Work Visas Made Simple

Karan Teckchandani uncovers the many requisites of attaining a work visa after completing a degree programme in some of the top countries of the world

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Application
The student does not have to apply to the Department of Immigration. The employer has to complete the application on behalf of the employee.

Duration
* Your F-1 Student Visa gives you one year post your degree course to find work in your field of study.
* Once your year is over, you have to find an employer willing to sponsor you for your work visa. The employer will then have to apply for the H1-B work visa for you.
* The duration of the visa is per your contract. You are given an additional 6 months to leave the country if jobless.

Eligibility
* The employer has to prove there is no American citizen who can do the same job.
* You should ideally hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Recruiting industries
* Computer science and related engineering fields
* Accounting

GERMANY
Application
* You may apply for an 18-month search visa post your graduation to look for a job in your field.
* Once you find a job, you may either apply for a German Residency Permit or EU Blue Card.

Duration
The visa is valid for the period of your employment and does not require renewal periodically.

Elibigility
* You are eligible if you have graduated from a German institution.
* You will need to show a bank statement proving you have enough funds to support your stay.
* You need to supply proof that you have health insurance.

Recruiting industries
* Automobile engineering
* IT and related fields

SINGAPORE
Application
* The application fees are $220.
* The application requires the student transcripts, Training Employment Pass Application Form and details of the employer.

Duration
The visa is valid for 3 months, non-renewable. After this period the employer has to apply for a Work Pass on behalf of the employee.

Eligibility
You have to be a graduate from an institution in Singapore with a BA/BSc or higher qualification.

Recruiting Industries
* Management and financial services
* IT and related Fields

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Application
The application consists of a Bataka form, medical tests and application fees ranging from AED 100 to AED 1000.

Duration
* Visa must be renewed every year.
* The employee is given one month to leave the country on expiration of the visa. On failing to leave the country, he/she will be fined AED 600, incarcerated and deported.

Eligibility
* You must have a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification from a public or private university.
* You shouldn’t hold an Israeli passport or have ever visited Israel to be eligible.

Recruiting industries
* Real estate
* Oil and gas
* Financial services
* Tourism

THE NETHERLANDS
Application
* You may apply for the Search Year after formal graduation but it can take 2-3 months before the permission is issued.
* Different courses of study and different fields of employment have various requirements. Check with your university’s career cell to find the exact requirements and procedure.

 

Duration
* You may apply yourself for a Search Year (‘zoekjaar’) which will grant you permission to work in the Netherlands for 1 year without any salary criterion.
* After the search year is over, you have to find a job with a minimum salary requirement (approximately $25,000 a year).

Eligibility
* You are eligible if you have graduated from a Dutch educational institution with a BA/BSc or higher.
* You are also eligible if you have graduated with a MA/MSc or PhD from a top 150 university worldwide within the last 3 years. The top 150 is derived from one of 2 lists: QS World University Rankings or the ARWU of Jiao Tong Shanghai University Rankings.

Recruiting industries
* Food processing
* Oil and gas
* Financial services
* Communications

AUSTRALIA
Application
* The Australian work permit is issued on the basis of a point system.
* You can get a visa only if you have a certain number of points.
* Points are awarded for prior work experience, qualifications and language proficiency.

 

Duration
The visa is issued for the term of the employment with 1 month grace period to stay in the country after expiration.

Eligibility
* You should have a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification from an Australian university.
* You should be under 45 years of age.

Recruiting industries
* Management and consulting
* IT and related fields
* Tourism

 

Volume 3 Issue 7