track My first country was UK and then I had to travel to the Schengen area (universities in Greece and Spain). It was very inconvenient that we had to apply for two separate 3-month visas for 2 countries that are inside the Schengen area (first I applied for Greek visa in UK and then applied for Spanish visa in Greece). 8) Misunderstanding from program coordinator s side It wasn't clear for the masters coordinators if we needed a second visa or not. We were advised NOT to get it, because we all already had a residence permit with our host university OR University coordinator in Germany told that we need to enter to Germany with a tourist visa.

33 9) Delays with the invitation letters for the next mobility track as a result - missed classes/ summer schools / short mobility options / thesis defence due to the absence of the visa/residence permit document; 11) Misunderstanding from police/immigration authorities side regarding national visa type D and the transit within Schengen zone.

34 Due to the fact that I was not eligible to apply for the visa in the UK as a holder of six-month UK visa, and the fact that there is no Portuguese consulate in Macedonia, the process was extremely difficult, long and expensive, because I had to travel between UK and Macedonia first, and then between Macedonia (where I had to obtain all the required documents)and Serbia (where I had to apply in person). Additionally, although the consulate fee was free of charge, the costs for the student-residency permit that I had to obtain once I was in Portugal were 150 euros. The process for the permit was also complicated and I only managed to obtain it with a lot of help and support from the University secretary.

35 1) Standardised package of documentation for all Erasmus Mundus students. ALL documents must be originals as most consulates do not accept copies. 2) Fast-tracking procedure for Erasmus Mundus students; 3) Provision of the specific documents (criminal record, apostile, etc) to the first host country, so the students do not need to present it later; 4) Visa Application fee waiver for Erasmus Mundus students; 5) Provision of the unified visa for all period of studies including the time for the theses defence (e.g. Grenoble)

36 I would like to see Erasmus Mundus students being welcomed in EU embassies around the world... The Erasmus Mundus graduate should be seen as potential associate for EU strategy to promote EU as the centre of excellence for the higher education