Guess who (finally) got a CAS number!!
Yes, after much stress, waiting and more stress the golden number finally arrived. With it I was able to fill out the online application portion of my VISA papers. For those of you who don't know, this is how it works:
Step 1:
Stumble around the VISA website looking for the online application option.
Step 2:
Find option.
Start reading EVERY piece of text on the web page so you don't miss a prompt or requirement.
Step 3:
Start filling out information in the lovely pop up window.
Write down EVERY number they give you, along with what it's for. Or what you think it's for if the website is not clear. (Hint: It's never very clear, write it down anyway.)
Step 4:
Payment! Yes, you have to pay to get a UK visa. And guess what? It's expensive. Not as bad as Australia, but damn close.
Of course, after you finish paying, the lovely pop up window will inform you that must now wait 24 hours for the payment to process. It will also tell you between what times you need to log in to complete the process. I was informed I had to log in between 10am and 11am. (Can you guess who was supposed to be working at that time? Thank god I have understanding managers and awesome coworkers who easily switched the shift!)
Step 5:
After waiting the 24 hours and logging in between your appointed hours, you are then informed the first part of the process is done and you must now make an appointment at the consulate for your interview.
Step 6:
Make that appointment and pay $63.00 for the pleasure. Note: there is a free appointment option but I was too worried to choose that one in case it wasn't the right one. The first option I was given was called Prime Time Appointment and I just went with that. Those who like to live on the edge can choose other options, I'm not here to tell you how to live your life.
So now I have an appointment and my required documents are all together in a folder waiting for the trip. I actually added a few documents not called for but I feel safer having with me. Things like proof of finances, acceptance letter from my host university and my health insurance information for when I'm gone. I doubt they will need it but just in-case it's asked for I'd like to be prepared.
One month to go! I feel both excited and slightly sick.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Adventures in Bureaucracy
Applications for VISAs suck.
I don't care where you are from, or where you are going. It will never go smoothly. If you think "Hey, this isn't as bad as people have said" at any point, be prepared for the inevitable bumps in the road. Some bumps are actually more like the Alps, as you will see below.
So, what has been the VISA thorn in my side? A little thing called the CAS number. CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, or Can't Aquire Smoothly. This essentially the number that allows you to register as a student in the UK, as opposed to a landed immigrant or someone on a general work VISA. My initial emails to the Admissions office were back in June, inquiring how to get a CAS number for my VISA. The entire exchange went something like this:
How do I get a CAS number?
We give it to you when we get them from the Government.
...Okay? But when would that be?
Soon.
Now keep in mind, these email exchanges take a 12 hour period each, as we are in different time zones. So I wait...and wait...and wait a bit more. I send another email and am finally told, "Oh the government doesn't allow Universities to issue the number until three months before a student's arrival." That information would have been nice to know in the first place. So I wait some more, and finally hear that the numbers will be going out in the first week of July or shortly after.
Can you guess what week it is now? Correct! It's the last week of July! Have I received the CAS number or any of the information that goes with it? NO! I have a MONTH left to get this application in! I have officially run out of wiggle room in regards to re-submitting if anything should go wrong with my application. So, feeling the time squeeze I decided it's time for some human interaction and called the admissions office when they open at 9am. That's 9am UK time by the way. So it's 1am here.
The phone call lasted 3 minutes and 58 seconds. Mind you, the man I spoke to was very nice and actually knew who I was just by first name (I have been sending quite a few emails, so at least they're paying attention). I now know that the CAS numbers have been sent from Chichester to the Border Agency. They will be verified by the UKBA and then sent back to Chich, who will then send the information to me. This should take no longer than a week. Should being the operative word.
Guys? As nice as that is to hear...it's really a week I DON'T HAVE! I need to get this application submitted, make an appointment with the consulate for my interview and pray to whatever deity I can think of (and all the once I forget) that they don't reject the damn thing or ask me to resubmit information. Then I get to wait between 10 and 15 days to get the VISA back from the Border Agency once it's been approved.
Please excuse me while pull out my hair in frustration/stress.
My advice for anyone on Study Abroad:
I don't care where you are from, or where you are going. It will never go smoothly. If you think "Hey, this isn't as bad as people have said" at any point, be prepared for the inevitable bumps in the road. Some bumps are actually more like the Alps, as you will see below.
So, what has been the VISA thorn in my side? A little thing called the CAS number. CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, or Can't Aquire Smoothly. This essentially the number that allows you to register as a student in the UK, as opposed to a landed immigrant or someone on a general work VISA. My initial emails to the Admissions office were back in June, inquiring how to get a CAS number for my VISA. The entire exchange went something like this:
How do I get a CAS number?
We give it to you when we get them from the Government.
...Okay? But when would that be?
Soon.
Now keep in mind, these email exchanges take a 12 hour period each, as we are in different time zones. So I wait...and wait...and wait a bit more. I send another email and am finally told, "Oh the government doesn't allow Universities to issue the number until three months before a student's arrival." That information would have been nice to know in the first place. So I wait some more, and finally hear that the numbers will be going out in the first week of July or shortly after.
Can you guess what week it is now? Correct! It's the last week of July! Have I received the CAS number or any of the information that goes with it? NO! I have a MONTH left to get this application in! I have officially run out of wiggle room in regards to re-submitting if anything should go wrong with my application. So, feeling the time squeeze I decided it's time for some human interaction and called the admissions office when they open at 9am. That's 9am UK time by the way. So it's 1am here.
The phone call lasted 3 minutes and 58 seconds. Mind you, the man I spoke to was very nice and actually knew who I was just by first name (I have been sending quite a few emails, so at least they're paying attention). I now know that the CAS numbers have been sent from Chichester to the Border Agency. They will be verified by the UKBA and then sent back to Chich, who will then send the information to me. This should take no longer than a week. Should being the operative word.
Guys? As nice as that is to hear...it's really a week I DON'T HAVE! I need to get this application submitted, make an appointment with the consulate for my interview and pray to whatever deity I can think of (and all the once I forget) that they don't reject the damn thing or ask me to resubmit information. Then I get to wait between 10 and 15 days to get the VISA back from the Border Agency once it's been approved.
Please excuse me while pull out my hair in frustration/stress.
My advice for anyone on Study Abroad:
- FILL OUT HARD COPIES AND LOOK AT THEM MULTIPLE TIMES! You will forget things that you need to have completed before submitting your forms if you only read them through once. Time is not a luxury we have, and if you miss a deadline...well...good luck to you.
- Should you require information from your Host Uni PESTER THEM! Honestly, it's the only way of getting a straight answer, especially in bureaucratic nations like England. The admissions office knows who I am now because I won't leave them alone! That, my friends, is a good thing!
- Look at the requirements for finances and heath insurance coverage. No really, look at what you need. I needed the full amount of money for the year abroad in my bank account 30 days before I could submit for a Visa or my application would be rejected. Luckily my mother caught that before I did. (Again, read piece of advice #1)
- In regards to heath insurance, make sure the coverage you have is the coverage you need, in the HOST CURRENCY or CURRENCY THAT IS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED! Save yourself the trouble and stress!
That's all I have for this entry, it's 1:45 in the morning and need to sleep if I want to be of any use at work tomorrow. Cheers guys!
Friday, July 5, 2013
In The Beginning
I guess the best place to start this blog is at the beginning.
My name is Kirsten Bower and I am a Thompson Rivers University student who decided to spend her third year abroad. The University of Chichester in England had accepted me for an academic year (about 9 months) which is both exciting, terrifying and slightly confusing.
The Exciting:
My name is Kirsten Bower and I am a Thompson Rivers University student who decided to spend her third year abroad. The University of Chichester in England had accepted me for an academic year (about 9 months) which is both exciting, terrifying and slightly confusing.
The Exciting:
- Living in a new country
- Meeting new people
- Life experience
- Watching Doctor Who when it ACTUALLY airs
The Terrifying:
- Living in a new country
- Studying in a new country
- VISA applications
The Slightly Confusing:
- Honestly? Me? You people want me at your University?
The purpose of this blog is just to record the whole experience for family, friends and any other onlookers who want to see what it's like to study abroad. So I guess it's time for Something Completely Different.
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