Passport Control

Okay, so I've been approved for my UK student visa...I was just wondering if they ask you loads of questions at passport control and what kind of questions they ask you.  Do they ask you to show evidence of funds and what not?  I'm just so paranoid that I'll get back or something for not enough money, haha.  Oh, and I'll more than likely be flying into Gatwick.  Thanks 

They might ask you questions, they usually don't.  Bring the bank statements that you had to show the ECO anyway, just in case, bt you are likely to be fine.

Vicky

When I flew into Heathrow with my student visa, the ECO just looked at the visa, asked what my major was (I think he was just making conversation, though), and stampstamp, I was through.  Easy-peasy.

My experience coming on a student visa was similar to Aless'.  I had a talkative ECO at Heathrow who asked me what I was studying and where.  When I told her, she said what a lovely town I'd be living in, and stamp stamp.  The only really odd thing was my dad came (to give me more suitcase room), and I thought we had to separate because I had prior entry clearance and he didn't, but I had to go talk to his ECO too because technically we were a family unit.  This was also 2 years ago now, so things may have changed, but I found it an easy process.  I still had my acceptance letter, my accommodation letter, all my loan information, and a cheque in pounds of what I was paying out of pocket waiting to go into a bank account I was going to set up here for school ready should anyone need to look at it.

Thanks everyone!  I'm just really nervous as I don't want anything to go wrong, and the my very first time I flew to the UK, I was detained for over 3 hours because I didn't have enough money for 3 weeks.  But they finally let me in, haha.  So that's why I'm so paranoid.   

One more question...So they generally just look at your visa and then let you in?  I'll still have my other things handy, but I was just wondering.

Okay, I still have one more question, haha...On my acceptence letter, it says the recommended maintence for a single student is between 6000-7000 pounds.  Does that mean that in order to satisfy immigration (should they ask about money), I have to have at least 6000 pounds?  What if I have only 5500 pounds, would that still suffice?

You had to satisfy the ECO's financial requirement before they would even issue you the visa, so it's improbable the IO at the airport will even ask to look at that stuff.  SO FAR, every time I've come in with a student visa, they just look at it, ask me questions, and stamp the thing - without ever asking for the supporting documentation.

Carry it with you just in case.  The 500 or so off will most likely not keep you out of the country .  (after all, it's just an estimation)

Thanks!  I just tend to worry alot, haha.  So they'll just ask questions like what course you're taking and where you'll be studying?

They might ask you this, they might ask you more, they might ask you nothing and just let you in.  It really depends on the immigration officer that you come to.

Vicky

How much must one show an ECO to support themselves pa generally speaking?

There is no definitive amount that an ECO expects to see, they just want to be satisfied that you can pay your fees and your living costs without working.  Universities sometimes include suggestions of living costs in their offer letters, but that is for your information when budgeting, nothing to do with any immigration rules.

Average figures we usually quote to students at my uni for basic living costs for a single student in the UK range from £6000 in a cheap place (i.e. not London), to £12,000 for central London. 

The ECO does not necessarily expect you to have all the money you need right there in the bank waiting to be spent (although if you do, that is fantastic).  If you don't have it all upfront (which most students don't), you will need a letter from your sponsor explaining what the agreement is, for example that they will send you £1000 a month or whaetver, and some documents showing that they can afford to do so.