ISU President Elect: No Hope of Lowering Visa Fee

Jose de Pool (21) was elected national president for the International Students' Union 2018-2019 at their national assembly in May.

He is taking his bachelor's in biology at Nord university in Bodø, continuing with a master's degree next semester. With him on the executive board he will have Sam Davis and Almim Hossain Shuvo.

A realist

— I want to focus on maintaining the visa fee on this level, says Pool, adding that he is a realist and does not believe it can be lowered, continuing:

— But I believe it could be maintained at the current level for a long time.

Pool says that the visa instead should last your entire study program. As it is now, students need to renew the visa every year, even if the initial application is based on, for instance, a three year education.

— The limit on your ability to work allows you to earn enough for food and living, but it is not enough for saving up to pay the yearly visa fee, he says.

Wants more exchange

The Venezuelan would also like to increase the amount of exchange and partner programs Norway has as a whole, and wants to work with universities in Norway to make this happen.

— The true value of international students is often not considered, Pool says, continuing:

— I feel like the view is that international students are here, but that they do not influence much. More student exchange is a way to better understand each other, and thus realize each others value.

ISU adopted new work plans at the national assembly, including working for the establishment of a new funding scheme for a full-degree programme for students from developing countries, in light of reduced international student numbers in the absence of the quota scheme.

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