Minor nitpick about loan letter...

I'm waiting on my official loan letter to arrive by post from the university, though they've already sent a copy of it to me via e-mail. While looking over the copy all the info is correct except for my birthdate (24th of August instead of the 25th). Will that be alright? Looking over UKBA's requirements for the loan letter it doesn't state anything about having personal details except for my name... In any other case I would contact the school and ask them to correct it but I'm behind in the visa process so I'll have to pay priority as it is, and it would just mean more time to wait on a corrected loan letter to arrive.
FYI I know I'm "low risk" so I don't need to provide the letter in the application, but I'm still getting my documents together just in case.

Have you applied for your visa yet?

I know it's been a while since you asked this but since they don't require you to add the loan letter in the package you can just have them fix the problem for you while you wait. It takes them like 6 days for them just to open the package so I'm sure you could have this problem fixed by then so that in the case that they do ask you for it, you are ready to show them the letter with the correct information.

My timeline was as follows:
Applied online July 20
Biometrics Appointment July 23
Package received July 24
E-mail of package opened July 30
E-mail of Visa Issued August 10

This is (obviously ) not priority processing.

Let me know how it goes!!

It takes them like 6 days for them just to open the package

Not if you use priority processing - the whole point of the service is that they will put your package to the front of the line and open it almost right away... usually anywhere from a couple of hours to a day or two after it arrives at the consulate.

Then the visa should be approved within 48 hours from then... so with priority service, you'd probably be looking at between 1 and 4 days from the package arriving at the consulate to the visa being approved.

Hi! Got my CAS last week, and now I've got all my documents in place except for the original loan letter which has yet to arrive. It's been almost two weeks since it was sent, which is about the same amount of time it takes for post to get from the UK to USA. Hopefully it'll arrive sometime this week and then I can finally start the application process. I am definitely going with priority, more so for peace of mind and the fact that I plan on leaving in 3-4 weeks so I need it quick. If I lived anywhere near NYC I'd go for the premium appt... but such is life. SO nervous about applying even though I know the Tier 4 requirements by heart now from months of preparing and overanalyzing !

Congrats on your visa being issued! That's so exciting... when are you leaving?

Congrats on your visa being issued! That's so exciting... when are you leaving?

Thanks! I am super excited and it is such a relief to know that it's over 

I plan on leaving on the 15th (I'll arrive there on the 16th). I can't wait!!

What about you?? Where are you purchasing your tickets? I'm going to use Statravel.com.. it seems they have the cheapest tickets around.

I hope to leave on the 6th at the earliest (less than a month.. holy crap loan letter has to arrive this week !). I want to give myself plenty of time to relax and get settled in before school starts. I like using Orbitz and the fares are pretty good right now- only for flights with two stops though! The one stop fares are well over $1000, and there's no way I'm paying that. With the exception of delays and lost luggage I actually enjoy air travel and the hustle and bustle of different airports, so two stops don't bother me much.

Did UKBA give you a hard time about having just one passport photo?

I love traveling by air too! I can't wait to get on that airplane. I love the way it feels when it takes off and when it lands... it's exhilarating!

I sent two photos. It was weird because I remember it saying one picture on the website but then I saw some other info that said it was two, so I just ended up sending both. They sell them in packs of two to begin with so it wasn't a big deal.

Also, how long did it take for your loan letter to arrive and did it come by way of post office or another form, like UPS? (I was told) mine was sent two weeks ago and if that's the case, it should arrive this week. Intently waiting as that's the last piece I need before I can apply for the visa...

Hmm well they told me they sent mine on July 12 and I received it July 17th by regular post, they will ask you to sign it since it's certified mail

I got the link where I go to View my accommodation offer and sign my contract but I can't seem to be able to log in I'm gonna have to call tomorrow to get some help.

Okay, if it doesn't come by tomorrow I'm going to contact them and ask when it will arrive. I was told three weeks ago that it would be sent the next week- if that's right then it's been two weeks since it was sent.

I'm living off campus so I'm not sure about the accommodation system, sorry!

That's weird. They said they were going to start working on them since the 9th of July. I can't believe it's taken so long.

Yeah, but I didn't fill mine out until late July. I didn't know I had to fill out a spreadsheet even though my financial aid had been completed since June.

Oh I see! Well, that sucks. I hope you get it soon. I know exactly how nerve wrecking it is. I spent so many days stalking my mail person, I'm sure she wouldn't have liked it