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University Exchange
Jun. 3rd, 2010 04:35 pmFor those on my flist who don't know/don't remember or are thinking hey you never blogged it so how could I know? I am going on exchange to England next university semester. So I finally got my acceptance email into Lancaster University. You would think that it would be all smooth sailing from there, but no, VISA's are hell and really mess with your travel plans.
According to British government website: yes I need a VISA. Do they tell me what type. No.
So then I ring the British Consulate in Canberra. Random woman there tells me I need a basic VISA because I'm Australian National. She then tells me that because I can only enter Britain 2 weeks before the course starts in October, I can get around this by going to Britain, leaving the country before October, to go to say Ireland or France, then reenter in October for my course.
This makes me more confused then before so I email my university frantically. VISA advice lady there tells me yes I do need a VISA, but its only a student visitor one valid for 6 months and that yes I can travel and no I don't need to come in and out of Britain at all. Yay I think, problem solved.
Then I go to STA to get quotes on flights and man there tells me that no I can't enter Britain more than 2 weeks before my course starts and wtf are the British on anyway and I will have to travel around Ireland or France or Europe before my course starts.
Got that flist? Isn't it crystal clear how I must travel? I didn't think so either.
Bloody Poms and their Bloody VISAS.
In other news: I got one ticket to see John Simm in Hamlet october 16th. I am excited. I bought my ticket for a Saturday when I'm in uni session so that the VISA confusion won't stuff me around. I will definitely blog about his performance. Because he is John Simm and The Master and awesome (see icon).
According to British government website: yes I need a VISA. Do they tell me what type. No.
So then I ring the British Consulate in Canberra. Random woman there tells me I need a basic VISA because I'm Australian National. She then tells me that because I can only enter Britain 2 weeks before the course starts in October, I can get around this by going to Britain, leaving the country before October, to go to say Ireland or France, then reenter in October for my course.
This makes me more confused then before so I email my university frantically. VISA advice lady there tells me yes I do need a VISA, but its only a student visitor one valid for 6 months and that yes I can travel and no I don't need to come in and out of Britain at all. Yay I think, problem solved.
Then I go to STA to get quotes on flights and man there tells me that no I can't enter Britain more than 2 weeks before my course starts and wtf are the British on anyway and I will have to travel around Ireland or France or Europe before my course starts.
Got that flist? Isn't it crystal clear how I must travel? I didn't think so either.
Bloody Poms and their Bloody VISAS.
In other news: I got one ticket to see John Simm in Hamlet october 16th. I am excited. I bought my ticket for a Saturday when I'm in uni session so that the VISA confusion won't stuff me around. I will definitely blog about his performance. Because he is John Simm and The Master and awesome (see icon).