visa – Expedite Travel Services

Benefits of studying in the United Kingdom

Expedite Travel Services — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 20:26:34 +0000

Working while you are studying

International students studying in the UK can work part-time while they are studying. The UK economy is very diverse. Students can easily find a part-time job that can help to develop their skills in a particular field. Some universities also provide employment placement. Money earned while working can help to alleviate some of your educational expenses.

You will receive international recognition of your degree.

When you complete a degree in the UK, you will enhance your skills, gain advanced knowledge, and become an expert in your specific field, and your qualification will be recognized worldwide. The Universities in the UK are well-known for their excellent academic records. A degree acquired from a UK university is recognized globally and highly valued in the international job market.

Improve your english

English is the world’s universal language; studying in a country where English is the primary language is an excellent way to learn the language and prove marketable on the international work market. Competency in the English language is an entry-level requirement for most jobs.

High-Quality Education

The Universities in the UK have a very high-quality and up-to-date education system. You can choose from a wide range of courses to study. If you are looking to pursue a course in the UK, you may find a shorter duration course that is cheaper for you to pursue. Shorter duration courses will help you to reduce tuition fees and accommodation costs. Universities in the UK are equipped with modern and extensive libraries, laboratories, and even their own museums.

Ways of funding your tuition and living expenses when applying for a U.K. Student Visa

Expedite Travel Services — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 18:19:18 +0000

There are several ways of showing that you can cover your tuition and living expenses while in the U.K. studying. They are stated below as follows:

Personal Savings

When applying for a UK student visa, the best option is when you can finance your tuition and living expenses without having to rely on a sponsor. The amount of money available in your bank account should cover at least one (1) year of tuition and living expenses. Before considering applying for a UK student visa, it is paramount that you have sufficient funds available to pay for your studies and living expenses.

Sponsorship

The only persons that can sponsor you to study in the UK is your parent/legal guardian or spouse. If your mom is sponsoring you, you will need to submit your birth certificate so that the visa officer can see that your sponsor is your mother. You can only use your spouse as a sponsor if he/she is present in the UK or applying at the same time as you.

If your parents or legal guardian is sponsoring your educational expenses, they must have more money in their bank account than what is required for your tuition and living expenses. Realistically, if the money in your parent’s bank account is the exact amount that you need for your tuition and living expenses, what will they do if an emergency arises and they need cash? Therefore, it will be more believable if your parents have more money than the required amount for your tuition and living expenses. If someone who is not your parent or legal guardian is financially sponsoring you, they will need to transfer the funds to your account or your parent or legal guardian’s account.

Your parent or legal guardian will need to provide a photocopy of the following documents:

Bank statement/ 4-month transactional history. The money should be in your parent or guardian account for 28 days before applying for a student visa.
Birth certificate or an adoption certificate or official court documents that confirm parental or legal guardian status.
A signed sponsorship letter from your parents or legal guardian confirms your relationship with them and that the funds in their bank account will be used for your education expenses in the UK. This letter should be signed and stamped by a J.P. or notarized by a Notary Public
Passport bio page
A job letter, if employed.
Payslips for the past four (4) months (optional)

Financial sponsorship from a designated organization

If you are being sponsored by an official financial sponsor, such as your government, the UK government, an international scholarship organization, an international university, or a company. You must provide an original letter on your sponsor’s letterhead with your name and contact details. The letter should state the length of the sponsorship and the amount of money they are sponsoring towards your tuition and living expenses.

Student Loans

If you receive student loans from a student loan organization or bank in your country, you need to provide a letter that confirms the loan’s details. If the loan only makes up part of the required finance, the remainder will have to be in your account so that there is evidence of enough funds for both the tuition fee and living costs for the visa application.

Finances play a crucial role in determining if your U.K. Student Visa will be approved

Expedite Travel Services — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:37:50 +0000

Having sufficient funds available to pay for your tuition and living expenses is the most crucial factor in a visa officer’s decision when granting a U.K. Student Visa. This is referred to as the maintenance test. The Home Office stipulates that you at least one (1) year of financing for your tuition and living expenses in your bank account. Your tuition fee will be stated on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter.

If you are studying in London, you will need £1,334 per month, or if you are studying outside of London, you will need £1,023 per month.

If you paid a deposit towards your tuition fee, the money you paid to the university will be stated on your CAS letter. You can deduct this from the total amount you need to show for your tuition and living expenses on your bank statement. For example, if the program that you plan to study tuition fee is £15,000 per calendar month and your living expenses is £1,334 per calendar month, that means that you would have £15,000 + (£1334 x 9 months), which accumulate to £27,006. That means that you should have £27006 in your bank account for a period when you apply for a UK visa.
If you have made a payment towards your accommodation before applying for your student visa, you can deduct £1,334 from your living expenses. Even if you have paid more than £1,334 towards your accommodation, the UK Home Office will only deduct £1,334 from your living expenses and you will have to show the remaining amount for your living expenses. For example, if your living expenses is £12006 and you paid £2000, the Home Office will deduct £1,334 from your living expenses and you will have to show the remaining amount will be which would £10,741.

The required amount that you must be in your bank account for your tuition and living expenses must be in your bank account for a continuous period of 28 days when you apply for the student visa. The money in your bank account must not fall below the required amount for your tuition and living expenses during the continuous 28-day period. Otherwise, you will be denied.

The amount you need to show for your finances should be in Pound Sterling (GBP). If you are using a currency other than GBP, you must convert it into GBP and write the equivalent amount on your application. The UK Home Office uses the following website for currency conversion: www.oanda.com/convert/classic.

Interview at the U.S. Embassy

Expedite Travel Services — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 20:50:04 +0000

In the interview, make sure you answer the questions accurately and in a complete sentence. Here is an example of a successful interview.

Successful interview between the visa officer and Kimberly

Visa Officer

Kimberly

What is your purpose of travel, Kimberly?

I am planning on traveling solely for tourism and visiting my grandmother

With whom do you live?

I am currently living with my husband and our three (3) children.

How long will you stay in the US?

I intend on staying for two (2) weeks starting from March 1, 2017, to March 14, 2017

What is your occupation?

I am a sales representative

How much money do you make monthly?

I am currently earning sixty thousand ($60,000) monthly

How long have you been with your spouse?

I am currently living with my husband for over three (3) years.

How long have you been working in your current job?

I have been working for over five (5) years.

What type of work your grandmother does?

My grandmother is a registered nurse

How long has your grandmother been living in the US?

My grandmother has been living in the US for over 20 years.

How did your grandmother become a citizen in US?

My grandmother was file for by her husband.

Congratulation Kimberly! Your US visa been approved to travel to the United States.

Kimberly was granted a US visa because she demonstrated, to the visa officer, that she has strong ties in Jamaica. Everyone’s situation is different; anyone can get a visa regardless of their status.

At the end of your interview, you will know if you were granted a visa or denied depending on the color of the slip that you get from the visa officer.

White slip

Your visa is approved if you receive white slip. It takes seven (7) working days for the Embassy to stamp your US visa in your passport. After the visitor visa is stamped in your passport, the Embassy will either return it by DHL or pick it up at the Document Service Centre depending on the mode of pick-up you have chosen.

Pink slip

If you receive a pink slip, the Embassy is requesting additional documentation to process your visa application. The pink slip does not mean that you were denied a visa but rather, that your visa application requires other documentation or information for the processing of your visa visitor. For example, if you were arrested and declared it in the interview, the visa officer might request a letter from the court.

Green slip

A green slip, indicates that you were denied a US visa.

How soon can I reapply for my U.S. Visitor’s Visa, after denial?

Expedite Travel Services — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 20:39:18 +0000

At Expedite Travel Services, we know how disappointing it can be when someone got denied a U.S. visitor visa. However, you can reapply as soon as you are able to provide new information or documents that you initially failed to submit. However, it is best to wait until after 6-12 months before reapplying. As if you opt to reapply and your situation has not changed, they will deny you once more.

These common factors are the reasons applicants are denied a U.S. visa: inaccurate or irrelevant answers to interview questions, improper structuring of the application, failure to prove that you will leave the U.S. after the duration of the stay, and inadequate supporting documentation. A visa officer can deny you based on how you respond to the interview questions, along with the information you provide on your application.

For example, on the application, you stated that you are unemployed, which further indicates no legitimate source of income. The visa officer will assume, based on this response that you are ineligible for a visa as without income you will not be able to sufficiently finance your trip to the U.S.

Though you may have money saved to fund your trip, the visa officer wants to know that you are employed. Additionally, regardless of the amount of money in your savings, the visa officer will want to know how you were able to accumulate the money.

Did you know that a person can meet all the requirements and still be denied a U.S. Visitor’s Visa?

Expedite Travel Services — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 03:52:46 +0000

Yes. Everyone will not be approved a visa on their first visit to the U.S. Embassy. A visa officer may be having a bad day and on that basis denies you a U.S. visa, though you are fully qualified based on your ties to your country of residence. Fortunately, some applicants will receive their visa the first time they apply; while other applicants will visit the Embassy up to four (4) times before they are eventually issued a US visitor visa.

However, visa denial is not the end of the world. You can try again; hopefully, with more success. Though you will be disappointed, be optimistic; everything happens for a reason! Kimaya is one of our successful applicants. She was denied a visa the first time she applied. Nonetheless, she contacted us within a year and reapplied without changing any information on her previous application and luckily she was granted a visa.

Whenever you are ready to apply for a U.S. visitor visa, one of our expert visa specialists will be more than enthused to provide you with the best advice and guidance on how to increase your chances of obtaining a U.S. visitor visa.

Example of an interview in which James was refused a visa

Visa Officer

James

Whom, do you live with?

Grandmother

How long will you stay in the US?

2 months

What is your occupation?

Carpenter.

How much money do you make monthly?

$100,000 monthly.

How long have you been working as carpenter?

2 years

Is your grandmother married?

I’m not sure

I'm sorry you are not qualified for a visa at this time. Please re-try when your situation has changed

James was denied a US visa because he did not demonstrate to the visa officer that he has strong ties to Jamaica.

James was denied a US visitor visa because he did not convince the visa officer that he has enough ties in his home country that will compel him to return home after a short visit to the US.

Obtaining a US visa is not as difficult as many are led to believe, however due to the large number of successful applicants overstay their visit, visa officers are now led to scrutinize each application thoroughly to ensure that you have enough ties that will compel you to return home at the end of your short stay. If James plans to reapply, it is advised that he waits until his current situation has changed.

When someone gets denied a visa, they can reapply at any time. However, before James reschedules another interview, he should understand that the main reason he was rejected a visitor visa was due to his inability to convince the visa officer that he would return to his home country after a short stay.

From our experience, we recommend that James wait at least one (1) year before reapplying for a visa. When James decides to reapply, he will have to demonstrate what significant changes have happened in his life within the last year? If nothing has changed, he might be denied a visa again.

Ways to improve your ties within a country after being denied a visa

Expedite Travel Services — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:30:56 +0000

After being denied a visitor’s visa, try to access why you were denied. Here are a few ways to help increase your chances before reapplying:

Travel to countries that do not require a visa for entry

When you travel to other countries, spend limited time, for example, 1-2 weeks per visit.

If you were single when applying, try dating to start a meaningful relationship, this can improve your social status over time.

If you work for an organization, try to work towards a promotion to increase your salary; This will improve your financial stability.

If you are working in the company for a few months, reapply after one(1) year

If you have a business, work towards growing your business and ensure it’s registered to conduct business and pay your taxes as well.

If you are ina relationship with a civil servant who earns a substantial amount per month, you both can apply together for the visa, it’s not a guarantee, but it helps in most situations.

If you were denied as a family, try re-applying after one year by yourself, given that you have social and economic ties to your home country.

Psychological factors that affect you getting your visa

Expedite Travel Services — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 21:56:20 +0000

Intimidation

Most persons are intimidated by the visa officer’s presence at the interview; this, in turn, causes one to be fearful and start to show signs of doubt by trembling. Therefore, proper preparation is vital in achieving success at the US embassy. The first approach is to ensure the application is complete with all the relevant information. Once the information has been submitted, an option will be available for you to print the entire application. The printed document should be used as a guide for answering the questions. Study the information thoroughly; This will help to instill confidence even when feeling pressured by the officer. When answering questions, always give an immediate response, for open-ended questions like “what’s your purpose of travel?”. The best approach to answering the question at first response is to extend that response with a statement that conveys to the officer that you will be returning after your trip to the US. Here is an example of an appropriate response, “I will be attending a business summit to learn about new technological systems to help improve our services in Jamaica. This response advises the officer that you are only visiting the US for the duration of the summit. You will be returning home to use the knowledge gained for the company’s benefit by expanding their services; this allows the officer to understand your motive and your purpose of travel in one complete statement. Of course, there will be follow-up questions for you to answer; that’s why you must know as much as possible before your interview.

Strict environment

The US embassy is heavily guarded to protect itself from persons who see the US as a threat and wish to oppose their jurisdiction. Such, you have to follow a strict process when entering the embassy. The process is necessary and valid, but to you as the applicant, it will be seen as a nuisance because it’s hassling at times. This environment tends to have a psychological influence on weak-minded persons. If you know you abide by your country’s law and fill out the application thoroughly with the correct information, you should be fine. It’s a standard procedure; take the time to build mental confidence that will help you to be calm before seeing the visa officer. When you are at the embassy for an interview, you will see persons getting denied, and this may strike fear in yourself and destroy your mental mindset, but here are a few techniques that you can follow to help build your confidence:

Have someone coach you the day before your appointment

The emotional comfort of having someone coach you by asking a few questions can make a drastic change in your mood. The person will ask interview questions by playing a visa officer and applicant game, where questions are asked, and you would respond as though you are at the actual interview.

Speak with someone who motivates and encourage you

Having a meaningful conversation with someone who motivates others can help relax your mind and make you feel at ease, making you relaxed and confident.

Meditate and relax to build self-confidence

Doing something relaxing the day before your interview and getting a good night’s rest can do wonders for your self-confidence, mind, body, and soul.

Typical reasons for US visa denial

Expedite Travel Services — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 19:01:08 +0000

Incomplete Application

Many applicants are denied a visa because their US visa application was not properly completed; as such gave inaccurate answers to questions asked in the interview.

Limited Employment and Job Stability

Being employed or working at a previous establishment for less than one (1) year shows inconsistency and inability to settle in a job. The visa officer wants to know that you are working in a stable job for at least (1) one to one (2) years. The longer you are working in an organization, the better are your chances of being granted a visa.

Employment Status

Some applicants are denied a visa because of their work status. Low-income earners are more likely to be refused than those with a higher wage margin.

Marital Status

Single applicants stand a lesser chance of obtaining a visitor visa. This is the case because an applicant with children and spouse has stronger ties to their home country, making them more likely to return home than someone that is single.

Age

The visa officer can reject your application because of your age. For instance, a 28-year-old person is more likely to return to his home country than a 19-year-old applicant. However, while age can be a factor, people of all ages can still acquire a visa.

Working on your Visitor Visa

You can be denied a visa if the visa officer discovers that you have abused your previous visitor visa, by working especially if you have stayed in the US for up to five (5) months on more than one occasions.

Lack of proper documentation

An applicant may be denied for lack of proper documentation. The visa officers do not ask for supporting documents on every occasion. However, if you state on the application, that you own a registered business it is advised that you have a business registration certificate to prove that your business is registered with the Companies Office of Jamaica.

Tips for applying for a U.S Visitor’s Visa

Expedite Travel Services — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 18:39:05 +0000

Wear formal clothing
Your appearance should convey who you are. You should look like a student if you are a student, and if you are an executive manager, you should dress accordingly.

Body language
Your body should convey friendliness.

Arrive early
You do not want to be tardy for your visa interview because you are held in traffic.

Be self-aware and stay focused
The visa officer may casually rephrase questions to see if your answers will contradict the information on your application. Before responding, make sure that you understand what the visa officer is asking you. If you are unsure about what is being asked, politely request that the question be repeated. Do not answer questions immediately without thinking about the answer you will give.

Do not be nervous
Showing signs of nervousness or trembling can contribute to visa denial. Be confident. The more prepared you are for your interview, the more confident you will feel. Smile upon meeting the visa officer and look directly into the eyes of the visa officer while speaking.

Provide a proper response to questions

Make your responses short, clear, to-the-point and in a loud and clear voice. Do not overshare or initiate irrelevant conversations. Oversharing or mistakenly giving unnecessary information that may lead to your rejection.

Ensure when responding to the visa officer, you provide accurate answers to the questions asked. All the information that you provided in your interview are computerized and maintained. The next time you go for an interview, you should not change your information.