Wait - did I miss something?

So I went to get my student visa this week in NYC.  I had all the documents they asked for - loan info, lots of bank statements, my offer letter, housing info, lots of emails, etc.  I was a bit worried because some of the emails I needed were in my (old) school's email, and the server was down due to Ivan.  So I get up to the little window, I give them my application (I had done the fastrack thing, and paid online) and my offer letter, and the very nice lady looks everything over.  She makes a few marks, types some stuff into the computer, hands me back my offer letter and says "Ok, come back in an hour and it'll be ready".  Um...huh?  So I go sit in Starbucks for an hour, go back, and they hand me my passport, with a nice new "UK entry clearance" thingy in it.  And even though my  program is only a year, they gave me 18 months.  The hell?

Why didn't they look at all my other stuff?  Are they going to ask to see it at Heathrow, or are they just taking my word for it?  Not that I'm complaining, mind you....it just seemed so easy....

They probably gave you 18 months since the British system considers that the school year goes until the actual start of the next year (i.e. end of September 2005).

I haven't known anyone who applied for a visa in person who had all of their evidence reviewed.  We had a HUGE folder of stuff and they only looked at four or five things when we applied for my spousal visa. 

They didn't ask to see any of my evidence when I entered the UK.  Just looked at my visa, asked where my husband was, and waived me through!   

i went in with SO much stuff, and my officer only asked to see about 5 things.

sometimes, it's just that easy!  And i can say, from someone who's gone through the 'uk visa holders' line and only been asked one question before settlement.  It's GREAT!

Nah, you didn't miss anything.  When you do this visa thing by the book, it's easy-breezy!

Big ol' congrats! 

I had a small suitcase full of stuff for an Unmarried Partner application, and they only looked at about 10 things.  When I initially came through Heathrow with the new visa, they questioned it because the actual visa sticker was ripped (by the NYC Consulate when they put it in my passport)....but even with that, I didn't have to show them any additional evidence at the airport.  The next time I was in the States, I just went to New York and they gave me a new visa sticker without a rip in it, no problem. 

Sometimes it really is that easy.