People visit foreign countries for studies, work, medical or other personal reasons. For whatever reason it may be, if the agenda of your visit is not accomplished or you discovered some new work there, you need to extend your visa. There are multiple requirements that you need to meet in order to get a visa extension. One of the requirements includes SOP.
What is an SOP?
SOP or Statement of Purpose is a document used to provide insight into the applicant’s personality. The applicant is supposed to provide details on the reason for your visit to the country.
So, you need to write your essay accordingly. For example, for student & work visas, mention your academic & career recognition, goals, ambitions, plans, etc. Foreign applicants write it to convince the visa officer to accept your application. So, it’s an extremely important document to help you secure a visa.
What is the Importance of an SOP?
Your SOP is the way of communicating to the admission & visa panel to make your case and convince them to accept your application. The SOP is the document through which they will know the purpose of your visit and its importance.
As there are always a considerable number of applicants, your SOP makes your case strong and encourages the panel to decide in your favor.
SOP for Student Visa Extension
The following are the guidelines that list the details that must be added in an SOP for visa extension:
Personal Economic Conditions in the Native Country
This is a vital section that must be appropriately addressed in your SOP for visa extension. Your financial conditions will determine that you can manage your expenses. So, make sure you elaborate on the following:
- Family composition
- Number of dependents, if there are any
- Family income
- Employment details of the family
- Assets such as investments, properties, vehicles, etc.
- Liabilities such as debts and mortgages
Students Who Are Extending Visas for Academic Progression
The students requesting to extend their student visas because of an academic progression must ensure that they address the issue well.
If the student has failed in some subjects of their current course, they need to explain why they failed. The students should also provide proof of any external help they went for to assist them in the subjects. This may include details such as study skills, maths and stats help, or any other help you got from the university.
If the student became medically unwell due to some issue and therefore couldn’t study full-time, you must provide all the supporting documents as evidence.
Students Who are Starting a New Education Program or Students Who Are Transferring to Another Institution
The student, in this case, must provide details on:
- Why the student is choosing a particular university, if they are transferring then, explain why they have decided to make this change.
- Certain universities also ask for a list of other universities that you may have applied to, along with their outcome.
- Students should provide details on their education and work history and how that aligns with their choice of course at this university and their future goals.
How the Course Aligns with the Student’s Future Goals and Aspirations?
The students must elaborate on their short-term and long-term future goals. They should mention how the course they seek aligns with their future goals and plans. Give details particularly on your career plans. Include information from the research you have carried out concerning your career choice. It should also include:
- Details of the type of job roles you would be eligible for after the course. You should also include evidence of the communication or advertisements from the companies you wish to join.
- If the student plans to return to their current employer, what growth they would see in their career after completing the course. Include your salary raise and the evidence of the said increase.
- Provide a list of the companies in the native country that you may have approached for your research or job after completing the course. The same goes for the case if you have referred to some foreign country.
- Provide information on the salaries you would receive from each of the companies you have referred to.
Details on Living Arrangements
Students are required to provide details on the living arrangements they have had during their course before. They should also mention any spouse, child, relative, or friend they are having along with them during the course. And, they must also provide details on the arrangements they have made for the extension period. Whether they will stay at the university hostel or with some relatives or have made some other personal arrangements.
Evidence of Any Employment Undertaken During Your Stay in the Country
If the student has taken any jobs during the stay in the country while pursuing the course, they need to provide the details of the same. They also need to provide the evidence, including:
- Name of the employer
- Duration of employment
- Position held
- Salary drawn
- work certificate issued by the employer
- Employer’s contact details
Students may also attach payslips and bank statement copies that show the salary credited to the student’s account. Students should also ensure that they complied with all the work restrictions applicable on their visas.
Intention to Return to Your Native Country
It is extremely important to mention that you intend to return to your home country after the end of your course.
SOP for Work Visa Extension
An SOP for work visa extension should mainly include the following:
Your Eligibility for the Job Role You’re Currently Handling
Describe all your qualifications and skills that make you eligible for the job you’re currently performing in the organization of that country. Include proofs to validate your validation as well if you can.
Jobs & Responsibilities You Handled So Far
Give a detailed description of your job. Elaborate on the major responsibilities you took care of during your tenure till now.
About the Offered Role
Give details of the job you’re offered now, due to which you’re requesting a visa extension. Give details on how it will affect your career’s growth and other details on your goals & ambitions associated with this job role.
Your details on the offered job role must include:
- Responsibilities
Give a job description of your new job role and the responsibilities you will be taking care of.
- Pay Package
Give details on how much you are being paid now and how much you’ll get on accepting the new job role. Give details on the increase in salary if there’s any.
- Duration of the Role
Mention how long your job demands your stay there. Mentioning your tenure is extremely important, along with a mention of your intentions to return to your home country at the end of your tenure.
Eligibility for The Job Role Offered Now
Elaborate on your qualifications, skills, and achievements that make you eligible for the new job role offered to you. Basically, just the details of the work that demands your presence here and how you are the right fit to perform that job.
- Duration of the new role
- Pay package
- Responsibilities
- Will return at the end of the tenure
SOP for Spouse Visa Extension
Your SOP for spouse visa extension must also include the following in detail:
Reason for Your Visit
For spouse visas, there are two categories:
Category 1: The spouse is visiting the country for their work, and you accompanied them.
Category 2: The spouse was already there, and you went there later.
So, first of all, you need to mention which of the above two categories you fall under. Then, the “emotional quotient” is the most crucial part of your SOP. So, you need to add details like how and why your partner needed you there with them in the first place. How exactly you helped them during your visit, like in helping them adjust & settle down. Give details on what all you did there during your stay in the country, and it was helpful to your spouse.
Reason for Visa Extension
You need to elaborate on why you are requesting an extension of your visa.
Financial Details
Your SOP must mention that you are able enough to manage your own expenses. It would be best to assure the visa officer that you’re capable of handling your expenses and are not a financial burden on your spouse. So, give details on your source of income and assets and how you have managed your finances so far. And how you will manage your finances when the extension is provided.
Intention to Return to Home Country
The most crucial detail of your SOP is to mention that you will return to your home country when your visa expires.
Conclusion
A statement of purpose is crucial in acquiring a visa and a visa extension. The document plays a key role in tilting the visa officer’s decision in your favor. Therefore, you must mention all the details required in your SOP properly. The first and foremost detail to be added is the reason for the visa extension. Then, for a student visa extension, it must include the details of the course they’re pursuing & what they intend to pursue now. It should also mention how it’ll help them achieve their goals.
For a work visa extension, the SOP must elaborate on the new job role offered and its scope in furthering their careers. An SOP for spouse visa extension must explain why their partner needs them and how they’re taking care of their expenses. In the end, all the SOPs must mention that they intend to return to their native country when their job is done. To ensure the quality of your SOP, you can also consult professional SOP writers or hire SOP writing services.
