The field of higher education has seen great increases in the mobility of international students over the last decades. Due to this trend, not only has global educational programming become increasingly important, but also, the development of appropriate visa regulations and schemes to support international students has come into debate. The F-1 visa in the United States and the Aufenthaltstitel for students in Germany are two cases, which are similar in many ways but different in others. Due to Germany’s status as a member state of the European Union, directives created at Union level, also have a significant impact on Germany's legislation. To be able to understand the procedure and benefits and/or disadvantages attained by the students themselves in each scheme, it is important to analysis the many aspects of the visa schemes. It's not better or worse, it’s just different’ is a phrase which, in the case of visa regulations, holds true. Important for both schemes however, is their ability to further the ideals of globalization through allowing student academic mobility.