A heads-up for international students, US Consulates are making people pay to call or email for information about visas, putting another obstacle in the way of students who want to come to the US.
According to Inside Higher Ed:
Chileans pay $14 total; in South Africa, expect to pay the equivalent of $11 for nine minutes of talk time. Citizens of Hong Kong and Macau fork over 10 Hong Kong dollars, or $1.28, a minute, and Italians 1.5 Euro ($2.36) for each 60-second cycle.
Brazilians by contrast pay a flat rate: 38 real, …Continue

You may or may not realize that you need health insurance if you plan to study in the US, the UK, or most other Western countries. It’s the law. At the same time, if you’re an American planning to study abroad your program or host university will probably want you to have insurance too.
Already have insurance? Or you’re on your parent’s plan? Chances are that’s not going to help you when you leave the country. And being sick is much worse in a foreign country–the language may be a …Continue

An interesting development is being considered at the University of Surrey, UK. As universities deal with problems of internationalizing and trying to prepare their students for an international world, Surrey is looking at an innovative program which would allow students to, for example:
Surrey students, from anywhere in the world, will be able to choose where they study in each year of their course. For example, a student may be able to spend the first year studying in the USA, second in China, third in industry and final year in Guildford …Continue

According to a report by the Kauffman Foundation, restrictions on visas may cause a reverse brain-drain. American research benefits from foreign researches invite to work in the US. According to the report, in 2006, foreign residents of the US were named as inventors or co-inventors on 25% of applications for international patent applications coming from the United States. And patent applications filed by some major corporations such as GE and Merck, even the government itself, showed a much higher percentage. Nevertheless, there are only 120 000 permanent resident visas available …Continue

The visa interview is required to get a student visa to the United States. You will have to go to the Embassy or Consulate in person and both present your documents and speak to a consular officer. You will be alone during the interview and you will have to speak English.
What is the purpose of the visa interview?

First, they want to make sure that your documents are in order, and that you have not lied or mislead them. Expect to be asked about any inconsistencies in your documents. Be honest; …Continue

What are the steps to get a student visa to the US?
The first thing you want to do is contact the US Consulate or Embassy in your country because the rules and regulations may change and because there may be special requirements for your country. The Embassy or Consulate is the only authoritative source of information. All Embassies have websites and telephone numbers and email addresses. You want to look for the Consular Section and the non-immigrant visa section (non-immigrant visas are for people who do not plan to move …Continue

Thanks to Inside Higher Ed for this one. The Council of Graduate Studies has noted that applications from international students for graduate study in the US has increased by 8% from 2006 to 2007. However the increase in international applications from 2005 to 2006 was 12%, so the growth is slowing, and all this comes after years of decrease in international applications, presumably following the events of September 11th and stricter visa regimes.
The majority of applications to the US come from China, India, Korea, and the Middle East. Kazakhstan has …Continue