> STUDY VISA

GUIDELINES AND INFORMATION
-The application form
-Submitting documents and other material
-Payment of Tuition Fees
-Passport
-Interview
-Medical

ADVICE FOR STUDY VISA APPLICANTS
-Should I use an agent?
-Planning and Preparation
-Your curriculum vitae
-Study Plan
-Standard of English
-Funds

ENTITLEMENT TO TAKE UP CASUAL EMPLOYMENT

RENEWAL OF PERMISSION TO REMAIN

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

USEFUL LINKS

GUIDELINES AND INFORMATION

Application Form

Submitting documents and other material in support of your application

• Submission of false or misleading information will result in a visa application being refused.  This will also be taken into account in any future visa application the applicant might make.
• All information requested may potentially be needed during investigation of an applicant.  An applicant who fails to provide information such as phone numbers or other contact details requested is hindering our ability to carry out checks and as a result we may be unsatisfied as to the applicant??s bona fides.
• Applicants should expect verification checks to be undertaken in respect of the information and documents supplied.
• Originals of all documents must be submitted along with a translated copy in English.  Documents not translated into English will not be considered.
• Please supply one photocopy of all documents that you would like returned to you.  If you do not supply a photocopy the original document will not be returned to you.

Payment of Tuition Fees

It is a requirement for study visa applications that full fees are paid in advance of submitting an application.

An application must include an original letter of acceptance from the university, college or school in which the applicant intends to study which clearly states the cost of tuition (and other fees payable) for the course and the exact sum paid by the applicant.

Proof of fees paid:

Evidence of fees paid must be submitted in the form of an original letter issued by the school. This letter must be accompanied by details of the relevant bank transaction from the Irish bank confirming that the funds for the named individual have been received in the school's account.

Under guidelines issued by the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform it is not expected that an applicant pay more than a total of ???,000 in fees prior to a visa being issued. This does not affect requirements of individual educational institutions.

In light of higher than average approval rates in certain provinces of the People's Republic of China , the Visa Office, Beijing has decided to offer ¡¡ãPrivileged Status¡¡À to certain applications. Privileged Status applications may be lodged without the need to have full school fees paid in advance.

Where Privileged Status is claimed:

• The school letter must indicate the amount of fees paid by way of deposit, if any, and the balance due on receipt of the visa approval.
• Approvals will be notified to the agent or student, but no visa will be issued until proof of fees paid as outlined above is submitted to the Visa Office.
• Any abuse by particular agents or schools which significantly alters the approval rate for a province will result in the privilege being withdrawn from them.
• Applications from other areas must provide evidence that all fees have been paid prior to the visa application being submitted to the Visa Office.

Below is a list of provinces of the People's Republic of China to which Privileged Status applies.

Passport

• Passport. Please include a photocopy of the passport bio page, all visas and all stamps. Please read the section on Passports above
  
• Signed Summary of your On-Line Application Form. Please refer to our Application Forms page <http://www.embassyofireland.cn/Ireland/Visa_Information/Application-form.php>  for details. 
  
• One colour passport photo taken in the past six months that meets our specifications
  
• A letter of Registration from an Irish university, college or school stating that you have been accepted on a course of study, which complies with guidelines issued by the department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform. This letter must name you (the applicant), verify the nature / duration of the course and confirm that all tuition fees and accommodation fees (where applicable) have been paid in full. This letter must be accompanied by details of the relevant bank transaction from the Irish bank confirming that the funds for the named individual have been received in the school??s account. Please read the section on the Payment of Tuition Fees [Link to Payment of Tuition Fees section in this document]
  
• Full private medical insurance. If medical insurance is included in fees paid then the letter from the school should contain details of the insurance cover taken out on your behalf by the host university, college or school in Ireland.
  If private medical insurance is not arranged by the college, university or school in Ireland you must organise this yourself and provide evidence with your application.

Interview

• Visa applicants are not generally required to attend for an interview, however the Visa Office reserves the right to request an applicant to attend for interview on a case-by-case basis.

Medical Check

• Visa applicants are not required to have a medical check before a visa is issued.

ADVICE FOR STUDY VISA APPLICANTS

Should I use an agent?
The Visa Office does not use different criteria to assess applications lodged by individuals and applications lodged by an agent.

If you decide to use the services of an agent when making your visa application remember that you are responsible for the documents submitted even if they are submitted by an agent on your behalf.

If it is found that you have used false or misleading documents in support of your visa application then this will affect all future applications for an Irish visa. Submit authentic documents only. Applicants should expect verification checks to be carried out on all documents that are submitted.

Planning and Preparation
It is expected that a genuine student will have done sufficient planning and preparation to be capable of answering all questions on both application forms. Have you researched how much money you will need to entirely cover your tuition, accommodation and maintenance for the duration of your study plan? Does the proposed length of stay on your application form correspond with the verified course acceptance details that you will submit with your application?

Your curriculum vitae
Do not leave gaps in your curriculum vitae. Give details about how you are currently spending your time. Explain what you have been doing since you graduated Senior Middle School. If you have been studying part-time, explain how you are spending the rest of your time and submit documents to support this.

Study Plan
Does your study plan clearly show the thought and research that you have invested in your decision to study in Ireland? Do not leave gaps in your study plan. If you plan to spend four years studying in Ireland then explain exactly where and what you will be studying. You should also explain why you have selected specific courses and how they relate to your experience. Include details of your intentions after you have completed your study plan.

Standard of English
We need to know your current standard of English so we can assess whether or not your study plan is feasible. Your English level should be recorded in documentary evidence, for example in the form of a test score.

Funds
You must satisfy the Visa Office that you can afford to complete your study plan. A bank statement that shows a large sum of money on deposit will not prove that an applicant has sufficient funds unless it is supported by clear and transparent supporting documentation. It must be clear that all monies genuinely belong to the applicant and his or her sponsor and that the money was not deposited solely for the purposes of the application. Savings records covering at least a twelve-month period must be provided. The savings records should be consistent with the income of the applicant and his or her sponsor. Any inconsistencies must be explained.

Adhering to the following guidelines will ensure that your application is processed without delay:

• Submit all requisite documents with your application.
• Arrange documents in a logical order
• Do not send documents to the Visa Office prior to lodging your application.
• Read and take note of all relevant information on this website and on the visa application form before submitting your application
• Do not use any clips, staples or files to attach sheets together in your application.

How long will my application take£¿
We aim to make a decision on your application as soon as possible however, please allow twenty working days for your application to be processed.

Processing times may vary for Visit, Study and Join Family visa applications lodged at the Consulate in Shanghai . Every effort will be made to expedite the process, but at peak times applications lodged at the Consulate in Shanghai may take 20-30 working days to process.

ENTITLEMENT TO TAKE UP CASUAL EMPLOYMENT
From 18 April 2005 new non-EEA national students granted permission to remain in the State on registering with the Garda National Immigration Bureau will not be permitted access to employment unless they are attending a full-time course of at least one year's duration leading to a qualification recognised by the Minister for Education and Science.

A register of approved programmes compiled by the Department of Education and Science for this purpose is published on the Department's Website and will be updated on a monthly basis. Click here for a direct link to the registers.

Those permitted access to employment may enter casual employment only (defined as up to 20 hours part time work per week or full-time during normal vacation periods). Access to employment is not permitted to other students.

The entitlement to take up employment will cease upon the expiry of permission to remain as a student. Having been in casual employment will not, in itself, entitle a person to further permission to remain. It will continue to be a breach of their student conditions to be in full time employment, other than during vacation periods.

This will not affect students who have current permission to remain at the date of introduction ( 18 April 2005 ). Their access to employment may continue for the duration of their permission to remain.

Please note that the expectation of any earnings from casual employment while in Ireland will not be taken into account in determining whether or not the person has sufficient funds to support himself or herself while in the State.

Students who wish to continue in employment following the completion of their course of studies will require a work permit to do so. Visa required nationals will be required to return home while the work permit is being processed and to apply for an employment visa in order to return to the state. Please see the section on Employment Visas

RENEWAL OF PERMISSION TO REMAIN
From 1 January 2005 students on courses other than full-time courses of at least one year's duration leading to a recognised qualification recognised by the Minister for Education and Science will be allowed to renew their permission to remain only where the total period of permissions granted and sought does not exceed 18 months.
In the case of students already having permission to remain before that date, the period of 18 months will be calculated from 1 January 2005.

1. Passport. Please include a photocopy of the passport bio page, all visas and all stamps. Please read the section on Passports above
2. Signed Summary of your On-Line Application Form. Please refer to our Application Forms page for details. 
3. One colour passport photo taken in the past six months that meets our specifications
4. A letter of Registration from an Irish university, college or school stating that you have been accepted on a course of study, which complies with guidelines issued by the department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform. This letter must name you (the applicant), verify the nature / duration of the course and confirm that all tuition fees and accommodation fees (where applicable) have been paid in full. This letter must be accompanied by details of the relevant bank transaction from the Irish bank confirming that the funds for the named individual have been received in the school??s account. Please read the section on the Payment of Tuition Fees [Link to Payment of Tuition Fees section in this document]
5. Full private medical insurance. If medical insurance is included in fees paid then the letter from the school should contain details of the insurance cover taken out on your behalf by the host university, college or school in Ireland.
6. Additional Courses / Schools. If the course of study you have named on the application form is a preliminary / preparatory course which you must complete before you can take your place on your main course(s) of study, you need to provide the same details for all other courses / schools you propose to attend on a separate sheet of paper.
7. Eduation / Employment Resume.
8. If you are currently studying, an original letter from your current place of study that verifies the information given in your resume. This letter should include a contact name, address and phone number for the school.
9. Additional details regarding your study plan. On a separate sheet of paper state the following:
   1. A written explanation as to how your education and / or work history outlined in your resume is linked to your proposed course of study in Ireland.
   2. If your English Language ability has not been tested estimate your current ability
   3. A written explanation of what your intentions are on completion of your study plan
   4. What are the total fees for each course you propose to study?
   5. What is the total estimated length of time you will require to complete your study plan?
   6. What is the total estimated cost of tuition for that period?
   7. What is the total estimated cost of living (accomodation, food, travel, entertainment, miscellaneous) for that period?
   8. Total funds required (tuition fees plus cost of living)?
   9. How much have you paid in fees to date?
10. If you have graduated from senior middle school, you must supply your original graduation certificate. If you have graduated from a 3^rd level course then you need only supply your most recent graduation certificate.
11. Parent??s employment. Please supply letters from your mother and father??s employers. The letter??s should be on company headed paper with the company??s address and contact details. If the company has employed your mother and / or father for less than three years, a letter from the previous employer must also be provided. The letters should include the following:
    1. Place of employment
    2. Address of work unint / company
    3. Type of business
    4. Position held
    5. Length of employment in this company
    6. Annual salary including bonus
    7. Contact phone number for employer
12. Applicant??s employment (if applicable). Please supply a letter from your employer. This letter should be on company headed paper with the company??s address and contact details. The letter should also state the period of leave that you have been granted. If you are funding the course of study, the employer must state that in their opinion you have the financial resources to meet all such costs. If the employer is to fund the course of study then they should supply information as to the purpose of your participation in the proposed course of study and also a copy of their business licence. The letter should include the following:
    1. Place of employment
    2. Address of work unit / company
    3. Type of business
    4. Position held
    5. Length of employment in this company
    6. Annual salary including bonus
    7. Contact phone number for employer
    8. Whether you are employed on a full or part-time basis
    9. If part-time, how many hours per week do you work
13. Statement of finances. With reference to your Study Plan, taking into account fees due, cost of living and total duration of stay, state on a separate sheet of paper how you propose to fund your stay in Ireland. You must supply evidence that you have sufficient funds to support your stay in Ireland, including emergencies, without recourse to public funds. Such evidence must include, but not be limited to, bank statements and savings records covering a period of at least 6 months prior to date of application. Savings records should be consistant with the income of the applicant and his/ her sponsor. Any inconsistencies must be explained. State if you or your sponsor(s) have borrowed money to fund your study. If so how much was borrowed and name the source of the money borrowed. Please attach a copy of the loan agreement setting out the repayment schedule. Please supply details of any other source of funds / financial support
14. Additional information regarding your sponsor (if applicable). If you have more than one sponsor, please give the name of the main sponsor on the application form. You must include full details of all other sponsors on a separate sheet of paper. For all sponsors you must include the following information:
    1. Their relationship to you
    2. Their address and daytime phone number
    3. Details and evidence of their employment
    4. The length of time they have been employed in their present job
    5. Their level of salary
    6. The total of you and your sponsor??s yearly income (including bonus). Include details of any income not previously referred to with regard to you and your parents employment (e.g. rental income or other)
    7. How many people are dependant on you and each of your sponsors financially
    8. The combined average monthly expenditure of you, your sponsor and dependents
15. On a separate sheet of paper give details of your father, mother and any siblings.  Details of your mother and father should include the following:
1. Full name. Please provide the name in English and your country??s local script.
2. Date of birth
3. Address
4. Mobile phone numb
   Detalis of your siblings should include the following:
5. Name. Please provide the name in English and your countries local script.
6. Date of birth
7. Sex
8. Marital status
9. Occupation
10. Present addres
16. Notarised certificate of family relations
17. Notarised certificate of birth
18. Original or notarised copy of applicant??s family hukou

 www.acels.ie The Advisory Council for English Language Schools established under the auspices of the Irish Department of Education & Science to control standards in EFL schools. Contains the official list of schools and organisations recognised by the Department of Education & Science.

www.irlgov.ie This site will help you to find government organisations or information by providing links, indices of recent publications and a search engine that searches all government sites. There is also general information about Ireland .

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