I have a couple of questions regarding the title above, and I hope someone could clarify (it's the weekend now so I won't be able to call the embassy and I need the info quickly):
1) For a student visa, they say that one must show they have at least 21k CHF but they also say that that's sufficient for 12 months. But my MSc program is 1.5 years, so if I show only 25k for example, would that be a problem?
2) Requirements indicate that the money be in a bank with a Swiss branch. The money is currently in a local Canadian bank in the name of my father. If I were to make an account at say HSBC with my name and transfer the money to it then get a statement, would the embassy give me a hard time? I heard before that you need to show that the money has been there anywhere from 3 to 9 months, so would also giving the statement from the old bank (to show the money has been there for a while) be supportive enough? I mean if they ask people to have their money in specific banks, should they really expect us to have it for several months before applying?
3) I like my current bank. I have things set up and so on. Can I transfer the money back from the new bank (say HSBC) to my old local bank after I get the statement and send in the visa application but before I actually get the visa? In other words, will the Swiss government actually contact HSBC and ask if I'm STILL a customer while they're reviewing my application?
4) For further support, I'm thinking of giving proof of assets and income. I got nothing but my father does. Would giving copies of asset ownership and job contracts for my father be supportive of the application? Would my father have to perhaps sign some paper to say he would financially support me in addition to the money in my name in the new bank account?
5) Bit of a different question. I had a Schengen visa in the past 3 years but it's on another passport (a Syrian one), because I wasn't yet a Canadian citizen at the time. Should I photocopy the data and Schengen visa pages for that passport to accelerate my application? You know, the logic is that if they know they've given me a visa before, they won't have to think for so long lol. I'm pretty sure they'll know they've given me a visa before, but I'm worried cuz it's a different passport (Canadian vs. Syrian). I'm also worried that they might think I'm applying with my Syrian passport, then hell would break lose and I'd get the visa in like a year because of the political situation with Syrians.
I know the questions are very technical, but I honestly can't afford any delays or rejections and re-applications; semester starts Feb 1st.
Thank you in advance.
There is an expectation from the Swiss authorities that efforts are made to comply with the rules and not game the system. I would follow the financial requirements spelled out by the ETH/UZ:
"Evidence of sufficient financial means:
You must produce evidence of sufficient financial means to support your stay in Switzerland.
You can do this by providing bank statements and/or scholarship awards. The Canton of Zurich Migration Office requires confirmation from a bank with a branch in Switzerland (it doesn’t have to be a Swiss bank, but a foreign bank with a branch in Switzerland 6).
As a rule, you should be able to provide evidence of having CHF 21'000 at the beginning of each year of your studies.
You yourself must be the account holder and the account balance must be shown in Swiss Francs, Euros or US Dollars either on the bank statement or in an additional letter from the bank. Please note: Even big and internationally well-known banks are not accepted if they do not have a branch in Switzerland. Examples of accepted banks are: Citibank, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, etc. Supporting letters of parents are not accepted.
Alternatively, you can hand in a so-called “guarantee declaration”.7
6 Please check https://www.finma.ch/en/~/media/finm.../beh.pdf?la=en for a list of banks with branches in Switzerland.
7 This means that a solvent person living in Switzerland (Swiss citizen or foreigner with B or C permit) underwrites to cover the costs of up to CHF 21’000.
- for your living expenses, including accidents and illness, in addition to your return trip. The appropriate form is sent to your home address by the Migration Office of the Canton of Zurich (once the y have received your visa application)."
https://www.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz...-master-en.pdf
If they reckon 21k a year and you’re here for 1.5 years then I think they’d be looking for nearer the 30k mark than 25k. Half of 21 is 10.5.
As for the visa, no I wouldn’t copy your previous visa and send it along. Each visa application is dealt with on its own merits - though obviously if you’ve been a bad person and overstayed, etc, and got a record on your file because of it they’ll be looking more closely. When you send the application in you might just add a note that you have previously visited Switzerland under your Syrian nationality, but you now have Canadian citizenship as of such and such a date.
And why not just have two accounts while you’re here studying? You can have your normal account and one at HSBC just for your educational funds.
It’s clear in the instructions Mullhollander posted that you must be the account holder and supporting letters from parents aren’t accepted, so I can’t see providing his assets/income info would be any good. It’s not your’s.
Thanks for your replies.
I'm not trying to play the system, at all actually. Transferring the money to my old account after my application is simply more convenient for me but I can definitely live with the new account while I'm still in Canada. I'm just worried about the fact that I'll be creating my account right before my application. But that's out of my hand I mean it's not my fault I never had my money in an international bank before right?
For letter from my parents, it's merely an addition to my application. I'll still have sufficient funds under my name but I just thought, will some assets and income and a letter do any harm or just be useless?
I don’t think the fact that it’s a new account is a problem. I expect many international students don’t bank with an “accepted” bank here, one of my UK banks isn’t on the list.
I can’t see any point in including the other stuff. If they were based here in Switzerland it would be a different matter as they could give you that guarantee declaration the link mentioned. But they’re not and there’s no way the uni could go after them for any of your outstanding debts here as you’re only one they could sue/chase. So I can’t see it helping at all, it’s irrelevant as far as the uni/Swiss authorities are concerned.
If you're not able to fully afford your Masters studies, you might want to look at obtaining a scholarship for part of the costs:
https://www.ethz.ch/en/studies/non-d...olarships.html
Yeah unfortunately they don't seem to have anything for Canadians. I'm not sure why.. besides, I can afford the master program just not very comfortably. That's why I'm hoping I can find a job, any job, there.
You’re not allowed to take any job. For the first 6 months Masters students can only work in their ETH department.
https://www.ethz.ch/en/studies/inter…mployment.html
And you’re limited to 15 hours a week max during term time.
Doesn’t look like they’re offering scholarships to Masters and MAS students anymore.
"Please note that FCS is no longer giving scholarships to Master’s and MAS students.
As of 2013/14 FCS is going to support only non-degree research students, doctoral students and postdoctoral students."
This may help on the scholarship side though.
https://www.ethz.ch/students/en/stud…olarships.html
You’d need to apply at the same time as you apply for your course though so it may be too late.
True, that was what I was betting on though. Problem is that I would be studying at UZH and they don't seem to offer scholarships of that sort or variety really. I'll try calling them, see what they could offer for foreign students.
Well, they do
http://www.int.uzh.ch/in/program/government_en.html
but there don’t seem to be any available. Whether that’s because it’s too late to apply for the 2016-2017 year or whether they’re no longer available to Masters/MAS I can’t work out.
I am in the process of putting funds in my HSBC account to show my proof of funds. But my money is in AUD (Australian dollars) - do I really have to convert it into USD or CHF before I show them my statement? It seems unnecessary and I will lose something like 4000$ by converting it to USD and back again!
You’d have to ask the uni itself I guess, but why make a double conversion? Just convert it to Swiss francs and be done with it.
Maybe a stupid idea, but why not first try having the bank enclose a letter stating the conversion rate? Here's a snippet of Mullhollander's post above, with some added emphasis: