Which Visa Should I Apply For?

@hannahdaniel19758773

choosing the right visa for my needs

As you've already figured out, this is not straight forward.

As you are not being paid you are ineligible for an employment visa.
As you are not volunteering with an NGO you are ineligible for an employment visa.
I can't believe the company suggested a journalist or business visa.

a wildlife production company,

What do they do, exactly? And what did you graduate in?

It is over a year since I graduated so I can't apply for an Intern Visa.

I am unaware of that provision. Do you have a link as reference?

Hello,

They suggested a J-visa or Business visa because that is what a previous intern (South African national) applied for, and because the Intern visa states that the foreigner must be paid a minimum of INR 0.78 million per annum (https://home.kpmg.com/xx/en/home/insights/2017/05/flash-alert-2017-092.html).

It also says on the above website about the time between graduation should be at most a year.

The company film and produce wildlife documentaries. When they have had film crews from the UK and other countries visit they always get a J-Visa.

My degree was in Wildlife Media, and I have worked as a photographer, so could I apply for a J-visa on that basis?

Any other advice you could give would be much appreciated.

(https://home.kpmg.com/xx/en/home/insights/2017/05/flash-alert-2017-092.html) It also says on the above website about the time between graduation should be at most a year.

Although you graduated more than one year ago, is there any documented date which gets you inside 12 months? The date on your parchment maybe?

My degree was in Wildlife Media, and I have worked as a photographer, so could I apply for a J-visa on that basis?

Photographers are regarded as journalists for visa purposes - basically any content creator is a journalist. You can always apply, but it is a situation where you pay your money and hope for the best. Note that there is a requirement for a letter from your employer as part of the J visa application. In all cases there is no refund if you are not issued a visa.

Any other advice you could give would be much appreciated.

That depends on how desperate you are to take up the offer. Left-field suggestion - can you enrol in a post-graduate course, claim the internship as part of your studies - and apply for a student visa instead? Again, there are no guarantees in any of this.

Good luck!

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.