Student loan process 2010

Hey thanks forth replies and support everyone!  After an intense night and bus rides to NYC I have my visa in hand and my plane ticket leaving this coming monday!  I hope everyone else is doing well and just have all of the documents in a row and it is surprisingly a breeze!

Congrats! Because of my stupid mistake in buying a ticket early it looks like I'll end up doing the premium service in LA now as I can't wait on the priority service. So I'm encouraged by how easy it was for you, hopefully I have the same experience if I end up going to LA!

I was tempted to buy a ticket so many times but never did.  Anyway, I am getting a ticket from my friend that works for US Airways.  It will cost under $220 one way but I have to fly standby which is not bad since you only need one seat.  If you have not tried yet, my suggestion is to ask friends who work or may know someone who works for an airline.  You never know.

Yeah, you have no idea how much I thoroughly regret buying my ticket early. Never again.  It's likely I'll have pay the expense and go to LA now in order to avoid the skyrocketed ticket prices (literally went up in by several hundred dollars in a few days).

Congrats to everyone who has their visa already. Due to some really irritating problems with the world bridge site (they charged me but didn't make my appt), i don't yet have my visa but my bf got his yesterday. We went to the LA consulate at 11 went to a movie and came back at 3 to pick it up. Very easy. Weds is my appt so hopefully things go well. And im with everyone that bought early. When i first bought my ticket, i didn't realize you could only enter 30 days advance and we didn't want to wait for the price to jump any higher. Our tickets are still pretty cheap in comparison to most though. 1 way flight from lax to lhr for 400 on VA is not too bad. 

Wow, that is a good deal!

I received my visa yesterday, will be buying my ticket today or tomorrow, around $600 is the cheapest I've seen DC to LHR.  There was an 'undisclosed airline' ticket for $377 in kayak but it's not there anymore for the date I want to travel.

Good luck with the visa appt!

Yeah ive seen them going upwards of 600. FYI flights are cheapest on tues,weds, thurs though my flight is on Sunday lol     Btw, looking at STA travel I found a flight onn AA for about 450 from dc to lhr on sept 1. Dunno what date u starveling but if you haven't checked there u should. They are super nice and cheap.

I see you went to NYC for your appointment. Do you really need to show flight itinerary? Could you tell me a little more detail about your experience?

Finally have my visa in hand. Boy, what a process lol  all I need to do is pack and in less than 2 weeks I will be arriving in London! Very excited. 

I just wanted to stop in and say that after all the stress and drama, I was finally issued my visa today!  It should arrive tomorrow morning and then I'm traveling tomorrow night.  No, I've not finished packing yet

Thanks everyone for sticking with me throughout this whole crazy process and sharing your own stories.  I hope you all have a great school year!  And London people, look me up when you get there

Just to note that if you fly in through Dublin, you will not go through UK immigration (as there is no border control between Ireland and the UK), so your student visa won't be activated upon entry and you may not be able to get it stamped once you arrive in Edinburgh. You should keep all your travel documents (such as tickets/boarding passes) as evidence of the date of your arrival into the UK, and you should also contact an adviser in the International Student office about it when you arrive.

From this pdf document for International Students at Kings College London (http://www.kcl.ac.uk/content/1/c6/06/30/78/EntrythroughIreland270309.pdf):

Thanks for this, didn't realize that would be an issue as I was looking into a flight from Dublin because it was cheaper.
Anyway I still don't ahve my visa yet and loans are messed up. Long story but I'm totally stressing that I won't get everything in time.

Well I know my school is letting Americans come up to a month late because of how long it took for them to process loans so perhaps your school is doing the same. Good luck with your visa! 

Bought my ticket for the 14th (arriving), my uni (notts) is picking up international students at Heathrow that day

Ticket was $589 from IAD to LHR.  There was a cheaper ticket, $460 but with a 5 hr stop in Copenhagen and leaving DC at 5 pm but since my little brother gets back from his student exchange in Japan the same day I leave for the UK I took the ticket that departs at 10 pm.

I am nervous because I haven't found a place yet and I wrote to an agency over the weekend and they haven't replied.  I've contacted other agencies today.

Well I know my school is letting Americans come up to a month late because of how long it took for them to process loans so perhaps your school is doing the same. Good luck with your visa! 

What school are you going too?

Thanks I hope it arrives soon.

I'm going to the university of arts London. Specifically, the college of communication. I just arrived yesterday and it's been great. An FYI though, make sure to keep your offer letter in your carryon. I had the border agent ask for it when I arrived but luckily I had it.

I finally got my visa yesterday!! I was getting so nervous, plus my student loan finally went through. Bought my plane ticket and it was $650, not too bad for getting it at the last minute. I leave on the 16th, now I need to finish packing and not sure what all i need to bring.

URGENT HELP NEEDED: US DIRECT LOAN LETTER FOR VISA

I'm done to the wire and I got this stupid email after filling out the online portion of the visa application.  It says:

"Evidence of funds: If submitting a loan in your name this MUST BE IN THE FORM OF A LETTER FROM THE LENDER, and show your name, the date of the letter (maximum of one month old), the institutions name and logo, either the money in your account or the money available as a loan (e.g. for Sallie Mae, contact the Originations Dept and ask for such a letter)."

Does the "date of the letter (maximum on month old)" apply to the US Direct Loan letter issued by my university?

I called my uni and no one seems to know.  Worldbridge didn't seem to know what I was talking about.  It's getting too late to request a newer letter.

The letter needs to be the confirmation of funds from your university saying how much money you are getting and when it's getting disbursed. I'm not sure about the date. I applied for my visa literally days after getting that letter. Contact the financial aid person at your school that originally issued your letter and find out if they can reissue you one. Worldbridge only deals with the payment they cant help you with anything having to do with your visa.