Student Visa Application Guidelines

A non-immigrant student desirous of pursuing a course of study in Barbados shall apply for a student visa before entering the island. Applications for student visas should be submitted on the prescribed form to the Immigration Department as stated below

1. MINORS (under 18 years old)

- Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (Form H-1) (Not Required for CARICOM nationals under 16 years old). Completed by school official for enrolling student and certified by the Ministry of Education

- Certificate by Non-Immigrant Student (Form H-2) (Not Required for CARICOM nationals under 16 years old). Completed by parent/guardian

- Applicant’s original birth certificate (B/C) or notarized copy of the birth certificate

- Two(2) passport sized photographs

- Letter of consent from parent signed by a notary public (where applicable)

- Copy of biodata page of the applicant’s passport

- Evidence of financial support adequate for payment of school expense, living and medical expenses. (E.g. evidence of scholarships, evidence from a bank recognized by Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) of bank balances, legal document of support from an adult and evidence of that adult’s means)

- Letter of acceptance from a school registered/chartered by the Ministry of Education

- Application fee of Bds $300.00

- Any other documents relevant to the application may be requested by this department

Points to note:

- Prior to submission, the forms and supporting documents will be thoroughly vetted by the Immigration Department. Any shortcoming of the data/information and deficiency in supporting material which are revealed during the vetting process will be immediately communicated to the guardian/parent/agent;

- The guardian/parent/agent is responsible for ensuring that all forms are completed and relevant supporting documents are available for vetting;

- The department will not accept incomplete application forms or applications forms without the relevant supporting documents. Relevant and appropriate information is required to evaluate request.

- Laminated documents and police certificates of character that are scanned or otherwise copied are inadmissible. (The authenticity of laminated documents cannot be verified).

Processing

1) The student visa will not be approved unless the security clearance of the guardian is favorable. If the Student visa is not approved the decision will be communicated in writing to the guardian/parent/agent within 10 working days of acceptance of application

2) If security clearance is favorable a provisional student visa will be approved for a period not exceeding four (4) months and the decision communicated in writing to the guardian/parent/agent of the guardian or parent within 10 working days after acceptance of the application. No stamp will be affixed to the applicant’s passport at this stage other than an entry visa stamp.

3) The provisional student visa issued will indicate, “that the applicant is only eligible for an extension of the visa if security clearance and financial support of the applicant are favorable”.

4) On submission of the completed form and documents, the Immigration Department will assess the financial evidence to ascertain that the applicant has sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of study.

5) If (3) and (4) above are satisfactory to the Immigration Department, a student visa will be issued for three years and the guardian/parent/agent will be informed within 60 working days of the acceptance of the application.

6) At the time of application for renewal of the student visa the parent/guardian/agent must produce evidence that all school fees have been settled with the school/institution.

2. ADULTS (18 years and older)

Documentation

Student visa applications must be submitted with the undermentioned supporting documents:

- Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (Form H-1). Completed by school official for enrolling student and certified by the Ministry of Education

- Certificate by Non-Immigrant Student (Form H-2). Completed by prospective students.

- Applicant’s original birth certificate (B/C) or notarized copy of the birth certificate

- Two(2) passport size photographs

- Applicant’s marriage certificate (M/C) (where applicable)

- Copy of biodata page of the applicant’s passport

- Evidence of financial support adequate for payment of school expenses, living and medical expenses. (E.g. evidence of scholarships, evidence from a bank recognized by Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) of bank balances, legal document of support from an adult and evidence of that adult’s means)

- A Certificate of Character from the Police of each country in which you have lived for at least 6 months in the past 3 years.

- Letter of acceptance from a school registered/chartered by the Ministry of Education

- Timetable and Course Outline

- Proof of Accommodation

- Application fee Bds $300.00

- Any other documents relevant to the application may be requested by this department

Points to note:

1) Prior to submission, the forms and supporting documents will be thoroughly vetted by the Immigration Department. Any shortcoming of the data/information and deficiency in supporting material which are revealed during the vetting process will be immediately communicated to the guardian/parent/agent;

2) The guardian/parent/agent is responsible for ensuring that all forms are completed and relevant supporting documents are available for vetting;

3)The department will not accept incomplete application forms or applications forms without the relevant supporting documents. Relevant and appropriate information is required to evaluate requests.

4)Laminated documents and police certificates of character that are scanned or otherwise copied are inadmissible. (The authenticity of laminated documents cannot be verified).

Processing

- The student visa will not be approved unless the security clearance of the guardian is favorable. If the Student visa is not approved the decision will be communicated in writing to the applicant/agent within 10 working days of acceptance of application

- If security clearance is favorable a provisional student visa will be approved for a period not exceeding four (4) months and the decision communicated in writing to the applicant/agent within 10 working days after acceptance of the application. No stamp will be affixed to the applicant’s passport at this stage other than an entry visa stamp.

- The provisional student visa issued will indicate, “that the applicant is only eligible for an extension of the visa if security clearance and financial support of the applicant are favorable”.

- Financial evidence must show that the applicant has sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of study should be assessed on submission of the documents.

- If 3 and 4 above are satisfactory to the Immigration Department, a final student visa for the remainder of the student’s proposed duration of study will be issued and the guardian/parent/agent will be informed within 60 working days of the acceptance of the application.

Renewal of Student Visa

1) H-3 Application form

2) Copy of biodata page of the applicant’s passport

3) One (1) passport sized photograph

4) Previous Student Visa Permit

5) Copy of Student’s Current Report

6) Proof of parents’ or guardians’ status in Barbados (under 18 years)

7) Application fee of Bds $300.00

8) Any other documents relevant to the application may be requested by this department

3. TRANSFER ON CANCELLATION OF PREVIOUS STUDENT VISA

A non-immigrant student seeking to transfer studies from one institution to another must first obtain a new student visa for the institution to which the student is transferring. To obtain consideration of such a new student visa, the transferring student should present the letter to the Immigration Department from the school from which the transfer is being made indicating that the student has discontinued his studies there. The student must also present to the Department a copy of his letter to the school from which he is being transferred informing of his decision to discontinue studies at that institution. Additionally, the student must present a letter of acceptance from another school registered/chartered by the Ministry of Education.

In the case of the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Exam (BSSEE) the student must present the School Allocation Slip issued by the Ministry of Education and the acceptance letter from the Secondary School assigned.

If the institution from which the transfer is being made, does not inform the Immigration Department of the decision of the student to discontinue studies at that institution, the Immigration Department shall be at liberty to use the copy of the letter from the student canceling his studies, with an affidavit from the student to that effect. It should be noted that the letter of acceptance from the new school registered/chartered/accredited by the Ministry of Education, along with the other documentation requirements for student visas will still be required to process the new student visa application.

4. CANCELLATION OF STUDENT VISA

In the event that a student discontinues his/her studies at the institution for which he/she has a student visa, that institution is required to inform the Immigration Department in writing within two (2) weeks of the student’s discontinuance of studies and to request that the Immigration Department cancels the student visa issued for that institution.