March 2012
59 posts
2 tags
I’ve paid over 1,500 pounds in visa fees. I’ve waited in line for over four hours just to get my address changed. I’ve had to register with the police eight times. I’ve spend the entire day going accross London just to find a bank branch that could verify my bank statements. I’ve spent many sleepless nights wondering if my visa would be denied. Last year, you didn’t know what would hapen....
1 tag
When I first applied for a student visa in 2008 (pre-Tier 4) in Kenya, it took me three days to get my visa which was reasonable! In 2011, I graduated and got elected as a Sabbatical Officer and realised I needed a student visa (tier 4) to work at the SU. What? Why? But I have graduated?! Wouldn’t a PSW have been appropriate? This caused a lot of confusion at the airport when I got back from...
3 tags
My name is Saifullah. I am from Nigeria, I came to study in the UK in 2008 and I feel I have made a positive contribution to the UK in terms of adding cultural diversity and awareness and also generating revenue for the UK in terms of paying huge sums in fees and to the local economy. I didn’t just come to the UK to get a degree but also to gain experience in the UK work environment in order...
3 tags
Studying abroad means different things to different people, for me it is getting the training for global citizenship; interacting and learning from people of diverse culture and generally experience life in a new dimension. I could have studied anywhere but I considered the UK because of their good educational standards that has spanned through centuries. I also took into consideration the...
1 tag
Visa’s are becoming more and more expensive year on year. I have spent over £1000 on visa fees and the amount of paper work that is required of you is phenomenal. I applied for my Tier 1 Post study Graduate visa and filled in the 30 page plus application that was downloadable from the UKBA. After waiting for a month I was sent back the application form and all my supporting documentation in...
3 tags
England is more expensive than India, but there are lots of bargain shops, my favourite store sells everything for just £1, which is very cheap. After having paid £10,500 in fees and more in living expenses I came to UK with the hope to find a part-time job, but found it next to impossible to find one and had to really struggle to meet my day to day expenses. I’m not only an international...
3 tags
My story? From the moment I applied to University to the moment I applied for a visa and for accommodation, I spent a lot of time and money. I paid 3 times MORE than my colleagues from the EU/UK for tuition. Entering the UK was also a tedious task as I had to wait at the airport for a long time. I was lucky that I managed to catch the connecting flight to Newcastle. I thought I could gain...
1 tag
Two years ago I began an altogether different journey in my life. For a boy who had grown up in a different country in a different culture it was a big leap to travel 7000 miles away from home and start a journey which will pave the foundation for my entire life. Like any other person I didn’t know what to expect. Even though I’m from a different part of the world, I realised that there are few...
4 tags
“I have paid over £40K in tuition fees, over £10K in living costs and over £200 for my visa. I have paid a huge amount of tax on my part-time job. I have also spent countless hours trying to fill graduate job applications and have received hundreds of rejections due to my visa status. The mental stress I have and the stress of thinking about what will happen in the future has already...
1 tag
Your story? Having studied at an international school before coming to university, cultural diversity and exposure to different ethnicities was the norm for me. Ever since my arrival at Sussex, however, I have not only felt that there is a large presence of international students but it is active and dynamic. This reason motivated me to become the International Students’ Officer which, in turn,...
1 tag
“My story? I’ve been lucky. I’m an EU citizen and I didn’t have to deal with the nightmare of getting a VISA. Not my business, not my problem, right? Wrong. One of the most valuable things that I have gained over the past 3 years as an undergraduate, is appreciation for different cultures, which I was taught by the multitude of international students at my university. In an increasingly...
3 tags
Studying in the UK is an invaluable experience for all international students, broadening horizons and developing language skills, and the cultural diversity it gives to our university campus is incredibly enriching for all students. Living and working with people from all over the world has left me with precious memories and some wonderful friendships.
International students already face...
4 tags
During my four years’ study in the UK, I have spent over 60,000 pounds. I have volunteered for over seven charitable organisations, I took part in many activities of the local communities. I did all these because I feel happy helping others, at the same time it’s a good chance for my self-development. Since I paid a lot, of course I want to make the best out of my money but not because...
3 tags
I don’t have a story, but a close friend does. His name was Riasat. He finished his degree and got a job with Lloyds Bank. When his visa was about to expire, he prepared all the documents for renewing it. That is- fill papers in advance, have money to support yourself for 8 months, letter from the university that he had graduated and have everything 1 month before it expires. He did all this and...
