Applying to graduate school is not a walk in the park. It's more like being on the Amazing Race. A feat of one's endurance and scrappiness. Applying to graduate school in the UK is partially easier, given that there are no standardized tests to take, or would be if not for the 6 hour time difference. I knew that applying to grad school wasn't an easy process- our friends discovered the Something Awful Guide to Graduate Schools in 2007 and I wholly endorse it as an accurate description of how it feels to apply to a program.
Even more accurately, it reflects the scavenger hunt of applying for a Visa to study in another country.
The United Kingdom has fairly few piece of paperwork that they want compared to the US. Yet, they want proof that the school wants you, proof that you can pay for it, proof that you aren't a terrible criminal, a ridiculous fee, your fingerprints, and passport photos. Not US passport photos, but UK ones that are slightly smaller and bound to stump most drug store photo centers. And then you take the assembled pieces of papers, praying that you haven't forgotten something, and trust the post office to convey the package to New York, with your return envelope and postage (payment, however, is taken electronically so even if your package never makes it there they still have the fee).
To the benefit of the UK Consulate in New York, they have a fabulous automated email reply system. You do get an email as soon as they receive it with a breakdown of how long it takes 90%, 98%, and 100% of applicants to hear their results, with the average time from the start of that current week and any foreseeable slowing. Which is marvelous to get.
Until 2 days later when you realize you overlooked the US vs. UK passport photo size and become increasingly paranoid that you'll be turned down because of it. The automated response system isn't so helpful when you are talking out loud to it because there is no email address or phone number for the consulate.
But the scavenger hunt is not in vain! Lo, Wednesday morning (3 business days ahead of schedule) I got an email informing me that my visa had been issued. After a purgatorial time at the Post Office yesterday to retrieve my prize, I now have a shiny sticker in my Passport proclaiming that I'm a temporary resident of the UK until January 30, 2018- even though I'm supposed to be finished 6 months before then. I think the UK may secretly just want me there longer.
Go time is basically one month now. We think Jack's visa (he had the correct photo size) should be here in another week and a half. We sign the lease papers for our flat this week and book our flight soon. Jack bought moving boxes this afternoon and we'll start packing tomorrow afternoon (any volunteers?). We have appointments scheduled to get our Global Entry numbers. The last of our doctor appointments are being scheduled, as are any last minute trips. I can't believe how real this is starting to be, less than a year ago we weren't even thinking about moving across the Atlantic.
And if any of you reading this want to keep up with this adventure, you can subscribe to this blog. I'll be updating it with our humorous British adventures. Cheers!
Even more accurately, it reflects the scavenger hunt of applying for a Visa to study in another country.
The United Kingdom has fairly few piece of paperwork that they want compared to the US. Yet, they want proof that the school wants you, proof that you can pay for it, proof that you aren't a terrible criminal, a ridiculous fee, your fingerprints, and passport photos. Not US passport photos, but UK ones that are slightly smaller and bound to stump most drug store photo centers. And then you take the assembled pieces of papers, praying that you haven't forgotten something, and trust the post office to convey the package to New York, with your return envelope and postage (payment, however, is taken electronically so even if your package never makes it there they still have the fee).
To the benefit of the UK Consulate in New York, they have a fabulous automated email reply system. You do get an email as soon as they receive it with a breakdown of how long it takes 90%, 98%, and 100% of applicants to hear their results, with the average time from the start of that current week and any foreseeable slowing. Which is marvelous to get.
Until 2 days later when you realize you overlooked the US vs. UK passport photo size and become increasingly paranoid that you'll be turned down because of it. The automated response system isn't so helpful when you are talking out loud to it because there is no email address or phone number for the consulate.
But the scavenger hunt is not in vain! Lo, Wednesday morning (3 business days ahead of schedule) I got an email informing me that my visa had been issued. After a purgatorial time at the Post Office yesterday to retrieve my prize, I now have a shiny sticker in my Passport proclaiming that I'm a temporary resident of the UK until January 30, 2018- even though I'm supposed to be finished 6 months before then. I think the UK may secretly just want me there longer.
Go time is basically one month now. We think Jack's visa (he had the correct photo size) should be here in another week and a half. We sign the lease papers for our flat this week and book our flight soon. Jack bought moving boxes this afternoon and we'll start packing tomorrow afternoon (any volunteers?). We have appointments scheduled to get our Global Entry numbers. The last of our doctor appointments are being scheduled, as are any last minute trips. I can't believe how real this is starting to be, less than a year ago we weren't even thinking about moving across the Atlantic.
And if any of you reading this want to keep up with this adventure, you can subscribe to this blog. I'll be updating it with our humorous British adventures. Cheers!
Comments
Post a Comment