International students who are studying abroad can also bring their families alongside them to stay with them. Family is important. One of the major factors international students often consider before applying for admission or afterward is the possibility of bringing their families abroad to live together with them. As a newly married couple, it isn’t always advised to be apart since you are just starting a life together. Moreover, a family might want to move abroad so that their children can have access to the quality of education offered there. Whatever the reason might be, there’s a way you can achieve it. In this article, we will look at the possible ways you can bring your family as a student to Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, and Australia.
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Table of Contents
1. The United States
Getting a degree in the United States opens you up to many opportunities globally. The country has the largest international student population and is followed by the United Kingdom and Canada in this regard.
Additionally, the country is known for its academic excellence. According to the QS world ranking in 2022, 28 of the universities in the US made it to the list of the top 100 schools globally. Students also have access to internship opportunities and they can study and work while they are in school. There are also scholarship opportunities available for students who apply for it. Furthermore, the country houses many of the renowned tech hubs globally.
Read also: 5 Steps To Apply For International Admission At Schools In US And Canada
How to bring your family as a student in the United States
Students who want to study in the United States and also want to bring their family members along can add them to their F-2 visa application for each respective family member.Â
Doing this allows family members to stay in the country for the same period as the student.
Non-dependent family members can equally apply for a B-2 Visitor visa, which allows them to stay for up to six months in the country. For more information, check the Government of the United States website.Â
2. The United Kingdom
In 2019/2020, international students studying in the UK made up 22% of the entire student population. Additionally, the UK government is working towards reaching 600,000 international student population by 2030. This means that international students are welcome in this country.
Additionally, in 2021, eight of the universities in the UK were ranked as part of the top fifty universities globally according to the QS world ranking. The country also has a diverse culture and international students will get to learn new things. It does not stop there, the country also offers support for international students to make their journey easy. Some of the best cities in the world are also in this country.Â
Moreover, according to the OECD Better Life Index, residents of the UK ranked their general satisfaction in life a 6.8% out of 10%. From the top-quality education to the various opportunities available, the UK should be part of your top study destinations as an international student.Â
Read also: What Are The Highest-Paying STEM Courses In The UK?
How to bring your family as a student in the United Kingdom
Compared to other countries, it might not be exactly easy to get visas for your family members as an international student in the UK. Students who are eligible to come to the UK include students who are currently enrolled in:
- a Ph.D. or other doctorate program
- a research-based higher degree.
For students who want to bring their family members, they can apply for a Short-Term Visitor Visa.  To learn more about the visa application, visit the Government of the United Kingdom’s website.Â
3. Canada
Looking for a study abroad destination to further your studies? Canada might just be the option! According to Times Higher Education, 2023 Canadian universities are ranked among the top 200 in the world. The country houses more than 8,000 learning institutions offering about 16,000 programs so there’s a wide range of variety for international students to choose from.Â
Furthermore, according to the U.S. News World Report, 2022 the country ranks third for the best quality of life. Canada also has a diverse and inclusive culture with lots of places to explore. There are also scholarship opportunities available for students who want to study in this country.Â
In terms of living conditions, Canada has an easily accessible healthcare system that is publicly funded, there is also free public schooling for children ages 5 to 18, and a subsidized higher education fee for students.
Canada also has a robust and effective social service system. Individuals who have lost their jobs or are unable to work as a result of any form of illness or pregnancy are provided with a temporary income from the Employment Insurance Program. Getting Canadian citizenship is also straightforward for non-indigenes who live in the country.
Read also: Study & Work With A Postgraduate Diploma In Canada – All You Need To Know
How to bring your family as a student to Canada
As an international student seeking to study abroad in Canada, you can bring your family along to join you. You must ensure that you submit your dependent’s visa application at the same time you apply for a study permit.
Additionally, it is important to note that your family members may also be eligible for a:
- Work permitÂ
- Visitor visaÂ
- Study permitÂ
However, other family members like your siblings or parents can apply separately from your application if they want a Temporary Resident visa (TRV).Â
For more information, visit the Canadian government’s website.
4. Australia
Australia houses some of the best schools in the world according to the QS world ranking. This implies that students will have access to quality education, state-of-the-art facilities, and many more benefits.
Additionally, seven of the country’s cities were listed among the top 100 student-friendliest cities globally. It is also one of the most popular destinations are students who want to study abroad, following the United States and the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, international students have access to scholarships and this helps them with the cost of study while in the country. The country has a good transportation system that is safe and clean, the indigenes are friendly, the worker’s incomes are very attractive and they also get to work for shorter hours compared to other European countries. This is not all, as the country also has a solid healthcare system and low crime rates. Thinking of bringing your family along to Australia, then you’ve made a good call.
Read also: What Are The Highest-Paying STEM Jobs In Australia?
How to bring your family as a student to Australia
The government of Australia permits international students to include dependents in their visa application. This means that international students can bring their family abroad with them. This includes your partner and/or your children. However, if you do not declare your family members on your application form, they can apply individually in ImmiAccount to be able to legally live in the country.Â
Additionally, non-dependent family members like siblings and parents can apply separately using a visitor visa (subclass 600). To know more about this, visit the Department of Home Affairs website. You can also visit the Government of Australia’s website. Â
5. Ireland
Ireland has a beautiful landscape. The country is a small island that is surrounded by three seas in the North Atlantic. The cost of education in the country is quite affordable compared to other countries in Europe. The cost of living is equally affordable.
Also, Ireland offers quality education with a well-drafted curriculum designed to equip its students to meet the demands of the various industries and sectors. International students studying in Ireland also have the opportunity to take part-time jobs as they study to help with the cost of education and other expenses. Internship opportunities are also available for students in the country.
Additionally, the country is an English-speaking country so international students who can speak English do not have to stress themselves to study a new language. The country also has an extensive public transport system which makes commuting easy for international students. Students who study in Ireland are also in high demand in the labor market because of the skills they possess. There are also job opportunities for students upon graduation in the country. Irish universities also have the most satisfied students in the entire continent.Â
Read also: These 5 STEM Skills Are Needed In Ireland- Apply Now
How to bring your family as a student to Ireland
As an international student seeking to bring your family abroad to Ireland, the options you have are listed below:
- For students from non-visa-required countries, families can stay for less than 90 days without applying for a visa. All they need to do is to present their passport and necessary travel documents to the required officials.
- For international students from visa-required countries, they can apply for a Short-Stay ‘C’ Tourist visa. This visa enables them to stay legally in the country.Â
To know more about the visa requirements, visit the Government of Ireland’s website.
Conclusion
Before proceeding with your application, it is important to go through the website of your desired country so that you can familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations and adhere to them strictly.
Additionally, before bringing your family abroad as an international student, you must consider other factors such as finance, the cost of processing your visa, housing, feeding, and other aspects as these can greatly influence your decision.
Also, check the work criteria to know if you or any of your family members you are planning to bring along will have the opportunity to work to reduce the cost of the expenses.
Start with us
Do you desire to start a career in STEM? The first thing is to pursue a degree in STEM. Wondering how to go about pursuing a postgraduate degree in STEM courses abroad? We can guide you through your journey and make your dreams come true. Reach out to us at EdXtra to access opportunities that will help you on your journey.
Enrolling in the top universities in the world can increase your chances with employers. Unfortunately, it can be quite expensive to study abroad due to the current economic crisis. But this shouldn’t limit you as there are other options you can explore to enhance your career.
MPower Finance and Prodigy Finance are some of the best student loan providers for international students. They also do not require any cosigner or collateral before application. At EdXtra Associates, we can help you with your loan application process. We also provide educational consultancy services for international students to help make your journey easier and faster. You can reach out to us, as we’d love to guide you through this journey.
