Student loan process 2010

Well, I am not happy.  Last Tuesday, the loans person at my school emailed me to say my loan letter would be mailed on Wednesday, and I would receive it the next Tuesday (8/3) at the latest.  No letter yesterday, so I emailed him.  There was a problem so they haven't even created the letter yet.  Did anyone bother telling me this?  Of course not.  So now they say they can get it to me by next Tuesday, but I really don't believe them anymore.  Even if I do get it by next Tuesday, that's really too late, I need it this week!  I cannot believe this process is STILL dragging on..  I thought July 1 was going to be quite late, but now it hasn't even been sorted by August 1.  Argh! 

I'm really sorry they screwed up your letter!  I know how you feel about waiting so long... I was told over the phone thursday my letter would be sent out that day or friday but something inside me (probably the pessimist) is telling me that they probably didn't mail it and I'll end up having to call again Friday. I was hoping to be done with this whole thing by the start of August! I really hate how indifferent these unis (some of them, anyway) seem to be about this. You'd think they'd be a bit more enthusiastic, being that we're essentially walking and talking money bags for the university. I know they're busy with other stuff, but... I wish they at least showed that they cared a little about our predicaments.  This ridiculous visa procedure, PLUS waiting a year and a half for a freaking letter is just cruel.

I'm really sorry they screwed up your letter!  I know how you feel about waiting so long... I was told over the phone thursday my letter would be sent out that day or friday but something inside me (probably the pessimist) is telling me that they probably didn't mail it and I'll end up having to call again Friday. I was hoping to be done with this whole thing by the start of August! I really hate how indifferent these unis (some of them, anyway) seem to be about this. You'd think they'd be a bit more enthusiastic, being that we're essentially walking and talking money bags for the university. I know they're busy with other stuff, but... I wish they at least showed that they cared a little about our predicaments.  This ridiculous visa procedure, PLUS waiting a year and a half for a freaking letter is just cruel.

Thanks cpw0021.  This whole process has been incredibly frustrating and stressful.  And I definitely agree that the schools should be taking more of an interest in helping us.

Does anyone here know anything about the new rules that say you cannot travel before you have the loan money available to you?  Does this apply for government loans as well as private loans?  I really, really hope this doesn't apply to me.  Something else to worry about  


ETA: Never mind, I think I found the answer myself.  From the UKBA site:

If you are applying from overseas, the loan funds must be available to you before you travel to the UK, unless the loan:

is an academic/student loan from your country's national government; and
will be released to you by your national government or your Tier 4 education provider when you arrive in the UK.

I guess US government loans count under this -- right?

That's from the "Evidence of money that is available to you - acceptable documents" section of: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/evidence/money/

Thanks cpw0021.  This whole process has been incredibly frustrating and stressful.  And I definitely agree that the schools should be taking more of an interest in helping us.

Does anyone here know anything about the new rules that say you cannot travel before you have the loan money available to you?  Does this apply for government loans as well as private loans?  I really, really hope this doesn't apply to me.  Something else to worry about  


ETA: Never mind, I think I found the answer myself.  From the UKBA site:

I guess US government loans count under this -- right?

That's from the "Evidence of money that is available to you - acceptable documents" section of: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/evidence/money/

Yup, they do. Only private loans have to be available to you before traveling to the UK, which is silly as, from my understanding, most private loans don't disburse until the start of the school year.

Yup, they do. Only private loans have to be available to you before traveling to the UK, which is silly as, from my understanding, most private loans don't disburse until the start of the school year.

Oh, brilliant, thank you.  My brain is fried from dealing with all this!  I guess I'm just giving myself unnecessary things to stress over now

Oh, brilliant, thank you.  My brain is fried from dealing with all this!  I guess I'm just giving myself unnecessary things to stress over now

Yeah me too. I can barely work now without wondering about visas and loans and flights and stuff.  I really wanted to enjoy the next month before the anxiety of a new degree crept up again... but I guess Edinburgh isn't for that happening at all!

Yeah me too. I can barely work now without wondering about visas and loans and flights and stuff.  I really wanted to enjoy the next month before the anxiety of a new degree crept up again... but I guess Edinburgh isn't for that happening at all!

This whole process has definitely kept me from enjoying life as usual..  Maybe something's wrong with me but I just cannot relax knowing there's all this stuff left to do, and it might not work out, and blah blah blah.  It's so frustrating to know that while I'm over here going mental, the people at my school seemingly could not care less.  I feel like a teenage girl sitting around waiting for a guy to call or something

I guess I have a short update:

My loan letter arrived at my permanent address in SC last week and will hopefully get to my current address this week.  That is if my family can get on the ball and send it to me.  I am also excited that my friend can get me a super cheap ticket that is possibly in first class.  That would be pretty sweet.  I still have to pay and do my appointment stuff. 

I hope you guys get everything you need SOON! 

So I just got an email saying they're sending the letter today (what happened to last week?!).  At least I have confirmation it was sent though... now just to wait another week. Ugh, I'm so sick of this crap. I guess I should get it tuesday or wednesday? Should I change my biometric appointment (I have it set for tomorrow)? I don't really have time to do it next week to be honest because next week is the end of my internship and we have a bunch of stuff I can't miss....

Thanks cpw0021.  This whole process has been incredibly frustrating and stressful.  And I definitely agree that the schools should be taking more of an interest in helping us.

Does anyone here know anything about the new rules that say you cannot travel before you have the loan money available to you?  Does this apply for government loans as well as private loans?  I really, really hope this doesn't apply to me.  Something else to worry about  


ETA: Never mind, I think I found the answer myself.  From the UKBA site:

I guess US government loans count under this -- right?

That's from the "Evidence of money that is available to you - acceptable documents" section of: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/evidence/money/

I just want to say i just learned the hard way about the private loan policy. I turned in my Application july 26, and basically got an email from ECO saying i need to re-submit some proof for funds since my private loans arent issued...so yes you need the funds before you leave... i just had to re-send other proof of funds from bank....im lucky the ECO is giving me a chance to fix this....

as for the stressful bit.... i cant enjoy myself neither, my whole day, and for weeks/months is consumed by this...feels like it will never end!!!

So, I just found out from another girl who's going to Edinburgh that her letter was sent Fedex (she's not leaving until the end of the month), yet they sent mine airmail?  I'm really confused, I told them I was leaving soon.. so I assumed they used the fastest service they were able to.  This is ridiculous and I'm really frustrated and angry now.

Oh no.  I'm sorry    It sounds like so many schools have an inconsistent or just disorganized policy about these letters.  I found out last week that mine hasn't even been originated yet and if I'm lucky it will be sent out in the middle of this week.  I'm supposed to leave a week from Thursday!!

Grr.  I really wish I'd called them up and bothered them more, but I just thought, 'They're doing their jobs, leave them to it and don't get in their way.'  They weren't doing anything, it turns out.  Gah.

Cannot wait for this whole thing to be over..

I'm suppose to be leaving the Thursday after next too. I'll probably end up having to pay double the amount of my ticket in order to change it.  I feel like I should have bugged them more too. If I were you I'd call nonstop and demand they send it one or two day international shipping via fedex when they finally do originate it.

My boyfriend told me to call them again tomorrow and ask them to next day the letter via fedex so I can get it Tuesday. I'm debating it as I'd really just love to call just to complain about the horrible service.

I'm worried I'll have to change my ticket cos it just doesn't look like it's going to happen on time.  I daren't check the prices -- whatever it is, I can't afford it.

I was told before that they could overnight my letter -- then they said they'd expedite it and it would take 3 days -- finally I emailed them and said, 'Look, if you guys won't overnight it, I am going to call FedEx and arrange a collection from your office and just pay for it myself because I NEED it overnighted.'  Whatever that costs, it won't cost as much as having to buy a brand new last minute plane ticket.  Grr.

I'm going to wake up at 5am tomorrow to call them.  And yeah, I was tempted to call them and yell at them, but I need them to do this for me so I have to be nice to them for now.  I am for sure going to call them every day from now on until I get this sorted, though.

Grr grr grr.

I'm suppose to be leaving the Thursday after next too. I'll probably end up having to pay double the amount of my ticket in order to change it. 

I'm worried I'll have to change my ticket cos it just doesn't look like it's going to happen on time.  I daren't check the prices -- whatever it is, I can't afford it.

Unfortunately, this is the reason why the UKBA and Worldbridge websites recommend that you don't book any travel tickets until after your visa has been issued and you have it in your hand, because that way if there are any delays in the application process, or you end up with an incorrect visa and need to send it back to be corrected, or even a refused visa, then you won't end up losing the money from the plane ticket or paying even more to change it.

Unfortunately, this is the reason why the UKBA and Worldbridge websites recommend that you don't book any travel tickets until after your visa has been issued and you have it in your hand, because that way if there are any delays in the application process, or you end up with an incorrect visa and need to send it back to be corrected, or even a refused visa, then you won't end up losing the money from the plane ticket or paying even more to change it.

I know.  This is a risk I chose to take based on how fast the plane ticket prices were going up.  It's still irritating because if it weren't for this one document, I would have applied for my visa a long time ago.  The loans people at my school said I would have it at the beginning of July, so I figured a month and a half was plenty of time.  It didn't work out that way.  I really cannot afford to buy plane tickets at the last minute so I figured if there was a decent chance I could leave on time, I should take it.