Many Indian students aspire to pursue an MBA abroad in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These countries offer world-class education, diverse culture, global exposure and lucrative career opportunities. However, one of the major challenges that Indian students face after completing their MBA abroad is obtaining a work visa to stay and work in their host country.
In this article, we will explore the visa options and requirements for Indian students who want to work after their MBA in some of the popular destinations.
Visa after MBA for Indians in the USA
The USA is home to some of the top business schools in the world, such as Harvard, Stanford, Wharton and MIT. According to a survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) in 2020, 81% of Indian students prefer to pursue MBA courses in the USA².
However, getting a work visa in the USA is not easy. Indian students who want to work in the USA after their MBA need to apply for an H-1B visa, which is a non-immigrant visa that allows employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. The H-1B visa is valid for up to six years and can be extended under certain circumstances.
The H-1B visa process involves two steps: first, the employer has to file a petition with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of the prospective employee; second, the employee has to apply for the visa at a US consulate or embassy after the petition is approved.
However, there is a catch: the H-1B visa is subject to an annual cap of 65,000 visas for regular applicants and 20,000 visas for applicants with a master’s degree or higher from a US institution⁴. This means that every year, there are more applicants than available visas. To deal with this situation, the USCIS conducts a random lottery to select the petitions that will be processed. The lottery is usually held in April and the results are announced in May or June.
The H-1B lottery system makes it uncertain and unpredictable for Indian students who want to work in the USA after their MBA. According to a report by The Economic Times, only 38% of Indian students who applied for an H-1B visa in 2019 were selected in the lottery². Moreover, the H-1B visa process can be expensive and time-consuming, as it involves fees, documentation and interviews.
Therefore, Indian students who want to work in the USA after their MBA should start looking for potential employers well in advance and prepare themselves for the H-1B visa process. They should also explore other visa options such as O-1 (for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement), L-1 (for intra-company transfers) or E-2 (for treaty investors).
Visa after MBA for Indians in the UK
The UK is another popular destination for Indian students who want to pursue an MBA abroad. The UK has some of the best business schools in Europe, such as London Business School, Oxford Said and Cambridge Judge. According to GMAC, 11% of Indian students prefer to pursue MBA courses in the UK².
The UK offers a more favorable work visa policy for Indian students who want to work after their MBA. In 2019, the UK government announced a new Graduate Route that allows international students who complete their degree at a UK institution to stay and work in the UK for up to two years (or three years for PhD graduates) without any sponsorship or salary requirements¹. The Graduate Route will be launched in July 2021 and will apply to students who started their course in 2020 or later.
The Graduate Route will give Indian students who complete their MBA in the UK more time and flexibility to look for suitable jobs and gain valuable work experience. It will also make them eligible for other work visas such as Skilled Worker (for those who have a job offer from a licensed sponsor), Global Talent (for those who have exceptional talent or promise) or Innovator (for those who want to start or run a business).
Therefore, Indian students who want to work in the UK after their MBA should take advantage of the new Graduate Route and plan their career accordingly. They should also keep themselves updated with the latest immigration rules and regulations.
Visa after MBA for Indians in Canada
Canada is one of the most welcoming and multicultural countries in the world. It also has some of the top business schools in North America, such as Rotman, Ivey and Schulich. According to GMAC, 8% of Indian students prefer to pursue MBA courses in Canada.
Canada offers a generous work visa option for Indian students who want to work after their MBA. Under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, international students who complete their degree at a designated learning institution in Canada can stay and work in Canada for up to three years, depending on the length of their program. The PGWP is an open work permit, which means that the students do not need a job offer or an employer sponsorship to apply for it.
The PGWP program gives Indian students who complete their MBA in Canada ample opportunity to gain Canadian work experience and network with potential employers. It also makes them eligible for other work visas such as Canadian Experience Class (for those who have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada), Federal Skilled Worker (for those who meet the eligibility criteria based on education, work experience, language skills and other factors) or Provincial Nominee (for those who have a nomination from a province or territory).
Therefore, Indian students who want to work in Canada after their MBA should apply for the PGWP as soon as possible after completing their degree. They should also explore the various immigration pathways and programs that Canada offers.
Visa after MBA for Indians in Australia
Australia is a country of diverse landscapes, wildlife and culture. It also has some of the leading business schools in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Melbourne Business School, Australian Graduate School of Management and Monash Business School. According to GMAC, 7% of Indian students prefer to pursue MBA courses in Australia.
Australia offers a flexible work visa option for Indian students who want to work after their MBA. Under the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), international students who complete their degree at a registered education provider in Australia can stay and work in Australia for up to four years, depending on their qualification level and stream. The Temporary Graduate Visa has two streams: Graduate Work stream (for those whose qualification is related to an occupation on the skilled occupation list) and Post-Study Work stream (for those who have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher).
The Temporary Graduate Visa allows Indian students who complete their MBA in Australia to gain Australian work experience and enhance their skills. It also makes them eligible for other work visas such as Skilled Independent Visa (for those who have a high score on the points test), Skilled Nominated Visa (for those who have a nomination from a state or territory) or Employer Sponsored Visa (for those who have a job offer from an approved employer).
Therefore, Indian students who want to work in Australia after their MBA should apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa within six months of completing their degree. They should also check the latest immigration rules and requirements.
Visa after MBA for Indians in New Zealand
New Zealand is a country of stunning natural beauty, adventure and innovation. It also has some of the reputed business schools in the world, such as University of Auckland Business School, Victoria University of Wellington Business School and University of Otago Business School. According to GMAC, 4% of Indian students prefer to pursue MBA courses in New Zealand.
New Zealand offers a simple and straightforward work visa option for Indian students who want to work after their MBA. Under the Post-study Work Visa (open), international students who complete their degree at an acceptable education provider in New Zealand can stay and work in New Zealand for up to one year without any job offer or employer sponsorship. After finding a job relevant to their qualification, they can apply for the Post-study Work Visa (employer assisted), which allows them to stay and work in New Zealand for up to two more years.
The Post-study Work Visa gives Indian students who complete their MBA in New Zealand enough time and flexibility to find suitable employment and gain New Zealand work experience. It also makes them eligible for other work visas such as Skilled Migrant Category (for those who have skills, qualifications and experience that are in demand), Work to Residence (for those who have a job offer from an accredited employer) or Residence from Work (for those who have worked in New Zealand for at least two years).
Therefore, Indian students who want to work in New Zealand after their MBA should apply for the Post-study Work Visa as soon as possible after completing their degree. They should also research the labor market and career opportunities in New Zealand.
Visa after MBA for Indians in France
France is a country of rich culture, history and art. It also has some of the prestigious business schools in Europe, such as INSEAD, HEC Paris and ESSEC Business School. According to GMAC, 3% of Indian students prefer to pursue MBA courses in France.
France offers a generous work visa option for Indian students who want to work after their MBA. Under the AutorisationProvisoire de Séjour (APS), international students who complete their degree at a recognized higher education institution in France can stay and work in France for up to two years without any employer sponsorship or salary requirement. The APS is renewable once for a maximum duration of four years.
The APS allows Indian students who complete their MBA in France to gain French work experience and explore the diverse career opportunities in France. It also makes them eligible for other work visas such as Talent Passport (for those who have exceptional skills or talents), EU Blue Card (for those who have a high qualification and a job offer with a high salary) or Long Stay Visa (for those who have a permanent job contract).
Therefore, Indian students who want to work in France after their MBA should apply for the APS within four months of completing their degree. They should also learn French language and culture to enhance their employability.
Visa after MBA for Indians in Germany
Germany is a country of innovation, technology and industry. It also has some of the top business schools in the world, such as Mannheim Business School, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and ESMT Berlin. According to GMAC, 2% of Indian students prefer to pursue MBA courses in Germany.
Germany offers a flexible work visa option for Indian students who want to work after their MBA. Under the Job Seeker Visa, international students who complete their degree at a German higher education institution can stay and look for a job in Germany for up to 18 months without any employer sponsorship or salary requirement. The Job Seeker Visa is valid for six months and can be extended up to three times.
The Job Seeker Visa gives Indian students who complete their MBA in Germany ample time and opportunity to find a suitable job and gain German work experience. It also makes them eligible for other work visas such as EU Blue Card (for those who have a high qualification and a job offer with a high salary), Skilled Immigration Act (for those who have a vocational qualification and a job offer) or Settlement Permit (for those who have worked in Germany for at least five years).
Therefore, Indian students who want to work in Germany after their MBA should apply for the Job Seeker Visa before leaving Germany after completing their degree. They should also learn German language and culture to improve their chances of finding a job.
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