I have been remiss in writing about my experience, as I got caught up in the hysteria which moving across the ocean can be. Here is how my timeline looked:
filled out application on-line at UKVisas, sent with payment on June 19
fedex'd package to NY consulate on June 22(Friday) my orientation starts on Sept 24, and is so stated in my fee statement
Rcd' email morning of June 25(Monday)
Then, nothing....
Finally, on July 10, I got a call from a lady at the Consulate to schedule an interview for the next day over the phone. I did not sleep that night...
Next day, same lady calls from Consulate. asks me questions that are on the application, so luckily I had make a copy of the copy I sent to Consulate. I was on the phone with her for 40 minutes, but my answers, like this reply, were a bit wordy...
At this point I should probably point out that my situation is not the normal student app they normally deal with. I am a mature student going to uni in Edinburgh for a full 4 year honors course, and paying for it myself. So there might have been a red flag, which is why it took two weeks for them to finally act on my via. And the Independence Day holiday was smack in the middle.
The only questions she asked that were not directly from the app were concerning what I planned on doing with my degree, what my curriculum would be, and was I aware that a good deal of my savings would be used to partake on this journey. The curriculum question was the only one that threw me, as I have not had any information from uni regarding specific courses.
When she was finished, i asked her where I stood, and she said very calmly "I am issuing your visa". I was so relieved or in shock, I just calmly thanked her, asked about my docs and when they would be sent out. She said the next day. I hung up the phone and ran around my apartment freaking out, certainly terrifying the cats. That afternoon I went in and resigned from my job, and called my family(sister & brother).
Next day I received the email I had been waiting for..."your visa application has been approved" along with the Fed EX tracking #. At least they send it priority, so it arrives the next morning and you don't have to wait all day. When I heard the knock on the door, it was better than Ed McMahon and Publishers Clearinghouse sweepstakes(see how mature I am?). I didn't know what a visa looked like, and I thought it would be in the front of my passport. It wasn't, it was back on page 16. It is so cool. I look at it practically every morning.
The last few days as I count down to departure day, I am getting a bit nervous. I am taking my cats so thing are a bit more complicated. I'm only nervous because I just want to make sure I have all my ducks in line. To that end, this sight has been, and continues to be, immensely helpful. It has saved me so much time, effort, and worry.
Thanks to all who have posted on subject I have viewed here.
So that's my timline, plus excessive embellishment. Anyone who would like to meet up in Edinburgh, let me know. If they can do it in one capital city, we can do it in th other!
Cheers,
Ric
(Deuchars)..the best IPA in Scotland)
