Student loan process 2010

yeah id wait till tomorrow or this week and contact your school, and mention the information you heard, compare. I know there getting training in next few days for this. I think we should be able to apply before july though.

I am really excited to hear this finally going.  I hope something comes about this week before I leave for Peru.  Then I would have to wait until end of June when I get back.  How can I relax in SA knowing this?!  Maybe ceviche and inca kola (or something stronger) will calm my worries.

I am really excited to hear this finally going.  I hope something comes about this week before I leave for Peru.  Then I would have to wait until end of June when I get back.  How can I relax in SA knowing this?!  Maybe ceviche and inca kola (or something stronger) will calm my worries.

This is off topic, but where are you going in Peru? I spent 3 weeks travelling there in February - from Lima down to La Paz, Bolivia - and had an amazing time .

Well, I just tried to ring the US loans person for my school.  I was told he's out on a training course for American federal loans and he would return in a few days.  So I guess for now I will just wait.

Well, I just tried to ring the US loans person for my school.  I was told he's out on a training course for American federal loans and he would return in a few days.  So I guess for now I will just wait.

Yeah it should be going on right now from what i heard. We should all be hearing something in next week-ish. Looks like things are progressing though. I am hoping we can apply and have this sorted out by july!

Update!

The studentloans.gov web site is now functional for international schools.  I was able to complete my Stafford and Grad PLUS MPNs, as advised by the loans person at my school.  I was told to hold off on the Grad PLUS application for now as the credit check has a limited lifespan.  So hopefully once the system is completely functional, we could do this.

Update!

The studentloans.gov web site is now functional for international schools.

Thanks for that.  I received that information in an email today, as well as the following information:

   Visa Application-- In a previous email I referred to a process for adding the information about your loans to your CAS statement. This system has changed as a special agreement has been reached with the UKBA in the US. The UKBA will accept a specific visa letter from the University confirming the loans we have originated for you. We will produce these letters for you once the loan origination has been completed. As original letters are required this will be sent to you by DHL to the correspondence address the University Admissions Office holds on file for you.

So to me, it sounds like the University will be acting on behalf of the federal government, and confirming the amounts---in the past, I believe you needed to have a  letter/form from Sallie Mae/whoever else, with the information that I assume will be in the "specific visa letter"  .  This information is for Uni of Nottingham--so I would check with your schools to see if it's the same sort of thing.

This is off topic, but where are you going in Peru? I spent 3 weeks travelling there in February - from Lima down to La Paz, Bolivia - and had an amazing time .

I am in Lima currently.  I got back yesterday.  The first part of my trip was in Pucallpa/Yarinacocha.  That was a great time.  I loved the motortaxis among many other things.   

Thanks for that.  I received that information in an email today, as well as the following information:

So to me, it sounds like the University will be acting on behalf of the federal government, and confirming the amounts---in the past, I believe you needed to have a  letter/form from Sallie Mae/whoever else, with the information that I assume will be in the "specific visa letter"  .  This information is for Uni of Nottingham--so I would check with your schools to see if it's the same sort of thing.

Can you still just send in your loan letters, with CAS?

Can you still just send in your loan letters, with CAS?

I would check with your school.. I'm not sure whether there will be loan letters-- as I understood her message as saying that the letter the university issues will be enough to apply for the visa.

I just wanted to update you all with where I am in this whole process--It's been a busy couple of days!

Friday 25th - Received an email for the "next steps" at Uof Nottingham

Sunday 27th - Completed MPN

Tuesday 29th - Received and accepted scholarship (Yay!!!)

Wednesday 30th - Confirmation that scholarship was added to CAS.
                       - Received email asking me to confirm the amounts I'd like to take out for each type of loan I'm eligible for, based on my family contribution and the ultimate cost of attendance (translated into US$).

Thursday 1st - Will complete the Entrance Counselling through "Mapping your Future" website

?- Wait for confirmation that the loan information has been added to my CAS, and until I receive the letter sent via DHL confirming the loan amounts, to apply for the visa.


It's starting to feel like I'm near the end of this process, and am now unsure if I should just do my visa application under normal priority, or use the in-person service as I originally thought I was going to have to do....

Here's the email I received today:

"Dear Sarah,
 
We have just received the text of the visa letter that we have been asked to send to Direct Loan applicants. We will start work on these next week and will be in contact ASAP. We will also be sending the cost of attendance breakdown to all applicants soon.
I don’t think there is anything else you need to do at the moment.
 
Regards,
Ray"

I'm a little bit of a doofus about these matters, but does this mean I'll receive my letter so I can soon apply for my visa?  I've finished all the hoopla I can do (MPN signed, Fafsa filed, Entrance Counseling done, Grad Plus loan applied for etc.) I guess now I just sit and wait?

Boooo.

I too have done all the loan steps available, as advised by my school's loans guy.  This means: MPNs signed (Stafford & Grad PLUS), Grad PLUS applied for, FAFSA filed, entrance counseling done.

I was told today to wait until next week, when the award letters and cost of attendance info would be sent to students.

Cannot WAIT for this all to be done so I can apply for my visa..  I hope to leave in less than 2 months, which seems very soon to me.

Teatime, this may seem dumb, but how do you know if you've signed MPN's for both Stafford and Grad Plus loans?

When we get the letters, we can apply right?

I just did it on studentloans.gov -- there's a place to sign the MPN for each one.

My understanding is that the school will send us an updated CAS document, which will include loan information.  They may just send us a separate letter, however -- I am not sure.

Are you guys planning on including bank statements along with the loan info?  It seems like it is optional.  Would it be best just to go with the loan info and not enclose anything about my bank accounts, just to keep things simple?