Visa and Immigration Tips
-
25 September 2024What to do 24 hours before your visa interview
Before you can start your study abroad journey in the United States, you’ll need to apply for and obtain an F-1 student visa. And for that, you’ll need to successfully complete your F-1 visa…
-
16 September 2024
A step-by-step guide to apply for Canada’s Student Direct Stream (SDS) program
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) program is a fast-track pathway for international students from select countries to secure their Canadian study permit. If you’re eligible, SDS offers a streamlined process, ensuring you can begin…
-
2 September 2024
Canadian study permit help from BorderPass for master’s students abroad
Canada continues to be a top destination for postgraduate students to earn their master’s degree. According to the International Consultants for Education and Fairs (ICEF) more than 1 million international students had an active…
-
31 July 2024
Q&A: How can I show proof of funds for my U.S. visa application?
As an international student, receiving admission to a school abroad is only half the journey. Before booking tickets and saying farewell to friends and family, you need to ensure you can enter, stay and…
-
31 July 2024
How MPOWER Financing visa services help international students
Applying for a visa for study abroad can be one of the most stressful parts of preparing to study abroad. As an international student, you’re excited about the opportunity to pursue your education in…
-
15 April 2024
11 tips for overcoming nervousness about your F-1 visa interview
Before you can study in the United States as an international student, you’ll need to complete an F-1 student visa interview, and it’s natural to feel anxious about the process. Fortunately, there are plenty…
-
30 January 2024
5 tips for excelling in computer science studies as an international student
Studying computer science as an international student in the United States presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Here are some tips for navigating computer science studies abroad. 1. Master the basics: Build…
-
25 January 2024
What to do when your Canadian student visa is delayed
Going to school in Canada as an international student means you’ll need to first complete an application for a Canadian visa with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Even now, Canada’s immigration system is…
-
26 December 2023
Understanding student visa regulations: A step-by-step guide
To study in a foreign country, international students need a visa. This allows them to not only enter the country but to stay for a specific period of time to study. That’s why it’s…
-
18 October 2023
Preparing for Your F-1 Visa Interview: 3 Essential Tips
Once you’ve been accepted to a university in the United States and applied for your F-1 student visa, there’s one last hurdle you have to clear before you can pack your bags: passing the…
-
1 March 2023
What to do when your student visa approval is delayed
A visa will be needed to begin your studies abroad, but what happens when you face an approval delay? We have some information to help you out.
-
30 September 2020US & Canada Student Visa and Immigration Updates: Sep 2020
US & Canada Student Visa and Immigration Updates: September 2020 This month’s resources are all about immigration! If you missed our September newsletter, check out the resources below for all you need to know…
-
26 August 2020
COVID-19 resources for international students: August 2020
MPOWER is passionate about connecting global citizens to the resources you need during your journey. This is our second in a series of COVID-19 resources.
-
16 October 2020
What is DACA and how can DACA students get a loan without a cosigner?
What is a DACA student? DACA is an immigration program started under the Obama administration that stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. DACA recipients would normally be undocumented immigrants in the United States,…
-
11 August 2020
How the EB-5 Investor Visa Program can grant you a U.S. Green Card
The EB-5 Visa Program administered by the U.S. Government grants Green Cards to foreign applicants and their immediate family (spouses and children up to the age of 21) when they invest $900,000 for a…
-
10 March 2020
Tax season for international students – know your obligations
Taxes are an unavoidable fact of life. Even if you are a non-U.S. citizen, you may be required to pay U.S. taxes if you earned income in the United States. While we can’t give…
-
23 July 2020
COVID-19 Resources for Students: July 2020
MPOWER is passionate about connecting global citizens to the resources you need during your journey. This is our second in a series of COVID-19 resources.
-
5 August 2020
Webinars for International Students in the U.S. & Canada
Want to know more about our loans or have any specific questions about your application? Our team regularly hosts information sessions to connect with you and answer queries. Check out the list below for…
-
8 July 2020
COVID-19 & U.S. Visa: Speak with an Ex Vice Consul of U.S. Embassy
The future may look hazy, but eventually visa appointments will open back up and students will be back on campuses! MPOWER wants to help our students best prepare for their future abroad in the…
-
1 June 2020
COVID-19 Resources for Students: June 2020
We hope you’re staying safe and healthy during this unprecedented health crisis. MPOWER remains passionate about connecting students to the resources you need during your journey.
-
10 September 2019
What is ID theft and how can you protect yourself from it?
If you received your Social Security Number (SSN) from the U.S. government, you might have been warned that you should leave your card at home or keep it somewhere safe. The main reason for this is to protect your identity (ID) information from being stolen. But what is ID theft?
-
11 July 2019
Can I get a job on campus with an F-1 visa?
Yes! You can get a job on campus as an international student with an F-1 (student) visa. Just follow these rules and you can earn extra pocket money or lighten the load of…
-
8 July 2019
It’s time to set up a U.S. bank account! Here’s how to do it.
If you are an international student in the U.S., opening a bank account is probably on your checklist. But, with several personal accounts to choose from, which one should you go with? Let’s walk…
-
26 June 2019
I’m an international student. Can I get a social security number? And How?
The question “How to get a social security number as an international student?” is often asked across different international student groups. The answer is that you can definitely apply for a social security number…
-
5 March 2019
What is co-living and why is it so popular?
In recent years, the way we live, work, and experience the world has begun to shift, fueled by a desire to coexist. Co-living allows a new outlet for this approach – it’s a niche…
-
11 January 2019
Why should you study in Canada?
Over the past several years, international students looking for a global education have been increasingly turning towards Canada.
-
8 January 2019
How to Embrace Culture Shock
It takes a while to get used to your surroundings in a different country, no question about that. I’m excited to share some tips that helped me a lot and took my mind off of missing my family, friends, and country.
-
16 November 2018
Why Supporting International Students Is Our Mission
MPOWER supports international students because it’s good business sense—but also because we believe that supporting international students is good for our country and our world. Here are 5 reasons why.
-
5 September 20185 Ways International Students Can Deal With Currency Fluctuations
Currencies in emerging markets around the globe have suffered this year which causes students from those countries to struggle to pay for college in the U.S. since the cost of that education rises for them as their currencies depreciate in value.
-
27 December 2017
1.5 million, $49 billion and counting: The surge of international students generates exponential impact on U.S. and Canadian economies
A growing number of international students in the U.S. and Canada When I first arrived in the U.S. for college, in 1999, I was one of roughly half a million international students. The number…
-
17 October 2017From Hyderabad to D.C.: My path to a career I love (after a few tries)
These past two years have been some of my most eventful. I moved from my hometown of Hyderabad, India, to Upstate New York to pursue my Masters degree in Finance at the Rochester Institute…
-
7 August 2017
International Students: Getting a License and Car in the US
This is Susie and I am an international student from China. Back at home, I technically got my driver’s license several years ago – but my actual driving experience after that was only around…
-
1 June 2020
How Non-U.S. citizens can refinance and consolidate student debt
In the past decade, outstanding student loan debt has ballooned to $1.4 trillion, and there are now 44 million Americans who owe an average of $29,000 in student debt. Because the vast majority of…
-
7 March 2017
Five Tips to Mastering Non-Verbal Communication: Perfect Presentation
Did you know that communication is 93% non-verbal behavior and only 7% verbal? That means that the way you say something matters just as much as, or possibly more than, the words you say!…
-
10 February 2017
The “Travel Ban” and Refugee Policy
In a nutshell: President Trump’s executive order restricting visas / U.S. entry for nationals of seven countries was signed on January 27 and was stopped a week later. Though at the time of this…
-
10 February 2017Announcing The Series: On Travel Bans, Walls, And H-1Bs
There has been a lot in the news lately about U.S. immigration. Some news is real and concerning; some fake or speculative. With all the talk and commentary, it’s often hard to tell fact…
-
20 June 2016
MPOWER’s guide to creating resumes for jobs in the U.S.
6.25 seconds… According to TheLadders, a job search website, a recruiter will spend 6.25 seconds looking at a resume. While you may be the most qualified person for a job, if your resume is…
-
13 April 2016
Working in the USA as an international STEM student: Beginner’s guide
On May 10, 2016, a new rule published in the Federal Register will allow students who have studied a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) field in the U.S. to apply for a longer…
-
26 January 2016Eight tools for international students preparing to come to the U.S.
Applications. Visas. Money transfers. And just what is the difference between a college and a university? Preparing to come to the U.S. for academic study can be overwhelming. At MPOWER, we hear from international…
