Student loan process 2010

I still don't have my loans certified and am wondering if I really am the last one to get it done?!  I was told last Friday that they had access to the system on Tuesday of last week that they were attending another workshop this Monday, and that they would be certifying this week.  Lo and behold I talked to three people today, one the head of the US Loans for my school and she said they weren't sure if they could have the loans done by the end of the month?!?!  I asked her if it was difficult to do and she said, no she thought it could be done in a matter of minutes....(so what's the problem?).  She also said she was going to "test run" the system tomorrow but they aren't sure how to use it(despite all of the workshops they've gone to), and that it could take at least 2 more weeks to do it all.

After speaking to her, I spoke to her supervisor and he said they had no idea at all how to use the system and that they were planning on looking at it tomorrow, but it isn't their priority to do US loans, that it's just a side part "dropped into their laps".  And that they will try to make it priority next week, but they don't know how to use the system at all.  (Again, what were the workshops for?!?!)  Lastly, when I told him I was speaking to him because the woman has been giving me the run around and it contradicted what he said, he said that she was just trying to reassure me...And worst of all when I asked what the US loans team does in the funding office if they aren't doing the loans, he said they do the other stuff...

I really feel like I am in the worst nightmare of my life, and I understand anxiety, but this seems like a horror story!?!  I don't want to keep bugging them, but I feel like if I do maybe they will actually do the job so I will stop!  haha.

OI, I'm glad to hear everyone else is at least progressing.  All I'm doing is getting my documents and rest of stuff in gear to get this whole process over!

Hey y'all,

Don't worry, I think I'm behind everyone here. I applied on a whim to Kingston Uni for a one year grad program in the middle of May and got in. I just received a gigantic e-mail (now that it is past July 1) with all the forms and steps I have to take.

I'm hoping to finance everything through student loans, and although the pieces are coming together I've heard some horrid worst-case-scenario stories. I have a tiny bit of money saved up for stuff like visa fees + plane ride etc., but I'm having daily freak outs about everything.

So here are my questions... and thank god that this website exists! A friend of mine is doing med school in Bristol and has been a gigantic help to my crazy plans.

1) I'm crazy confused about this whole "must have money in bank account for X amount of months thing. If we're trying to finance everything through loans, how would I show them that money? I've heard all sorts of things about this, and no one seems to have a clear answer.

2. The cost of a student visa is 199 pounds plus the 100 dollar expedited fee, right? Is it worth doing the extra fee? I live near Los Angeles and could make my way over there if it was the right move to make.

3. I have heard horrific stories of people not being able to access their loan money for weeks after arriving. I e-mailed Kingston and they recommended having enough separate money to support myself for up to two months! What's the usual lag time in accessing the loans/opening up a UK bank account etc. that people have ran into in the past?

4. Thanks so much for the help, this whole process can drive a person mad!

Hi there, NN. Welcome to UKY!

Try not to freak out too much, we're all going through similar things right now. So you're not the only one!

1.  The "must have money in bank account....yadda yadda" applies to your personal savings, so depending on how you are funding your course, this may or may not apply to you. Since you said you're trying to finance everything through loans, the UKBA has just issued an addendum to the guidance for Tier 4 visas found here: (http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2010/july/27-amend-t4-guide), stating

This change updates paragraph 133 V on page 19 of this guidance document and amends the restrictions placed on when loan funds must be made available to a Tier 4 student.
The guidance currently states that:
For students applying from overseas, the loan funds must be available to the student
 • before he/she travels to the United Kingdom.
This wording is now replaced with:
For students applying from overseas, the loan funds must be available to the student
 • before he/she travels to the United Kingdom, unless that loan will be an academic/student loan from his/her countries national government and the loan will be released to the student by his/her national government or via his/her Tier 4 sponsor on arrival in the UK.

2. I applied on Monday, and ended up paying a total of $330 (after paying for return postage and taxes).  If you do end up doing the in-person appointment in LA, then you won't have to pay the $12 postage fee....or the cost of sending all your documentation to the consulate in the first place. 

3.  My university said that it may take an additional 7-10 days for loans to become available to me.

The University will automatically deduct the amount required for tuition fees for the semester then arrange a refund for any additional amounts for your living costs. Please note it may take a further 7-10 working days before amounts for living costs are available for you to collect.

4. Let us know if you have more questions!

just got my update, received my Sallie Mae loan letter today, and apparently my Stafford loan/award letter was sent out today priority mail...hoping to have that mid week!! Looks like i should be doing the application, biometrics this week!! I hope soooo!!! Here comes round 3 anxiety lol

NaturalNarcissist,

I was just reading a document my university sent me: Tier 4 Policy Guidance, and on pages 17-18 it states that you have to show a statement that covers 28 days.  But, they will only go by the closing balance.  They even go as far as saying they will use the balance/account that most favors the student.

Anyway, I too, thought until now the money had to have been in the account for 28 days, as soon as I read that came here to post it hehe.

Reading further on, it does state about proof of funds being available over a 28 day period, but apparently this is in the case where you are not using a regular bank statement as your evidence, and when instead you are using a bank letter and other documents that only show an amount on one day and do not disclose the 28 days separately.

So what I understand that a bank statement showing a building up of funds up to the required amount (for example) over 28 days would be OK.

Well, I heard from my loans guy again today.  Last week he sent me my award letter which I filled out with how much I wanted to borrow for tuition and living expenses.  Now he says it will take a week to certify the loans, and I should wait until next week when he will have my loan letter ready.

I was hoping to apply for my visa at the end of this month, but it looks like it will probably be pushed into August.  Grrr

Well, I heard from my loans guy again today.  Last week he sent me my award letter which I filled out with how much I wanted to borrow for tuition and living expenses.  Now he says it will take a week to certify the loans, and I should wait until next week when he will have my loan letter ready.

I was hoping to apply for my visa at the end of this month, but it looks like it will probably be pushed into August.  Grrr

Oh great!!!  Sorry to hear that about the loans. 

I realized that I made a mistake with my amount after going back over my budget.  So...that could be a problem.  I have asked someone if I could just get the additional money later if needed and now I wait.  I just need a letter to apply for my visa is what I care about now.  Who would think this would be so complicated?!?

Hey, it's interesting that you say they had to send you a letter to fill out how much you wanted.  Did they say they were certifying your loans directly, or is there an additional step in there that my school has failed to mention?  They told me that they were going to certify loans starting tomorrow(I don't know about this?!) and they certify the full amount of cost of attendance. 

Do you think I'm going to have to wait for them to send this letter to me to approve of it and then send it back for them to re-certify, or when they certify it I can just take the letter they send as proof?

Additionally did any school tell you that when you receive the loans the checks now go directly to your bank account?  This is what my school told me, now that the system changed and the third party has been removed the money will go to you and not to the school directly.  Anyone else get this information?  Or is my student funding office just that out of it?  haha.

Thanks!

Hey, it's interesting that you say they had to send you a letter to fill out how much you wanted.  Did they say they were certifying your loans directly, or is there an additional step in there that my school has failed to mention?  They told me that they were going to certify loans starting tomorrow(I don't know about this?!) and they certify the full amount of cost of attendance.  

Do you think I'm going to have to wait for them to send this letter to me to approve of it and then send it back for them to re-certify, or when they certify it I can just take the letter they send as proof?

Additionally did any school tell you that when you receive the loans the checks now go directly to your bank account?  This is what my school told me, now that the system changed and the third party has been removed the money will go to you and not to the school directly.  Anyone else get this information?  Or is my student funding office just that out of it?  haha.

Thanks!

I can only tell you what i've done so far. Earlier in the year i sent by postal mail my FAFSA SAR to my uni, from there i was told how much i can take out for a federal stafford loan as a 2nd year student. I did not receive a letter i had to send back instead she sent me an email stating how much i was gonna take out for my loan, signing and writing my social security number to confirm the amount. After this i went and my MPN and counseling on the FAFSA site, sent her an email with the confirmation of doing both. I was just told my loan was certified last week and it was mailed off today with USPS, priority mail (have the tracking number)

I think everyone has there own way of doing this process, im sure they could email-fax you these things to speed it up...if needed be.

I just hope that that the letter i receive is the correct one, and done properly, and all i need. I just want to apply for my visa and get this all behind me, driving me and apparently all of us MENTAL! lol

Thanks for the reply!  Yeah, I guess every school is different, and perhaps since I'm doing my graduate level the loans are a bit different as well.  I would ask the school but they are a bit off with their information sometimes, so I don't know how much I can believe from them!  haha.

I'm just curious about the bit where she told me that the money was going straight to us and not the school or third party they got rid of in the system change.  Maybe I am mis informed?

Thanks for the reply!  Yeah, I guess every school is different, and perhaps since I'm doing my graduate level the loans are a bit different as well.  I would ask the school but they are a bit off with their information sometimes, so I don't know how much I can believe from them!  haha.

I'm just curious about the bit where she told me that the money was going straight to us and not the school or third party they got rid of in the system change.  Maybe I am mis informed?

hmm i know both my loans are being sent out to my uni first (the loan officer) then turned over to me. It goes to your tuition and whats left over goes to you, two disbursements

hmm i know both my loans are being sent out to my uni first (the loan officer) then turned over to me. It goes to your tuition and whats left over goes to you, two disbursements

Same as me--The loans are being disbursed in equal installments in september and january. It first goes to the university and then to me.  The "direct loan" part of the new Direct loan system, simply means that the loans are coming directly from the government, rather than a third party.....not that they go directly to you.

Hope that helps

Thanks for the replies.  I was under the assumption that nothing had changed since my undergraduate years, but I wanted to double check with what everyone else has heard.  My school has a bit of a problem in their funding department I believe, but if I can do by them, I am at least happy to know my program is one of the best for my degree!  haha.  I guess sometimes you can't have everything.

I am also going to assume that the whole 3 installments that my person told me is wrong as well, because I thought it was two, but perhaps since I am in a full year program it might be three.  We'll see.

Anyway, thanks again for the replies!  I appreciate it!

KBee my program is a year grad program, and I am receiving three installments Sept, January, and May. The loans are disbursed to the school and then the school disburses them to you.  I hear that it may be best to then mail your check (cheque, if you prefer) back to the US because it can take up to six weeks for the funds to clear in the UK.

ETA: I just submitted my online docs and have a biometric appointment for Friday.  Eeeps!  Fingers crossed for me please.