Where Can I Work After Completing My Degree? Your Guide to Post-Study Work Permits

Picking up a job right after you complete your education is a dream for most of the students. Students are increasingly heading to study at colleges overseas while also requesting a post-study work visa. According to UNESCO data, there has been an increase in applications to universities abroad of roughly 22% with a majority of them opting to continue living in the country searching for work options. Majority of the countries have made strategic changes in policies welcoming candidates to live, work, and settle as well. The simplicity of applying for a post-study work visa is one of the key elements influencing international students who are intrigued about attending universities overseas.

To understand the individual scenario of various nations concerning a post-study visa, let’s discuss about the procedures one-by-one:

1.USA

The USA is one of the most liked countries in the world when it comes to working. This is because of its apt education system and the great employment prospects that it offers post-graduation. After graduation is completed, students need to apply for an F1 visa which enables them to pursue Optional Practical Training, also known as OPT, which then allows them to operate in their area of expertise. Additionally, they also have an option of switching their F1 visa to an H1B visa which is also a work visa. 

Permit Duration

• The time period for the work permit is one whole year till the point of time you have completed your course. 
• For STEM graduates, that is, if they have done their graduation in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, then work permit is issued for up to three years, with yearly extensions.
• Students who have an H1B visa are permitted to work for up to three years in the United States, with a possible six-year extension.

Requirements

• The first and foremost thing a graduate should have is the F-1 visa; with the help which he can apply for the OPT which is optional practical training for ease in work. 
• The student must be enrolled in a full-time school before getting into OTP. This must be pre-approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Employers who want to apply for an H1B visa must promise to pay their employees at least 95% of the ongoing rate of pay.
• H1B visa is solely dependent on employment only. Hence if the consenting person loses their job, then their visa is canceled as well. 

2.Canada

Today Canada is considered to be the favorite of the students. The foot flow of the students going to Canada for further studies has been consistently rising. As a result of welcoming immigration laws and a top-notch educational system, it has been on the top list for most students. The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP), Canada, enables foreign graduates of accredited Canadian universities to look for work there. 

Students after graduation are also able to have an option to apply for permanent residency with the support of the work experience they have obtained through their PGWPP. In this easy process for getting a work visa, there are also other different options for work permits, Open Work Permits, and Employer Specific Work Permits that can be used if they are not qualified for the PGWPP. 

Permit Duration

The work visa duration in Canada entirely depends on how much you have studied, that is, how long your course is, and according to that, you are able to get your work visa. 

• The student cannot obtain a work visa if their course is only 8 months long. 
• If the student has studied for more than eight months but less than two years, then the work permit is given for the same amount of time that was issued during your course period.
• In other cases, it may so happen that the permission is good for up to three years and sometimes even lasts longer. 

Requirements

• The student's age must be 18 years or above to get a work visa permit.
• It is necessary that the student must have done their schooling in Canada itself for eight months or more than that.
• They should have a:
  • Degree from a recognized educational institution (DLI).
  • Legitimate temporary visa for Canada.
• Students do not get the work permit if they have taken fewer than 50% of their required course credits or who have received support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

3.United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is acknowledged as an excellent educational hub for students. It is home to top universities that provide the finest education. While talking about the work permit visa, in 2019, the Government declared a change in the process of work permits for the students. It stated that the UK will now allow international graduates of higher education institutions to stay there for up to two years. Your stay may then be extended by applying for an employer-sponsored program with a Tier 2 work visa. 

Permit Duration

• Graduates have a work permit that lasts for two years. After this, one can petition for a longer stay by obtaining an employer sponsorship program and a Tier 2 work visa.
• The students who are into Ph.D. can get a work permit for three long years.

Requirements

• The pre-requisite required for a work visa is that the candidate must have a Tier-4 visa.
• To be qualified for a stay-back period following graduation, the student must enroll in an accredited UK university as of September 2020.
• There's even an option for those who wish to remain in the UK for an extended period of time after their PSW visa expires must submit an application for a skilled work visa or general work visa (Tier 2 visa).
• The applicant must keep in mind that they require to earn at least £30,000 (INR 26,15,940) annually to qualify for a Tier 2 visa, which is the general work visa required for the work permit in the United Kingdom. This can vary depending on the work.

4. Australia

One of the renowned nations that issue work visas after graduation is Australia, which also has a very high level of acceptance for international students. Due to this reason, it has become quite a liked destination for the students to pursue their higher educations and set a benchmark in their careers. One of the biggest advantages the candidate gets when they are studying in Australia is that they can even opt for a visa for their family members.

There are two options for graduates as well as post-graduates to apply for a work visa. 

1. One type is the Graduate Visa which is intended for graduates from overseas programs in fields that are in demand in Australia. The maximum stay for students with this visa is 18 months. 
2. Another type is the Post study-work visa, which is for foreign students who have just received their degrees from Australian universities. Depending on their credentials, students can often stay on this visa for between two and four years. 

Permit Duration

• A student who holds a bachelor’s degree has a work permit visa for two years. 
• The ones who have earned a master’s degree also have a work permit duration of 2 years. 
• The students who have achieved a master’s degree in research have a work permit for 3 years. 
• The Graduate candidates who are into Ph.D. have a work permit for four years. 

Requirements

• One of the prime requirements for a work permit is to have medical insurance. 
• A bachelor's degree is a must to get an 18- month graduate work visa. 
• One of the pre-requisite for a work permit is that the tour IELTS band score should be 6.5 and not less than 6, or the PTE score of 6.5 with not less than 50. 
• Students with Ph.D. and with master's degrees can avail of the Post Study Work visa. 
• Depending upon their qualification criteria, students can stay up to 2-4 years in Australia. 
• A Bachelor's/Master's/Doctorate degree from an Australian institution of higher learning is required for international students.
• Not all employment categories or specialties, however, are eligible for permission following the study. Therefore, students should use caution when selecting their courses.

5.New Zealand

New Zealand is the ideal place to get employment if you are in the field of hospitality, tourism, food science, management, or agriculture industries and want a work permit for the same. New Zealand is ranked 12th among the finest nations in the world for granting work visas to study. For international students, post-study work permits are governed by a number of laws and rules. Students should have reached up to the Level 4 of the education framework to get the work visa.

Permit Duration

• After completing your studies, you are allowed to stay back for a 12-month period to gain job experience.
• You may also get a work visa for two years which is completely based on your credentials, affiliation with a particular institution, or whether you plan to apply for New Zealand occupational registration.

Requirements

• Post-study work visa eligibility is based on having educational credentials in Levels 4-6.
• After 60 weeks of study, students are eligible for a work visa.
• As an alternative, students must have finished two various 30-week-long courses kinds.
• Students who're English Language Learners (ELLs) are not included on this list (ESOL).
• Nevertheless, if international students complete the following requirements, they may be eligible for a longer post-study work visa:

- They can proceed further and complete the next course.

Depending on the level of education, it could be either undergraduate or graduate.

A higher degree of instruction is required than in the previous course.

Conclusion

It will be simple for you to begin the process as you are aware of how things operate and what has to be done to apply for a work visa. For your convenience, we have broken down each point into steps. Therefore, the aforementioned information should surely be scanned by an aspiring student who’s eager to apply for a work visa post studies.