In very simple words, an SOP for Visa can be regarded as a letter referring to the visa officer and conveying your future study and career plans to him. However, requirement for SOP is based on the country for which you are making a student visa application; for some countries such as UK or USA, including an SOP with visa application is not so necessary, but if you are making a student visa application for Canada, Australia or Germany, providing an SOP is really crucial.
It is essential for you to provide enough explanation in the SOP regarding future study and career plans that could satisfy the visa officer regarding the fact that on completion of your studies, you have no motive to stay back in that particular country and in a long run, you will settle in your home country after completing your studies in abroad. However, it is confusing for an international student, what to include in the visa SOP. Let's find out what information must be provided in a visa SOP.
General Format for Visa SOP:
- In the beginning, you have to provide a general introduction about yourself (personal and academic details) and explain your family background in brief. Here, you can include information regarding your academic or extracurricular achievements as well. But remember, don't go too deep in explaining your achievements.
- Preceding the general introduction, clearly mention the reason behind your plans for studying further and that too in a particular field. Explain, how studying further in a particular field will help you achieve your career dreams
- Now, it comes to the part where you have to list the reasons for studying further in abroad at a particular destination over all other possible options available to you. Try to explain why your home country is not a suitable option to you for your further studies and how your chosen destination is best for you over other study abroad destinations
- After this, you are required to include all the facts/information about your chosen institution at your chosen study abroad destination and also, mention the advantages of choosing that particular institution over other institutions available to you in terms of better program structure, better rankings of the institution, or program accreditation etc. Also, include some information on the curriculum structure of the course which you have chosen to study at that particular institution
- Now it comes to the most important part of the SOP; future career plans. You have to explain your future career plans and it is must for you to make them well relevant to your chosen course. For example, you have chosen to study a MS in cyber security course, then explain future job market for cyber security professionals and explain your vision for seeking future career in domain of cyber security
- In last, you can include details regarding your financial sponsors i.e. who is going to provide financial aid for studying further in abroad. Include their professions or business names, annual income, and financial assets possessed by them (fixed deposits or savings bank account balance)
- Also, you can include some genuine reasons that give a clear idea to the visa officer regarding your return to your home country after completion of your studies abroad
Visa SOP Example/Sample:
Giving a brief introduction about me, I am XXXX (mention your name) from India (you can also provide your complete address as mentioned in your passport). I was born in India on XX/XX/XXXX and since then I am living here. My family members include my father (mention name and occupation), my mother (mention name and occupation), my elder brother (mention name and occupation), and myself. I completed my school-level studies from XXXXX (mention school name) in my city: XXXX (mention city name), and achieved XX.XX (mention % of marks) at my secondary level studies and XX.XX (mention % of marks) at senior secondary level studies. At my senior secondary level of studies, I opted for maths, chemistry, and physics as core subjects as I was determined regarding my higher studies in the field of computer sciences. And now, I have chosen to study the computer information systems program at Castleton University (USA) for XXXX intake (mention the intake you are offered to study the course).
Computing technologies have become a vital component of modern society; without computing devices, it is hardly possible to survive in this modern era. With time our dependence on computing technologies is going to touch a much higher level and with this increasing dependence, our society would be in the need of efficient computing professionals to innovate new computing technologies/software to cater our future-oriented computing needs/requirements and hence, studying in the field of computer science would be the best in regards to future career option.
For my future studies in the field of computer sciences, I made the decision of studying in abroad. By studying abroad in the field of computer sciences, I have opportunities to get future led skills and knowledge in the field of computer sciences as abroad nations like USA, UK, Canada or Germany are the leading trendsetters in making advancements in the field of computing technologies.
But various other facts led me to make the decision of studying further in the USA such as USA is the leading country for making innovations in the field of computer sciences and it comes first in the list for the count of most distinguished computer scientists; confirming that the USA is at the forefront for research activities in the computing field and provides one of the best grounds for research in the field of computer sciences. Also, numerous institutions in the USA offer bachelor's degrees in computer sciences/computing technologies that are affordable to an international student. Institutions in the USA offer world's best technologies/tools for studying/learning. Degrees from schools in the USA confirm that one can find employment with world's best employers. USA offers world's best living standards and thus provides an opportunity to enjoy the best days of one's life while studying in the USA.
Castleton University has been ranked number 5th for undergraduate teaching, so, is the best for studying a bachelor's degree. Alongside, technical expertise in the field of computer sciences, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems course would allow me to enrich my knowledge pool with business management skills and hence, enabling me to understand the business perspectives and accordingly design and develop technologies that could present best solutions to modern problems associated with business organizations. Completing the said degree course, I would be fully capable of designing/developing and implementing IT/computing systems. Also, the cost of studying for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems at Castleton University are one of the minimal in the USA.
Coming back to my home country with a degree from the USA in the field of information systems is surely going to help me in finding my ways for future employment with one of the leading tech giants in India such as TCS, Mindtree or Cognizant India etc. I preferred to be part of one of these organizations as they offer the best career paths in tech field; starting salaries for tech professionals at these are considered the best in India and working environments at these contribute towards one's professional growth for better career progression.
So, I made the humble request for the issuance of USA study visa that would let me complete my future studies in the USA
Regards
XXXX
Some Facts Which You Must Follow While Writing a Visa SOP:
- Keep the SOP's word limit between 1000-1200 words for most of the countries except Australia. For Australia, you can go up to 2000-2500 words
- Don't put any content directly copied from the web
- Don't use informal language in the SOP
- Don't put too much emphasis on describing your personal achievements in the SOP
- Information you provided in the SOP must be properly researched; facts/information you present in the SOP must be from a reliable source of information
- Make your SOP conclusive for the visa officer i.e. after reading your SOP, visa officer is able to clearly understand your motive for making the student visa application
- Don't put any quotes or phrases directly copied from the web in the SOP
- It is suggested to include details for the financial sponsors (persons who are going to provide you financial support for your studies abroad) in the SOP
- Don't make stories while writing the SOP; visa officer wishes to know your future study and career plans and not the stories about your life
0 Comments