Student Visa Question...

Hi everyone,

I will be moving to London this coming Sept to start studies for my MSc degree.  I am in the process of pulling together all my visa info (as I can't actually apply until my student loans are completely processed), and I have a quick question (or maybe two)

The first question on the VAF1 form is how long do you want the visa to be valid.  The choices are 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years and 10 years.  The program I am going for is a 13 month program, so while I would love the visa to be valid for 2 years, I don't think they will approve that, but I don't want to have to apply for a one month extension on my visa at the end either.....

Anyone know what to do?  This is SUCH a learning experience!

Oh, also, does anyone have and idea about how long it takes for a student visa to process....I am kind of down to the wire by no fault of my own...arghh...

TIA!

Don't worry I'm down to the wire too- I'm not applying for my student visa until early August (grr student loans) and I'm leaving on September 7th.  The good news is that it doesn't take that long- if you apply by post, you'll have your visa in 1-2 weeks.  If you apply in person, you'll have it the same day.  I'm not sure about the VAF1 app, but I know your visa should be valid until 4 months after the end of your course- this has been the experience of my friends who have gone to grad school in the UK.

I don't remember such a choice when I looked at the form, but I could just be remembering badly.  From what I remember last time I applied (for undergrad), they just asked when my course was ending, and gave me a couple of months after that.

Thanks Andrea - that is a slight relief... I am living in NYC right now, so I think I may suck it up and try and do the visa app in person   I am scared to do it in person, but that seems the best option (seeing that I too am waiting on those stupid student loans to go through....and our flights are booked for Sept.3rd!!)

Aless - it seems the form was revised in Feb 2006...so it may be a new change, but it seems (based on both of your responses) that we can apply for a 1 year visa and not have to leave immediately (I just have to finish my thesis on time ) -- anyone else have any other experience???

oh, since you live so close *definitely* apply in person- it will save you the waiting and by doing so you have more flexibility (your loans should definitely be through by the time you get to a week or two before you leave, but if they're not you at least have the option of getting the visa thing done and dusted in a few hours!)  I wish I could apply in person, but alas Houston is very very far from Los Angeles...sigh.

And yeah, the immigration officials are aware about the need to finish up dissertations and such for postgraduate courses- you absolutely shouldn't have a problem with the length of your visa.