Student loan process 2010

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?

I'll be including bank statements, as part of my funding will be coming from personal savings---but it all depends on your situation.  If you are taking the full amount in loans, then I don't think you need to include bank statements... But since loans may not be disbursed immediately upon your arrival in the UK, it might be helpful to show that you do have a bit to help sustain yourself in the meantime.  My logic is that you can never have too much information when applying for a visa.

Hm, OK, I might include bank statements then.  I have so little money that I'm afraid they might view that as a negative :/  And I don't want to mess up with the whole thing about the bank statements having to be 28 days old.

Thanks for posting your timeline, PickedSakura -- it's been helpful.  Did your uni offer to ship your documents via DHL?  I wonder if mine will do -- somehow I doubt it..

I am excited right now about the process moving along.  I will apply for the gradplus loan.  Applying for the maximum amount is probably my best option now and then what I don't need I can just lower the amount later.  I hate having options sometimes.

I need to think about the moving process.  Eh...maybe later.

Hi,  I just came along this forum a few days ago, and I was wondering is anyone going the Uni of Westminster?  i am having a hell of a time trying to get them to answer my question about what their hold up is.  I have called the Direct Loan Program and the Federal Student Aid all saying that the Uni is set up and ready to go to start processing the loans, and they keep telling me they aren't sure whether or not they will be able to set up in time.

Anyone else having these problems? I feel like I might have an ulcer soon to get this visa!  ha.

Thanks for the advice!

Thanks for posting your timeline, PickedSakura -- it's been helpful.  Did your uni offer to ship your documents via DHL?  I wonder if mine will do -- somehow I doubt it..

No problem, it finally feels like things are coming along nicely.  Yes, they did offer to ship the document(s) through DHL.  I would see if your school is offering a similar arrangement.

Anyone else having these problems? I feel like I might have an ulcer soon to get this visa!  ha.

Welcome to UKY. No, I'm not attending Westminster. I do believe the university should be set up to process federal loans, as it sounds like the rest of our Uni's here seem to be....So I can certainly understand your frustration!  I was able to find the person in charge of loans at my Uni by doing a search for "US Student Loans" on their main website, and found an old PDF with her information.... 

Doing the same with UofW, I only find this website: http://www.westminster.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/us-loans 
So if you've not already visited that, I suggest you try giving the International Office a phone call, to see if you can speak to someone directly on the phone, as it is starting to be an urgent matter if you've not already started the process.  They should have received training about 2 weeks ago, so they should be more clear on everything by now...

Good Luck! And I'm sorry you're having to deal with this!

Hi, thanks for the welcome!  This is a great site, and I wish I found it sooner. 

I have actually been communicating with the student funds director for international students and she keeps telling me she doesn't know she doesn't know and to keep waiting because they aren't sure if they can get the system functional and processing before the academic school year begins.  Which personally I think is a load of crock because I have talked to the Direct Loan Program and the Federal Student Loan representatives and they say that the school is up and running for processing of loans.  All in all I am getting super frustrated and stressed because she said that they are participating in another workshop on July 12th and hopefully will know more then, even though they participated in the one that it seems like every other school has participated in.  It makes me think they just don't know what they're doing and it's a bit depressing that this is happening because I was suppose to go to Europe 2 days ago and now I don't know if I'll even be going at all.

I'm glad everyone else's seems to being moving forward!  Hopefully I will have the same relief as the rest of you soon!

So I thought I would update if anyone else is in the situation as well.  I did manage to get ahold of the Student Loan Finance Department at my school and they said that the USDE has been lying to US students about the status of the systems, and that they have not been able to access the systems because they don't have usernames, passwords etc.  Additionally they have been e-mailing and calling the USDE because other US students apparently have been calling under the same impression as me and complaining that nothing has been done when I guess they are just waiting for their access information.  They also said that they applied for this in the end of May and was told last Wednesday they should be receiving access within the next few days, so I hope this is the last of it!

Good luck to everyone else out there if you're in this situation too!

Oh no, kbee!  How frustrating.  I hope your school figures things out, and get access to the system! 

I checked in today, to update you all on my status.

(from before)
Sunday 27th June - Completed MPN
Tuesday 29th June - Received and accepted scholarship (Yay!!!)
Wednesday 30th June- 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$).

(newest info!)
Friday 2nd- completed entrance counselling
Monday 5th- Loans certified!

I'll be receiving a letter confirming the loans in the next couple of days, and will be able to apply for my student visa this week. 

But, my next question-- Maybe this is better suited for a whole new topic, but What type of priority are you going to apply for a visa under?  Normal? Priority? Premium?  The gereral worldbridge website has an update for T4 saying "Apply Early", and the Guide to visa processing times on the US-specific site says 100% of applications are decided in 30 days.  (with 96% being in 10 days).  So I might just do normal priority and cross my fingers that I receive everything back in 2-3 weeks.  What do you all think?

Oh no, kbee!  How frustrating.  I hope your school figures things out, and get access to the system! 

I checked in today, to update you all on my status.

(from before)
Sunday 27th June - Completed MPN
Tuesday 29th June - Received and accepted scholarship (Yay!!!)
Wednesday 30th June- 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$).

(newest info!)
Friday 2nd- completed entrance counselling
Monday 5th- Loans certified!

I'll be receiving a letter confirming the loans in the next couple of days, and will be able to apply for my student visa this week. 

But, my next question-- Maybe this is better suited for a whole new topic, but What type of priority are you going to apply for a visa under?  Normal? Priority? Premium?  The gereral worldbridge website has an update for T4 saying "Apply Early", and the Guide to visa processing times on the US-specific site says 100% of applications are decided in 30 days.  (with 96% being in 10 days).  So I might just do normal priority and cross my fingers that I receive everything back in 2-3 weeks.  What do you all think?

Congratulations!  I am just a little jealous.    My University does have new information up.  They will looking at FAFSA information now. 

Looks like I'll be able to apply in the next week or so too.  I just have to attach a few files, and our loans guy says everything will be certified and sent off to me! I'm going to request DHL and cross my fingers. 

Good luck to everyone else!  We're in business, finally!

ah you guys are lucky!! mine arent certified yet, my loan adviser said she still doesnt have full access yet, argh!!! i just want to do this visa bit!!

I've been bothering my school's loans guy..  I was told that they'd start certifying loans this week, so I am waiting, very impatiently.  It's a month and a half till my planned departure date now

I've been bothering my school's loans guy..  I was told that they'd start certifying loans this week, so I am waiting, very impatiently.  It's a month and a half till my planned departure date now

yeah me too, ive been bothering mine as well!! Today i got "bear with me, hoping to have full acess tomorrow" and some other stuff. She was hoping to have it certified 1 july, then it was 5 july, and well im hoping by end of week it will be...Still gonna have to wait week or 2 for her loan letter as well, so still lots of waiting!! grr im so annoyed and impatient right now.

Yeah, I'm not sure where the line is between 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' and 'being a forward, pushy, obnoxious American' so.. I'll probably wait a day or two and then go back to bothering him again.  Poor guy, but I really do need to get this taken care of!!

I have not emailed anyone but waiting.  Or maybe because I have a lot going on and figure it will happen when it happens.  It would be great to know when things will get done but it seems like they are nearly in the dark like we are.  BUT, thanks to all of those "pushy Americans" for keeping everyone updated.

Teatime, I got a little excited when I read the new update on City Uni site.