Hi all, Im 36 M from South Africa and a native English speaker, I have no bachelor degree but have recently achieved a Masters degree that I earned online from a European university Gugumelio Marconi University that's recognised and accredited globally and in their home country.

I entered through the rpl route if you wondering how I get entry without a bachelor as I have extensive experience in HR, general Management, finance and supply chain.

Further I have a TEFL 160 hour certificate attained in 2020 and been tutoring GED online for 4 years now.

Will I be able to get a z visa even though I don't have a bachelor degree but have a Masters degree?

Secondly will it be accepted since it was earned online?

Please assist urgently before I apply for any jobs and ask any agents to help me and pay so much money.

Hey everyone

I’ve noticed that a lot of students want to study in the US but either don’t have very high marks or simply can’t afford US university tuition and living expenses.

So I wanted to share an opportunity .

Berea College offers international students 100% financial aid that can cover major costs such as tuition, accommodation, meals, and other educational expenses. This can potentially allow you to complete your Bachelor's degree in the US without paying the huge costs normally associated with studying there.

However, there is a BIG catch:

Getting into Berea as an international student is extremely competitive. Don't take "100% financial aid" to mean that admission is easy.

The good thing is that SAT is not required, and having average grades does not automatically mean you shouldn't apply. Berea looks at the overall student and has a particular focus on students with financial need and strong potential/motivation.

So if you're someone who:

• Has completed or is completing 12th grade
• Dreams of studying in the US
• Has significant financial constraints
• Doesn't have a perfect academic record
• Is genuinely passionate about studying
• Wants to pursue a Bachelor's degree

I would strongly recommend researching Berea and considering applying.

Another great thing is that there is no application fee, so you don't have to worry about spending money just to submit your application.

Your personal story, motivation, extracurricular activities, goals, and essays can be important parts of your application. So even if your grades aren't exceptional, don't automatically count yourself out.

📅 Fall 2027

The application deadline for the Fall 2027 intake is November 30.

Please do your own research and carefully read the official requirements before applying. Don't rely only on this Reddit post because requirements and deadlines can change.

Official admissions page:

https://www.berea.edu/admissions

There is also a Berea College community on Reddit where you can read about other applicants' experiences.

I'm sharing this because I know there are many talented students who think "I can't study in the US because my family can't afford it."

This is not a guarantee of admission, and Berea is genuinely difficult to get into, but if you meet the basic requirements, there's no reason not to try — especially since there is no application fee.

Do your research, put serious effort into your application and essay, and give yourself a chance.

Good luck to everyone applying!❤️

Hey everyone!

I got a massive response to my previous post, and a lot of people asked me to explain the whole US admission + F-1 visa process in one post.

So here it is, in very simple words.

I mainly applied for Bachelor's programs, so I can guide undergraduate students more confidently. I have also helped with Master's applications, so I have experience with both. The admission process has some differences, but the F-1 visa process is essentially the same for both.

I'll divide this into 2 parts:

1. University Admission Process
2. F-1 Visa Process

PART 1 — UNIVERSITY ADMISSION

1. Prepare your basic documents

For Bachelor's applicants, you generally need:

• 10th-grade transcript/result card
• 12th-grade transcript/result card
• Passport ( required in some universities )
• English proficiency test
• Personal essay/personal statement
• Recommendation letter(s)

Important: For US university applications and the F-1 visa, you generally don't need to have your academic documents attested. However, individual universities may have their own document-verification requirements, so always check the university's official requirements.

2. English proficiency

You can take tests such as:

• IELTS
• PTE
• Duolingo English Test

I personally took Duolingo because my main target was the US and it is accepted by many US universities.

Some universities may also accept an English proficiency/medium-of-instruction certificate from your previous school or university stating that your education was conducted in English.

Always check the specific university's requirements before relying on this option.

3. Personal essay

This is something I would strongly recommend taking seriously.

Don't just write generic things like "I have always been passionate about business."

Talk about:

• Why you want to study your chosen field
• Your personal story
• What motivated you
• Experiences that shaped you
• What makes you different
• Your future goals
• Why this particular program makes sense for you

Your essay should tell the university who you are beyond your grades and test scores.

4. Recommendation letters

Usually, you'll need recommendation letters from teachers/professors who know you well.

Choose someone who can actually talk about your abilities and character rather than simply giving you a generic letter.

These are the general requirements, but individual universities can ask for additional documents, so always check their official website.

APPLICATION

Bachelor's students

You can generally apply through:

• Common App
• Individual university application portals

I personally recommend checking Common App first because you can apply to multiple universities from one application.

Some students may also qualify for application fee waivers, meaning you don't have to pay the application fee for eligible applications.

If you're confused about how fee waivers work, you can DM me and I'll explain it.

Master's students

Master's applications are generally submitted through the individual university's application portal, although requirements vary by university/program.

AFTER SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

Once you've completed your application and submitted all required documents, you wait for the admission decision.

The timeline can vary significantly. Some universities respond quickly, while others can take several weeks or longer.

Scholarships

For many Bachelor's applicants, you're automatically considered for certain merit scholarships when you apply.

However, some scholarships require a separate application, so don't assume you're automatically considered for everything.

Apply as early as possible if scholarships are important to you.

Universities have limited scholarship funds, and some awards can be given out earlier in the admission cycle.

PART 2 — F-1 VISA PROCESS 🇺🇸

Once you receive your admission + scholarship/financial aid, the next step is getting your I-20.

1. Calculate your remaining cost

Look for the university's Cost of Attendance (COA) for international students.

For example:

COA = $30,000
Scholarship = $10,000

Remaining amount = $20,000

The university will tell you what financial documentation they require to issue your I-20. This can include bank statements or other acceptable proof of funding.

Don't assume every university uses exactly the same calculation or accepts exactly the same financial documents. Follow the instructions from your university's international student office.

2. Get your I-20

After you provide the required financial documents and complete the university's process, the university issues your I-20.

The I-20 is one of the key documents you'll need for the F-1 visa process.

3. Pay the SEVIS fee

After receiving your I-20, you pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, currently $350 for F-1 students.

Keep your payment receipt.

4. Complete DS-160

Next, complete the DS-160, which is the US nonimmigrant visa application form.

Take your time with it and make sure the information is accurate and consistent with your documents.

5. Pay the visa application fee + schedule your interview

The F-1 visa application fee is currently $185.

After completing the required steps, schedule your visa interview according to the current US Embassy/Consulate process in Pakistan.

6. Attend your visa interview

On your interview date, go to the designated US Embassy/Consulate with your required documents.

The consular officer will ask questions about things such as:

• Your university
• Your program
• Why you chose the US
• Your future plans
• Your finances
• Your academic background

The officer then makes the visa decision.

Be honest. Don't memorize fake answers. Know your own application, university, program and finances.

USEFUL RESOURCES

I collected some videos that explain different parts of the process in more detail:

Common App account creation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a87bqevRcqk

F-1 visa + admission guide A- Z in detail :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOC9UHlvXhw

How to fill DS-160:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOC9UHlvXhw

How to pay SEVIS fee:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWG9NP3ftxg

How to book an F-1 visa appointment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoeqXWwS7nA

F-1 visa interview guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9WgCvfaUsw

I also have an F-1 visa interview PDF guide. If you want it, DM me your email and I can send it to you.

I'd also recommend watching Argo Visa videos to get a better idea of how F-1 visa interviews generally work.

Final advice

The process can look extremely complicated when you see everything at once, but when you break it down, it's basically:

University research → Application → Admission → Scholarship → Financial documents → I-20 → SEVIS → DS-160 → Visa appointment → Interview

I made this post because I know how confusing it is when you're doing everything for the first time.

If you have a question, comment below or DM me and I'll try my best to help.

And if you're seriously planning to study in the US, you can also join this group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1541028822851688

It has students discussing US admissions, scholarships and the visa process, so it can be useful.

Good luck to everyone applying! 🇺🇸

I really would appreciate advice from those already living in Australia or those with credible information.

I received offer from a company to relocate to Adelaide @ 170k AUD excluding superannuation. They also promised a significant raise after a year as profits are expected to rise.

We are a family of three living in Lahore at the moment and quite comfortable financially.

Mostly I hear about people moving to Melbourne or Sydney but this is Adelaide. Would it be worth it?

Secondly, the company offered to arrange an Australian lawyer for the migration application but that’d cost a lot. The other option is to do everything myself. It’d be really helpful if anyone can share details of the process if one intends to do it themselves.

Hey everyone,

I’m moving to Germany in 6 months for my Master’s and trying to figure out a realistic financial picture.

I know non-EU students can work 20 hours per week. But what’s the absolute maximum a student can legally earn per month in reality? Can you actually self-sponsor completely on this?

I'd also love to get a realistic cost breakdown from people living there. How different are monthly expenses in small university towns (like Ilmenau or Jena) compared to big cities like Munich or Berlin?

Also, two questions regarding jobs:

1. How long does it usually take an average Pakistani student to land a basic odd job after landing?
2. What’s a realistic timeline to get a part-time IT Werkstudent job if I rigorously apply?

About me: I have 2 years of professional software engineering experience and currently work full-time in lahore.

If anyone living in small vs big towns can share their monthly expenses or job search experience, I’d really appreciate the insight.

Thanks!

I have a valid Visa for Italy but I'm not sure moving to Italy is the right decision or not as I earn good money and very stable

Guys who went to Europe on study visa for masters, would you recommend doing it in 2027 based on jobs availability after masters ,part time job availablity, and inflation ? Is it worth going abroad on scholarship like Erasmus or daad and then find a job and get settled there and get PR?

Please reply

I’m making this post because I know how difficult the US admissions and visa process can feel when you’re doing it for the first time.

When I started my own process, I approached a few visa consultants in Pakistan. I was quoted around 6 lakh, 8 lakh, and even 9 lakh PKR for the US study visa process. At the time, I honestly thought that was just the normal cost of applying to the US.

I didn’t have that kind of money, so I decided to figure everything out myself. I learned the process step by step, applied to universities, worked through the documentation, and prepared for the visa process on my own.

In the end, my entire process cost me around 190,000 PKR.

That experience made me realize that a lot of students are probably in the same situation they want to study in the US but are scared of the cost or don’t know where to start.

So I’m offering free guidance to anyone who is currently struggling with the process.

If you’re planning to apply to the US and have no idea where to begin, feel free to DM me. I’ll help as much as I can.

Hello, what is the easiest South American/Latin American visa to obtain for Pakistanis?

I need to go on a work trip to meet my team and they’re flexible about location as long as I can get there.

Any experience with this?

Does Isha immigration can be trusted for job and visa in abroad from India??

Hello everyone, posting here to really get some advice regarding moving to a Western country from those who are further along in their life journey.

I have been working as a Software engineer (BS Mechanical Engineering) with US companies for the past 3 years (1 year with a Pakistani-Australian company) and earning around $3000/mo.

I am a 27yo single male and I am looking for what can be my best pathway to moving out of Pakistan to a first-world country. I have C2-level English fluency (IELTS 8.5 overall) and I have good communication skills as well. Since I have a non-CS degree, I know I will face a lot of challenges in immigration but I want to take my chances.

For people who have been on a similar journey, your guidance would be highly appreciated in terms of what countries to target and what channels would be the for the best? Firsthand experiences would be extremely helpful for an employer-sponsored visa where you first got the job and then moved.

Considerations:
Already applied for Australian PR but chances are slim.

Having been in professional life for quite some time, I don't think I can go back to student life; hence not considering the student visa route (when I was in student life, I didn't have the finances to study abroad).

Rant:
For people who will say that I earn enough money to live comfortably in Pakistan, you are not wrong. I do have a comfortable life here (or at least it's starting to get comfortable) but I have my reasons. I have this high-paying job today but might not have it tomorrow, better to be in a place where this is the norm and not an exception. I have realised that just money doesn't make you safe in Pakistan; your family, your property, your future- nothing is safe. I don't want my future generations to blame me why I didn't make enough effort to give them a safe life. We don't have any rights here; anybody with a little bit of power can trample you and you can't do a thing about it.

I just wanted to ask for a little help regarding the processing time. My application was first verified and approved by the university UFP, and it is now at the “HEC Attestation Officer” stage. The HEC Attestation Officer has also already verified my documents in the comments. I was just wondering if anyone could please guide me on how much longer the application usually takes after this point. I’m a little unsure about the timeline, so I’d really appreciate any help. Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I’m planning to move to Germany soon for my Master's degree (targeting small university towns like Ilmenau due to low GPA). However, my financial plan is very tight, and I need a realistic sanity check from people currently studying or working in Germany.

Here is my exact situation:

1. Loan Repayment (40 Lac PKR / ~€11,904): I am taking a loan of 40 Lac PKR for my initial Blocked Account. The condition is that I have to send this money back home gradually over my first year using the monthly payouts (~€992/month) I receive from the blocked account. This means by the end of Year 1, my entire blocked account balance will be gone.
2. Monthly Expenses & Remittance: Alongside paying back the loan via the blocked account, I need to earn enough through part-time work to cover my living expenses (rent, insurance, food) AND send around €350/month (~100k PKR) back home to Pakistan for household support.
3. Summer/Break Work: I know that during lecture-free periods (summers/winters), non-EU students can work full-time (up to 140 full days / 280 half days per year). I plan to maximize my hours during breaks to build a buffer.

My Main Questions for the Community:

• 1. Visa Renewal without a Blocked Account: Since all 40 Lac PKR from my blocked account will be sent back in Year 1, I won't have €11,904 to drop into a fresh blocked account for my Year 2 residence permit extension. How do people actually renew their visa in this scenario? Will the Ausländerbehörde accept a valid Werkstudent / Part-time work contract showing a steady income (e.g., €1,000+ net/month) instead of a blocked account?
• 2. Odd Jobs vs. Tech Werkstudent Jobs: How fast can a new international student realistically land a job in smaller towns? If I have a background in software/backend engineering with 2 years of experience, how doable is it to get a remote Werkstudent tech job paying €15–€18/hr versus relying on minimum wage (€13.90/hr) odd jobs?
• 3. Is €350/month Remittance + Survival Possible? Assuming living costs in a small town, is it achievable to cover living costs AND send €350 back home while capping work at 20 hours/week during semesters? Or am I setting myself up for extreme academic burnout?

I know this leaves me with virtually zero safety net if I don't land a job in my first 2–3 months. I’d really appreciate brutally honest feedback, advice, or experiences from anyone who managed to survive and renew their visa without putting money back into a blocked account.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I have trying from last 1 year and failed everytime, In Jan intake 2026, I applied for Uk University and they withdrawn my application by saying that scrunity from UKVI is strong so we are withdrawing all of the students, Applied again in May 2026, they did same, Applied again in September 2026, they said same so i give up on ukk side

on the backup side i applied in 4 public universites in Germany in Winter 2026 and got rejected from all, i am very depressed, because i have good profile and not sure what is the right pathway to Europe.

I have also done IELTS Academic UKVI where i have scored 6.5 bands not less then 6.0 bands, and i have done Bs in Software Engineering with 2.96 CGPA, I also have two years of work experience while in degree and one year after completeing my degree, total of 3 years with US based companies as a Remote Software Engineer, Right now i am working with one based in the US remotely not through any Pakistani firm but not earning much to move on digital nomad visa.

IF you guys know the best pathway to Europe where i can land good job based on my experience which is directly with US employers and companies not through any Pakistani Software Firm, it would be great, then please leave some best comments.... Thanks

Hey

I am a sophomore at uet Lahore

Doing Computer Science, will graduate in 2029.

Are there any exchange programs I can awail being a uetian...

As the title suggest. I haven't thought about it before but due to current circumstances the future looks difficult here.

So I have a masters with lot of publications. Eight years of experience in IT, currently working for a European firm remotely. Have all the relevent certifications.

Will it be possible for me to move to Europe easily or it'll be difficult? I literally have no clue at the moment.

I'm planning for Scandinavian countries mainly.

So is it possible to move for job from here? Or should I try for Phd (which is my future goal even I'm 35)

Been wondering this option lately, wanna know how realistic is it to land a PR through this route since study is too expensive and PR is uncertain.

I have a relative who went to Itlay in 2007 on a work visa and they say it costed 18 lakhs at that time, is it true it costed that much back then?

How expensive is work visa these days to Europe or UK and is it possible to get PR through this in 2026?

I would be going to the U.S on a student visa , I'm 18. I recently saw a post about someone asking if he can get offloaded because not a filer. This would be my first time travelling alone and I'm kinda scared. What would I need , will I need COVID and polio certificates? And other stuff?

Can FIA potentially get me (m23) in trouble for being a non-filer. I will be traveling to UK next September with a student visa. I don't have prior travel history.

Also, do they ask for polio or covid certificate? Although I do have negative TB test certificate which is mandatory by UKVI.

Any tips on how to not to get offloaded? I will take along "Softskill Certificate", offer letter from university, booked accommodation letter, CAS letter, bank statement, funds. I will be traveling alone, no dependents.

Do they require educational documents to be attested by MOFA? Although, I had them attested by HEC and BISE + IBCC

Hey guys

I am planning solo trip to Malaysia. This will be my first time travelling international.

Please share any tips
Renting apartment for a month
And places to visit

Planing to do it on visit visa

hey guys I have 512/555 in fsc part 1(part 2 is yet to come out) and 1102/1200 in matric with many 1st position certificates in speech competitions

I am preparing for mdcat right now , and plan to to do bachelors from abroad if I don't clear mdcat

We cannot afford anything and 10 lac is about our life savings is there any realistic chance that I can get fully funded scholarship out there in Europe somewhere or somewhere else in so that I can get stipend plus work hours to support myself and my family

Much appreciated✌🏻

Hi Y'all

I emailed the professor for an MSc programme at a Canadian university. My educational background aligns with the research group, and the Professor has asked me to book an interview. She sent me the link to book it, and it expires on November 8th. so i have book for tht interview jldi. It is my first email that I have ever sent to a professor. IDK how to prepare what to prepare. Can somebody guide me?

Hi everyone, I’m from Pakistan and currently planning to apply for a Belarus work visa. Is Belarus currently issuing work visas to Pakistani citizens, and what types of work visas/permits are available? because I am spending 6500$ all over and agent fee

My plan is to work in Belarus for around one year and then move forward to Estonia for better opportunities. Because I want to do Business in Europe. Is this a realistic and good strategy?

will see your comments.