Day 1

I received my acceptance letter from my host university last night prompting me to sort out my visa application once and for all (well, sort of).

Up until last night, I'd really been barking up the wrong tree as to what visa I should apply for. Long story short: I thought I had to get a tier 4 student visa, but I realised last night that I really should just apply for a prospective student visa, and then apply to the tier 4 inside the UK once I have all the required documents.

So, today, I completed the online application for a prospective student visa, paid for it, printed all the things, went into the city to provide my biometric data, went back home to get some more documents, and mailed (express post platinum) the application and supporting documents to the UK Border Agency processing office in Manila.

But there's a problem: I had to send my passport with my application. Hence, I'll need my application back before I'm scheduled to leave for the UK in the second half of November, otherwise I won't be able to fly.

According to the bureaucrat in the British Consulate in Brisbane, in no uncertain terms, I will have to delay my flight.

For monetary and sentimental reasons, I really don't want to have to do that. However, I'm not so sure I'll have to. The Border Agency's website says that 83% of "Other Visit" applications are dealt with within three working days. This is after they've reached Manila.

My application will reach Sydney on Monday. It should then get to Manila by Thursday 10 November. It should be processed in the following week, from Friday 11 November to Tuesday 15 November. It should then get back to Sydney by Friday 18 November, and will get back to me on Monday 21 November: not very much room to move.

(note: for privacy / safety reasons, I don't want to reveal my scheduled departure date)

I'll be tracking them to and from Sydney, so I'll be able to know in advance if I won't have my passport back by the time I'm scheduled to leave.

That all said, I've asked my travel adviser what I should do. It might just make more financial sense to reschedule a couple of weeks out, rather than risking it.

Anyway, I'm getting to the UK - one way or another.

So, I didn't study at all today, but I made major inroads into getting to the UK. Apart from the visa, and now that my important documents are out of my hands, I can just "sit back" and let it develop. I can now focus 100% on my studies.

Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow! :)