Students: I need some good stories!

Yep, definitely crossing fingers that it goes well.  I ended up today going ahead and buying our airfare through Expedia's bargain fare, because it was RIDICULOUSLY good priced and I didn't want to miss out on it. I just keep on telling myself that with the low risk differentiation scheme, there's no reason that my visa should be denied, so I'm trying not to stress out about it.

Keep in touch, aBlessing.  Nice to know that another Texas gal is going through this with me, and Liverpool's not far from Manchester.

Hi Jillian. Did you apply online? I'm asking because I work in postgraduate admissions at another university, and you can accept offers online on our system. The admissions office puts the offer onto the system before they sign and post the letter, so if you can go back into your online application account and accept the offer, that should generate your CAS much quicker than waiting for the offer letter in the post.

I accepted my conditional offer by email, so I am sincerely hoping I can do the same for the unconditional offer.  The email I received did not specify. I did my application online, but unfortunately the online application for my school is not set up to accept the offers on it directly.

Heck, I'm a Texas girl (from Dallas) too Glad to see more of us coming over to the UK

Heck, I'm a Texas girl (from Dallas) too Glad to see more of us coming over to the UK

Yay!  I wasn't born here, and I didn't get here as fast as I could, but I've lived here about 12 years now, so I think that's close enough.

I think my biggest problem is a fear that my student visa could be denied. 

Why would it be refused?  You know before you apply whether you meet all the attributes.

Why would it be refused?  You know before you apply whether you meet all the attributes.

There's no reason it should be denied, I am just ridiculously paranoid.

There's no reason it should be denied, I am just ridiculously paranoid.

I know we say 'don't stress it' a lot hear and you most likely won't listen Trust me, when you get your visa, you'll sigh in relief and say 'oh, that wasn't such a big deal.'

There's no reason it should be denied, I am just ridiculously paranoid.

Paranoia has no basis in reality, so I guess any further responses here are waste of time!

I should have known this wasn't going to be easy. Long story, but just wanted to share in case anyone else goes through this same problem.  So I sent my application with priority last Friday, I got the email that they received it, so that was all good.  Then this week Monday afternoon I get an email from someone at the consulate  that said I indicated a criminal conviction but didn't include any documentation for it, then provided a fax number and requested that information be faxed.  The criminal conviction was a speeding ticket that I received three weeks ago and paid the week before I did my application. I included with my application the citation itself and my receipt of payment, but I guess that wasn't enough.  So I went to the courthouse and got a copy of the docket paper that said was the plea was and the amount of the fee and all that jazz.  Promptly went and faxed it off early Monday afternoon along with a letter explaining what I included, etc.  Right after I got the first email, I got a form letter email from the consulate that said my application needed further processing and that it could be up to 15 BUSINESS DAYS before my file is processed, even though I did priority service, blah blah blah.  It is now EOB Wednesday and I haven't heard anything back from the consulate.  So now I'm totally freaking out.  All I can say is for people still working on their application, especially if you have any criminal convictions or anything that might need additional backup or proof, make sure that everything is included.  Anyone else have this kind of issue with their application?  I'd like to hope that they would recognize that it's September and people pay for the extra priority service for a reason and they would still try to rush its completion, but this was just totally my fault for thinking what I included was sufficient.  Ugh.  I'm still preceding as needed, getting packed and such, but this visa thing is stressing me the f out. Thanks for reading, guys.  I'm so ready for all the leg work and travel to be over and just be back in school. 

  Anyone else have this kind of issue with their application?  I'd like to hope that they would recognize that it's September and people pay for the extra priority service for a reason and they would still try to rush its completion, but this was just totally my fault for thinking what I included was sufficient. 

I didn't have this sort of issue, per se, but I did run into a problem when my visa was issued with the incorrect dates after paying for priority service. It ended up taking an extra month to have the visa corrected, which makes me wonder if I had saved the $150 then, and just gone with standard processing, maybe things would have been done correctly the first time.  The consulate can be pretty useless sometimes... 

Oh no! I'm so sorry that happened to you Jillian. If it makes you feel any better, I got that SAME EXACT extra 15 business days email on August the 19th of this year, but they sent me notification that my visa had been issued on the 22nd (the NEXT business day!). So hopefully it won't be very long for you. I almost died waiting for my visa. My hair was falling out. You'll get it eventually!!

Oh no! I'm so sorry that happened to you Jillian. If it makes you feel any better, I got that SAME EXACT extra 15 business days email on August the 19th of this year, but they sent me notification that my visa had been issued on the 22nd (the NEXT business day!). So hopefully it won't be very long for you. I almost died waiting for my visa. My hair was falling out. You'll get it eventually!!

Yay!!!!! I just got the email that I should have it by tomorrow.  I am shaking, I have been so worried about this.  Now I can relax and enjoy my last five days in the States.

Yay!!!!! I just got the email that I should have it by tomorrow.  I am shaking, I have been so worried about this.  Now I can relax and enjoy my last five days in the States.

Great News...I'm so happy for you, and finally you get to relax. 

I remember being so worried about getting my visa, got an email on Sept 1st saying they didnt like my bank info, was so stressed. It finally arrived not even a wk before I was suppose to leave. Bought a round trip tix as that was the cheapest option. It can take awhile.