student visa change guide

Last updated June 25, 2026

Changing University After German Student Visa Filing: What to Update

If you switch universities after starting a German student visa process, the real question is not only what changed but when it changed in the life of the file. This article shows how to think about the update at each stage, from admission and mission contact to blocked account, insurance, housing, enrollment, and residence records after arrival. The goal is to help you identify which documents still fit, which ones need to be replaced, and where silence or delay can create avoidable problems.

Changing university after filing a German student visa application can be harmless, manageable, risky, or impossible depending on timing and facts. The problem is not simply that the university name changes. The problem is that the university name may be connected to the visa file, study purpose, city, local foreigners authority, health-insurance notification, blocked-account timing, tuition proof, accommodation plan, enrollment deadline, and residence-permit appointment after arrival.

If you receive a better admission letter after filing, do not assume the new admission automatically replaces the old one in every system. Also do not assume the change is forbidden. The right response is to identify which stage the file is in, which documents change, and which office must be informed.

This guide gives a practical decision process for students who filed with one German university and now want to switch to another before the visa decision, after visa approval, after arrival, or before residence-permit issuance.

Official sources to know first

Start with official or institutionally authoritative sources:

• Federal Foreign Office student visa FAQ: Federal Foreign Office: Student visa procedure
• Federal Foreign Office general visa information: Federal Foreign Office: Visa service
• Federal Foreign Office blocked-account information: Federal Foreign Office: Blocked account
• DAAD guidance on health insurance for international students: DAAD: Healthcare and health insurance
• German Federal Ministry of Health portal on student health insurance: gesund.bund.de: Student health insurance

These sources do not give one universal answer for every university switch. They define the building blocks: student visa procedure, financial proof, health insurance, and student status. The mission or foreigners authority handling your file decides how the change should be submitted.

Direct answer

If you want to change university after filing a German student visa, first identify whether the visa is still pending, already approved, already used for entry, or already converted into a residence permit. Then contact the German mission or local foreigners authority through the official channel, provide the new admission letter, explain whether the study level, subject, city, start date, tuition, funds, insurance, and housing plan change, and ask whether the file must be updated before travel or at the residence-permit stage.

Do not silently travel with a visa based on one study plan while intending to enroll somewhere else if the change affects core facts. Do not withdraw from the first university before confirming that the second path is administratively usable. Keep both admission letters and all correspondence.

The key question: what stage is your file in?

The correct action depends on timing.

The later the change, the more systems may need updating.

What exactly changes?

Not all university changes are equal. A change from one master's program in Munich to a similar master's program in Munich may be simpler than a change from a language-preparation route in Berlin to a private bachelor's program in Hamburg with tuition.

Check whether the change affects:

• University name.
• Program name.
• Degree level.
• Field of study.
• Start semester.
• City.
• Tuition.
• Semester contribution.
• Language requirement.
• Preparatory course or Studienkolleg.
• Health-insurance notification.
• Accommodation.
• Local foreigners authority.
• Blocked-account amount or financial proof.
• Scholarship conditions.
• Visa motivation and career rationale.

If the change affects only the university name but not city, level, subject, cost, or start date, it may be easier. If it changes several core facts, treat it as a new study plan.

Before the visa appointment

If you have not yet attended the visa appointment, use the admission letter that reflects your real plan. Do not submit an old admission because it was the first one received if you already know you will not attend that university. Update:

• Application form if it names the university.
• Motivation letter.
• Financial proof if tuition differs.
• Insurance plan if enrollment timing differs.
• Accommodation plan if city changes.
• University correspondence.

Bring the old admission only if it helps explain the timeline or if the checklist requests all admissions. The main file should match the intended university.

After appointment but before decision

If the appointment already happened, contact the mission through the official channel. Do not send random documents to unrelated email addresses. State:

• Application reference number.
• Passport number if requested.
• Original university/program.
• New university/program.
• Reason for change.
• Whether city, start date, tuition, funds, or insurance changed.
• Attached new admission letter.

Ask whether the mission wants the file updated, whether the old file remains acceptable, or whether a new appointment/application is required. Keep the response.

After visa approval but before travel

This is more sensitive. A national student visa was issued based on a study plan. If you now intend to attend a different university, ask the mission before travel if the change is material. The visa sticker may not necessarily list the university, but the underlying file may still matter.

Do not assume airline boarding or border entry answers the immigration question. Border entry only gets you into Germany. Residence-permit issuance later may still require coherent study documents.

Ask:

• Can I travel with this visa and enroll at the new university?
• Should the visa file be updated before travel?
• Should I carry both admission letters?
• Will the local foreigners authority be informed?
• Does the change require a new visa?

The answer may vary by case.

After arrival but before enrollment

If you arrive and then switch, the key tasks are practical:

• Enroll at the new university.
• Arrange health-insurance notification for the new university.
• Register address in the correct city.
• Update blocked-account payout and bank details if needed.
• Book residence-permit appointment with the correct foreigners authority.
• Keep proof of old and new admissions.

If the new university is in a different city, the local foreigners authority changes. Your visa file may need to move or be handled by the new city after Anmeldung. City changes can create appointment delays, so act early.

After residence permit is issued

If you already have a residence permit for studies and want to change university or program, check the permit wording and ask the foreigners authority before making the change. Some study-related changes are routine. Others may affect the purpose of residence, especially if the new program is unrelated, lower level, longer, or not clearly plausible.

Prepare:

• Current residence permit.
• Current enrollment.
• New admission.
• Explanation for change.
• Academic progress record.
• Funding proof.
• Insurance proof.
• New city/address if applicable.

Do not assume a residence permit for one study purpose automatically covers any future study plan.

Academic purpose and credibility

Authorities may care whether the new program still makes sense. A change from mechanical engineering to mechanical engineering at another university is easier to explain than a change from master's engineering to unrelated bachelor's arts after several semesters. That does not mean the latter is impossible, but it needs explanation.

A strong explanation covers:

• Why the new program is academically appropriate.
• How it relates to previous education.
• Why the change happened.
• Whether credits transfer.
• Whether completion timeline remains plausible.
• Whether funding covers the new duration and tuition.
• Whether language requirements are met.

Avoid generic claims such as "better university." Be specific.

City change and foreigners authority

The foreigners authority is local. If you change from a university in Berlin to one in Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, or another city, your local authority after arrival may change. The authority responsible is usually tied to your registered address, not merely the university. Housing therefore matters.

City change affects:

• Anmeldung appointment.
• Residence-permit appointment.
• Local processing times.
• Required forms.
• Communication channel.
• File transfer.
• Emergency appointment availability.
• Housing cost and blocked-account cash flow.

If your visa was issued with one city in mind but you register in another, keep documents explaining the university change. The new authority may ask why your file shows a different original destination.

Health-insurance notification

University enrollment in Germany often requires a health-insurance status notification. Changing university can require a new notification to the new institution. This is not necessarily solved by uploading the same insurance certificate.

Ask the insurer:

• Can you send the electronic notification to the new university?
• What university code or recipient details are needed?
• Does the insurance start date change?
• Does the old university notification need cancellation?
• Does private insurance exemption need updating?

If you are using EU home insurance, EHIC, private insurance, or incoming insurance, ask the new university exactly what document or electronic process it requires.

Blocked account and funds

The blocked account may not need to change just because the university changes. But financial proof can be affected if:

• Tuition differs.
• Program duration differs.
• Start date changes.
• Scholarship is tied to the original university.
• Cost of living changes significantly.
• Renewal will occur in a different city.

If the new university has tuition, the blocked account for living costs may not be enough. Keep tuition invoice, payment proof, scholarship letter, or additional funds evidence. For blocked-account mechanics, see Germany Blocked Account for Student Visa.

Scholarship conditions

If you have a scholarship, check whether it is tied to:

• Specific university.
• Specific program.
• Degree level.
• City.
• Start semester.
• Academic supervisor.
• Full-time enrollment.
• Minimum progress.

Do not assume scholarship funding follows automatically. A visa file relying on a scholarship letter for one program may need an updated scholarship letter for the new program.

Tuition and semester fees

Changing university can affect tuition proof. Some German public universities charge only semester contributions. Some states or programs charge tuition for non-EU students, second degrees, or specific master's programs. Private universities may charge substantial tuition.

If tuition changes, update:

• Financial proof.
• Visa explanation.
• Payment receipt.
• Scholarship evidence.
• Blocked-account plan.
• Residence-renewal budget.

If tuition is due before enrollment, make sure funds are accessible outside monthly blocked-account payouts.

Housing and Anmeldung

If the new university is in a different city, housing changes. Housing affects Anmeldung, tax ID, bank mail, health insurance, and residence-permit jurisdiction. Do not delay housing planning because the visa was approved for "Germany" broadly.

Before switching:

• Can you find housing in the new city?
• Can you register there?
• Can you receive mail?
• Does the lease start before enrollment deadline?
• Does residence office require local address?
• Is the first rent/deposit affordable?

Housing failure can make a good university switch impractical.

Current account and blocked-account payouts

Changing university usually does not change the current account requirement. You still need an IBAN for blocked-account payouts, rent, insurance, and fees. But moving city can delay Anmeldung and bank onboarding. If the first city had a bank appointment and the new city does not, adjust.

For payout operations, see Blocked Account Payouts After Arrival.

Visa motivation letter mismatch

If your original motivation letter was very specific to the first university, and you switch to a different program, the file may look inconsistent. That does not automatically mean refusal, but it should be addressed. A new explanation can say:

• You received a later admission.
• The new program better matches your academic goals.
• The field and degree level remain consistent.
• Funding and insurance remain valid.
• You request that the file be updated.

Do not pretend the original motivation still applies if it clearly does not.

Program level changes

Changing within the same degree level is usually easier to explain than changing level. Examples:

• Master's to master's in related subject: often manageable.
• Bachelor's to bachelor's in related subject: may be manageable.
• Master's to bachelor's: may raise questions.
• Degree to language course: may raise questions.
• Preparatory course to direct admission: often positive but needs update.
• Public university to private high-tuition program: financial proof becomes more important.

The more the level changes, the more explanation and financial evidence are needed.

Studienkolleg and conditional admission

If your first file was based on Studienkolleg, conditional admission, or a preparatory route, switching can be complex. The mission may have assessed your pathway to university admission. A new pathway may require different documents, entrance exam proof, language proof, or course confirmation.

Ask:

• Does the new pathway still qualify for the same visa purpose?
• Is the Studienkolleg public or private?
• Is the university admission conditional on passing?
• Does insurance cover preparatory phase?
• Are work rights different?
• Does the blocked account cover the full preparatory period?

Do not treat preparatory-route changes as simple university swaps.

Private university caution

Private university offers can arrive quickly and look administratively easy. But switching from a public university to a private institution can affect tuition, credibility, accreditation, and financial proof. Check whether the institution and program are recognized for student residence purposes. Keep official admission and accreditation evidence if needed.

Ask:

• Is the institution state-recognized?
• Is the degree recognized?
• What tuition is due?
• Is admission unconditional?
• Does the visa mission accept this program?
• Does the foreigners authority have concerns about the institution?

Do not switch solely because a private admission is faster unless the full file works.

How to email the mission

Use a concise message:

Attach only relevant documents unless instructed otherwise.

How to email the new university

Ask the new university:

Universities cannot decide visa law, but they can provide documents.

How to email the insurer

Do this early because enrollment can be blocked until the university receives the correct insurance notification.

How to email the foreigners authority after arrival

If you are in Germany:

Attach documents only through official portals or as instructed.

Document checklist

Keep:

• Old admission letter.
• New admission letter.
• Visa application receipt.
• Mission correspondence.
• Visa approval or sticker.
• Motivation update.
• New enrollment certificate when available.
• Health-insurance notification.
• Blocked-account confirmation.
• Tuition proof.
• Scholarship update if relevant.
• Housing proof.
• Anmeldung.
• Residence appointment confirmation.

Do not discard the old file. It explains the timeline.

What if you already withdrew from the first university?

If you withdrew before confirming the new route, act quickly. Get written proof from the new university and contact the mission or authority. If the visa was based on the first admission and that admission no longer exists, the file may need updating. The risk is higher if the new admission is conditional, delayed, or in another city.

Do not hide the withdrawal if asked. Build a clear update file.

What if the visa is refused after the change?

Read the refusal reason. It may relate to academic purpose, funds, insurance, missing documents, or inconsistency. Do not assume the university change was the only reason. Fix the exact issue:

• New admission clarity.
• Funds for tuition.
• Updated insurance.
• Motivation letter.
• Housing plan.
• Program recognition.
• Scholarship update.

If appeal or remonstration is available, follow the mission's instructions and deadlines.

Common mistakes

Avoid:

• Silently switching without asking the mission or authority.
• Withdrawing from the first university before securing the second file.
• Ignoring city and foreigners-authority changes.
• Forgetting health-insurance notification to the new university.
• Assuming blocked account covers new tuition.
• Using old motivation letter unchanged.
• Arriving in a city where you have no housing plan.
• Missing enrollment deadline while waiting for visa clarification.
• Treating a private university admission as automatically equivalent.
• Failing to keep old admission and correspondence.

Scenario matrix

Use this matrix as a risk screen. It does not replace official advice, but it shows when a "simple" switch is not simple.

If the new program starts later

If the new university starts one semester later, the file becomes more complicated. A student visa is tied to a study purpose and expected start. If the start date shifts significantly, the mission or authority may question what you will do in the gap, whether funds cover the longer period, whether insurance covers the gap, and whether the visa timing still makes sense.

Prepare:

• New admission with start date.
• Explanation for gap.
• Proof of funds for the gap.
• Health insurance for the gap.
• Housing plan.
• If relevant, language course or preparatory activity.

Do not assume a visa issued for one semester can be casually used for a later start without updating the file.

If the new program starts earlier

An earlier start can be positive but creates timing pressure. You may need faster visa processing, earlier travel, earlier insurance start, earlier housing, and earlier enrollment. If the mission already has the old start date, update it. If the visa cannot be issued before the earlier start, ask the university about late arrival.

Checklist:

• New enrollment deadline.
• Latest arrival date.
• Online orientation requirements.
• Tuition deadline.
• Insurance start date.
• Housing availability.
• Mission processing status.

If the field changes

Changing field can be credible, but it needs a reason. A switch from computer science to data science may be easy to explain. A switch from engineering to music, business to medicine, or law to design may require a stronger academic narrative.

Explain:

• What changed in your academic plan.
• How prior education supports the new field.
• Why Germany remains the right study destination.
• Whether admission is unconditional.
• Whether language level is sufficient.
• How the new program supports career goals.

Authorities are not career counselors, but they may assess whether the study purpose is genuine and plausible.

If the degree level changes downward

Moving from master's admission to bachelor's admission can raise questions because it may look like a weaker or longer path. It can be valid if the master's admission was conditional, the bachelor's is the correct academic fit, or the applicant changed fields. But it needs explanation and funds for the longer period.

Prepare:

• Reason for level change.
• New duration.
• Financial plan.
• Prior education explanation.
• Career rationale.
• University confirmation.

Do not present the change as insignificant.

If the degree level changes upward

Moving from bachelor's to master's or preparatory to direct degree may be easier if the applicant received stronger admission. Still, update the file because program level, tuition, and start date may change. If the new program has higher language or academic requirements, include proof.

If the new university is in the same city

Same-city changes are often operationally easier because housing, registration office, and foreigners authority may remain the same. But enrollment and insurance notification still change. Do not ignore the insurer just because the city is unchanged. Universities usually receive insurance status electronically from a German insurer or require a specific process.

If the new university is in another federal state

Moving to another state can affect tuition, public holidays, residence-office practice, semester deadlines, and housing markets. For example, a switch to a state or program with non-EU tuition changes the financial file. A switch to a high-rent city changes cash-flow needs. A switch to a city with scarce immigration appointments changes timing risk.

Update:

• Housing budget.
• Tuition proof.
• Appointment strategy.
• Local registration plan.
• Residence-office contact.

If you have not yet received the visa decision

This is usually the cleanest time to update. But do it formally. Send the new admission and ask whether additional documents are needed. If the mission acknowledges the update, save the acknowledgment. If the mission says no update is needed, save that too.

Do not send the update through multiple channels repeatedly unless instructed. Duplicate submissions can confuse the file.

If your passport is already with the mission

If the mission has your passport for visa issuance and you receive a new admission, contact them immediately through the instructed channel. The file may be near finalization. Ask whether the change can be added or whether it should be handled after arrival. Do not assume you can change the basis silently after the sticker is issued.

If the visa sticker has remarks

Some visa stickers or accompanying letters may include remarks. Read them. If the remarks identify a course, institution, city, or purpose, changing may require clarification before travel or before residence-permit appointment. Even if the sticker does not show the university name, the underlying application file may.

Keep the visa approval letter, any mission email, and all admission documents.

If the old university informs authorities

Some applicants worry that the old university will tell the mission if they do not enroll. Usually the bigger issue is not whether the university proactively informs anyone. The issue is whether your documents at residence-permit stage show a coherent path. If the authority sees a visa file based on University A and you present enrollment at University B, it may ask for explanation.

A truthful timeline solves many concerns:

• Filed with University A on date.
• Received University B admission on date.
• Updated mission or attempted update on date.
• Enrolled at University B on date.
• Funds and insurance remained valid or were updated.

If you paid fees to the old university

You may have paid semester contribution or tuition to the old university. Ask about refund deadlines. Keep payment and refund proof. If the old payment was part of your visa file, and the new university also requires payment, update the financial proof so the mission or authority can see that you can afford the actual plan.

If housing was arranged through the old university

Some students receive dormitory housing tied to the first university or city. If you switch, that housing may disappear. Without housing, you may not be able to register, open a bank account easily, or receive official mail.

Before switching, ask:

• Can the old housing be cancelled?
• Is deposit refundable?
• Is new housing available?
• Does new housing allow Anmeldung?
• Is move-in before enrollment?
• Can you receive mail there?

Housing is not separate from the visa plan. It is the operational base.

If blocked-account amount changes in a new year

If the visa process crosses into a new year or the authority applies updated financial requirements, the required amount may change. The university switch may not be the reason, but the timing can expose the issue. Check the current blocked-account requirement on the mission's checklist and Federal Foreign Office information. If the amount changed, update funding before the authority asks.

If scholarship starts at the old university

A scholarship may be tied to a university, supervisor, program, or city. If you switch, the scholarship letter may no longer prove funds. Ask the scholarship provider for:

• Confirmation that funding transfers to the new program.
• Updated amount.
• Updated duration.
• Insurance coverage if any.
• Tuition coverage if any.

If the scholarship does not transfer, build a new funds file.

If insurance was arranged through the old university

Some international programs coordinate insurance or onboarding. If you switch, you may lose that arrangement. Contact the insurer directly. Do not assume the old university's group process will notify the new university. German university enrollment often depends on insurer-to-university transmission, not only student possession of a certificate.

If you switch after enrollment

Switching after enrollment has academic and immigration consequences. You may need de-registration from the old university and enrollment at the new one. Health insurance, semester fees, student ID, transport ticket, residence permit, and city records may all need updating.

Prepare:

• Exmatriculation certificate if applicable.
• New enrollment.
• Transcript or credits.
• Reason for switch.
• Updated residence file.
• Address update.

Do not let a gap between enrollments undermine the study purpose.

If you switch because of visa delay

Sometimes the original admission expires because visa processing takes too long, and the student obtains a later admission from another university. This is a reasonable scenario but should be documented. Ask the original university whether deferral is possible. Ask the new university for a clear admission date. Explain that the change responds to timing, not abandonment of study purpose.

If the mission does not reply

Missions can be overloaded. If you send an update and receive no response, keep proof of submission. Do not assume silence means approval, but also do not panic. If travel date is near, follow the mission's published contact rules. If in Germany, ask the local foreigners authority at the residence-permit stage and show the update attempt.

Evidence of good-faith disclosure is better than no evidence.

If the university says no visa update is needed

Universities are not visa authorities. Their advice can be practical but not binding on the mission or foreigners authority. If the university says "this is fine," still ask the responsible immigration office if the change is material. Keep the university's statement as supporting context, not final legal authority.

If an agent says they will handle it

Some students use admission or visa agents. If an agent says they will update the file, ask for proof. You need copies of:

• Message sent to mission.
• New admission submitted.
• Mission response.
• Updated forms if any.

Do not rely on verbal promises. The visa and residence consequences are yours.

Red flags

Be cautious if:

• The new admission is conditional but the old one was unconditional.
• Tuition is much higher and funds are not updated.
• The new institution's recognition is unclear.
• You must withdraw from the old university immediately to accept the new one.
• The new city has no housing plan.
• Insurance cannot issue notification to the new university.
• A consultant says not to tell the mission.
• The program level changes without explanation.
• Scholarship does not transfer.
• Visa is already issued and travel is tomorrow.

Red flags do not necessarily mean "do not switch." They mean "pause and document before switching."

FAQ

Is changing university illegal?

Not necessarily. Students change plans. The issue is whether the visa or residence file remains truthful and valid for the new plan. The responsible mission or foreigners authority should guide the update.

Do I need a new blocked account?

Usually not only because the university changes, but you may need updated funds if tuition, duration, or required amount changes. Keep provider proof current.

Do I need new health insurance?

Maybe not a new policy, but often a new university notification. Contact the insurer.

Can I enter Germany with the old visa and enroll at the new university?

Do not assume. Ask the mission if the change is material before travel, especially if city, program, degree level, or tuition changes.

What if both universities are in the same city?

The change may be simpler, but you still need updated admission, enrollment, and insurance notification.

What if the new university starts next semester?

You need a gap plan: funds, insurance, housing, lawful stay, and study purpose. Ask the mission or authority.

Should I cancel the old admission first?

Usually not before confirming the new file is administratively usable. Keep options open until the responsible office confirms next steps.

Personal decision checklist

Before switching, answer:

• Is the new admission unconditional?
• Is the new institution recognized?
• Is the degree level the same?
• Is the field related?
• Is the city the same?
• Does tuition change?
• Does scholarship transfer?
• Does blocked-account proof remain enough?
• Can insurance notify the new university?
• Can I get housing in the new city?
• Which foreigners authority will handle me?
• Have I informed the mission or authority?
• Do I have written evidence?

If several answers are uncertain, the switch is not ready.

Administrative timeline template

Use this timeline:

This timeline can be shown later if the authority asks why the visa file and enrollment differ.

Final document quality standard

A strong switch file should make the change obvious:

• Old plan.
• New plan.
• Reason for change.
• Same or changed city.
• Same or changed subject.
• Same or changed finances.
• Updated insurance.
• Updated admission.
• Official notification attempt.

If an officer needs to guess, the file is weak. If the timeline is clear, the switch is easier to understand.

If credits transfer or do not transfer

Credit transfer can affect academic progress and residence renewal. If the new university accepts credits from the old program, keep written confirmation. It helps show that the switch does not restart the entire academic path unnecessarily. If credits do not transfer, prepare a reason why the longer study duration is still plausible and funded.

Documents that help:

• Credit-transfer decision.
• Transcript from old university.
• Study plan at new university.
• Expected graduation date.
• Adviser letter if available.
• Explanation of why the new program is academically better.

For residence renewal, the authority may care less about prestige and more about whether the study path remains serious and finishable.

If you switch because of admission fraud or bad advice

Some students discover that an agent, private institution, or intermediary misrepresented the first program. If you switch because the original admission was unreliable, document carefully. Keep contracts, payment receipts, emails, and university confirmations. If money was lost, seek consumer or legal advice. For the visa file, focus on the valid new admission and a concise explanation. Do not overload the mission with accusations unless relevant documents are requested.

If you switch from language course to degree admission

This can be a positive change if the new degree admission is stronger than the original language or preparatory plan. But the visa purpose, start date, health insurance, and enrollment documents may change. Submit the degree admission and ask whether the file can be updated. If the language course was required for admission and is no longer needed, explain why.

If you switch from degree admission to language course

This is more sensitive. A degree-study visa file may not automatically support a pure language-course plan unless the language course is part of preparation for studies and accepted by the mission or authority. You may need a different visa purpose or additional documents. Ask before making the switch.

Pre-submission review

Before sending the update to the mission or authority, review:

• The email subject includes application reference.
• New admission PDF is attached.
• Old and new university names are spelled correctly.
• Program level and subject are stated.
• City change is disclosed.
• Tuition change is disclosed.
• Funds and insurance are addressed.
• The request asks for guidance, not automatic approval.
• The message is short enough to process.

This small review prevents many avoidable follow-up requests.

Bottom line

Changing university after a German student visa filing is a document-control problem. The change may be simple if the new program is similar, the city is the same, funds are unchanged, and the mission can update the file. It may be risky if the program level, field, city, tuition, insurance, scholarship, or residence authority changes.

Do not guess. Identify the stage of the visa process, map what changes, contact the responsible office through the official channel, update health insurance and financial proof, and keep a clean timeline. The goal is not just to get admitted somewhere better. The goal is to keep the student residence file coherent from visa appointment through enrollment and residence-permit issuance.