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Topic: ATAS Clearance?  (Read 5232 times)

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ATAS Clearance?
« on: April 30, 2010, 12:03:34 AM »
So I accepted an offer to study at the Uni of Notts today, and am ready to apply for ATAS clearance (Academic Technology Approval Scheme).  I am required to have this certificate before applying for a visa, since I'll be doing biochemical research. (Not all students need this, so I don't want anyone else out there to start panicking since they haven't heard about it)

The website has a list of information that I will need in order to fill out the forms (quoted below).  Because the US Government has changed to a system of Direct Loans, I won't know exactly how I will be funding my studies (The last item on the list) until June, as the lady in charge of the US loans won't know until then.  I know that I will be funding the program primarily through US Loans, Personal funds, and possibly scholarships.  My EFC is 0, so I am counting on my student loans to cover mostly everything.

What I am wondering is: Do I need to have the EXACT details of my funding before submitting my ATAS Application, or will "US Student Loans, Personal Funds, and Scholarships" suffice? 



Quote
We will need information on the following areas:

your contact details
passport details
name and nationality of your spouse/partner (if applicable)
full details of all previous studies
full details of all previous/current employment (if applicable)
full details of published papers (if applicable)
previous ATAS applications (if applicable)
the programme of study you are applying to follow in the UK (including JACS code and research proposal)
if doing a taught Masters course you will need details of the optional modules you anticipate taking.
full names and contact details of 2 referees (First name(s) and Family name). You must have known both of your referees for at least 3 years. At least one must also be an academic from your country of origin.
how you will be funding your studies
2007-Short Term Student;   2010-T4;   2011-T1 PSW;   2013-FLR(M);    2015-ILR;    2016 - Citizenship (approved!)


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Re: ATAS Clearance?
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2010, 11:36:27 AM »
It's been a while since I applied for my ATAS, but I don't remember them asking incredibly specific information about my funding (I probably just wrote student loans, self-funding, etc.). I more so remember having to tell them which classes I anticipated taking since I'm doing a taught masters. I don't think they looked at it too closely, either. My university wasn't on the list (I go to University of the Arts London), so I selected University of London since they look pretty close and no one ever said anything - another girl on my course did the same.

They state on the website: "You will not need to send us any original documents at this time, as these will be checked by the Entry Clearnace Officer when you apply for your visa (or caseworker when applying for an extension)." So as long as what you have on the certificate they give you somewhat matches the documents you plan to send in, you should be fine.

Then again, they might not have been looking too closely at mine since I'm getting a degree in Publishing. Even the guy at the consulate was baffled as to why I needed an ATAS and barely looked at the thing, lol.

Sorry that's not the most definitive answer, but I hope it helps a little!
I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.' Kurt Vonnegut


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Re: ATAS Clearance?
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2010, 07:31:52 PM »
Thanks, l.davis--i saw this was just your second post, so welcome to UKY.

Yes, the information does help a bit...I still haven't received my official letters in the mail, but I believe they emailed me all the information that I will need, in terms of the Uni stuff/my research proposal/course code/etc. 

I will just do what you said--and put "loans/self funding" like I originally thought.  I just want to have the certificate, so that I know as soon as I'm approved for loans I can apply for the visa.  The website it takes ~20 days, so I wanted to try to get it done soon.

Thanks again!

2007-Short Term Student;   2010-T4;   2011-T1 PSW;   2013-FLR(M);    2015-ILR;    2016 - Citizenship (approved!)


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Re: ATAS Clearance?
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2010, 07:40:56 PM »
Contact the International Office there - they will advise you properly.

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/internationaloffice/current-students/immigration.aspx
Riding the rollercoaster of life without a seat belt!


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Re: ATAS Clearance?
« Reply #4 on: June 02, 2010, 02:56:21 AM »
Contact the International Office there - they will advise you properly.

Thanks, I ended up getting in touch with my admissions contact to ask her whether I should continue to wait or not... she simply said to apply ASAP.  I did just that, and received notification that my clearance certificate had been issued last week :)

Now it's just down to
1. Submitting my scholarship application (tonight!)
2. Waiting to hear about/sorting out my student loans (hopefully only another month!)
3. Applying for the visa!
2007-Short Term Student;   2010-T4;   2011-T1 PSW;   2013-FLR(M);    2015-ILR;    2016 - Citizenship (approved!)


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