Document problems are the leading cause of student visa delays and refusals — not lack of eligibility, not course issues, not fund shortages. The issue is almost always documents arriving too late, incorrectly prepared, or missing entirely.
The 90-Day Document Timeline
- Day 90: Identify every document needed for the visa — including apostille, translations, and insurance
- Day 75: Collect all academic originals; identify what needs apostille
- Day 60: Submit documents for apostille or HRD attestation (this alone takes 3–6 weeks)
- Day 45: Prepare financial documents — bank statements must show the right history, not just a balance
- Day 30: Compile all certified translations; cross-check against the visa checklist
- Day 15: Final review; any gaps discovered now create real pressure
- Day 0: Visa filing
Important NoteApostille is not instant. MEA apostille in India typically takes 2–4 weeks. HRD attestation can take 4–8 weeks depending on the state and institution type. Do not assume these can be done in a week.
The Most Commonly Missed Documents
- Birth certificate in English (or English translation with apostille)
- PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) — requires passport office appointment and takes 2–4 weeks
- Sponsorship affidavit — must be notarised and accompanied by ITR
- Bank statements — must cover the required period, not just show a high balance on one date
- MOI certificate — often forgotten until the institution requests it
Unirep Global builds a document checklist at the start of every case — not at the visa filing stage. The checklist is reviewed twice: once at application and once before submission. Gaps found early are manageable. Gaps found at visa time are not.
DocumentationVisa PlanningApostilleFinancial Proof