Tier 4 (General) Student Visa

Hello,

Has anyone applied for and received (or not received) a new Tier 4 (General) Student Visa? Do you have any tips for the new system? I applied for and received a student visa for the UK last year (2008) under the old system, so I'm hoping there aren't many differences...

Thanks.

-- Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:55 am --

Hello,

Well, I've gone through most of the process and am about to attend my VAC appointment. At this VAC you have to mail your documents away yourself after the biometrics enrollment. I hope I've got all of the required documents and such. I'll post when I have the visa in my hand with how long the whole process took after I mailed my documents into Ottawa. So far:

0. looked over the application and collected all of the required documents (most importantly the letter from my University). Left the required money in my bank account for 28 days.
1. submitted online application.
2. made my VAC appointment. There was lots of time slots close to the date that I submitted my online app (submitted at the end of September--I think the availability of time slots varies according to the 'season', i.e. more students applying in the summer to attend school in the U.K. in September).
3. I'm going to attend my VAC appointment. After enrolling my biometrics I will send the required documents to Ottawa myself through the mail (I understand that the VAC office looks through and seals all of your required documents in an envelope that you then mail off).
4. I go home and wait for my visa to arrive in the mail.

To all the other students in the same boat, I wish you the best of luck!

Cheers.

-- Sat Oct 17, 2009 5:54 am --

Ok, so, I had my biometrics appointment at the VAC. The Worldbridge people sealed my application and documents into a white envelope with a security sticker, and then gave me the address for the Consulate in Ottawa. I immediately mailed my package Priority Courier and the next day I received an email from the Consulate that they had received my student visa application and it was being processed. The day after that I received another email from them telling me that the visa had been issued and it was being sent.

I haven't received my passport back yet (it's in the mail), but I'm so happy that the process went so quickly. I can't guarantee that your processing time will be as fast (I'm sure it varies depending on the time of the year--i.e. more students will be applying in the summer).

My advice is to make your application as comprehensive as possible. Read the directions provided on the visa4uk website and make sure that you follow their directions exactly. Hopefully it will go quickly for you too.

-- Sat Oct 17, 2009 5:54 am --

Ok, so, I had my biometrics appointment at the VAC. The Worldbridge people sealed my application and documents into a white envelope with a security sticker, and then gave me the address for the Consulate in Ottawa. I immediately mailed my package Priority Courier and the next day I received an email from the Consulate that they had received my student visa application and it was being processed. The day after that I received another email from them telling me that the visa had been issued and it was being sent.

I haven't received my passport back yet (it's in the mail), but I'm so happy that the process went so quickly. I can't guarantee that your processing time will be as fast (I'm sure it varies depending on the time of the year--i.e. more students will be applying in the summer).

My advice is to make your application as comprehensive as possible. Read the directions provided on the visa4uk website and make sure that you follow their directions exactly. Hopefully it will go quickly for you too.