student visa issues - late matriculation

[lg423]

Help! My visa has not yet been granted, which means I don't know when I can come to school. I've emailed late matriculation, but I'm worried that I'll miss too many classes to be allowed in this year. Does anyone know anything about this? I'm sooooo saaaaaad

[hoopy froodette]

If you're a new student and you're going to miss more than the first 3 weeks of classes you may need to defer (email admissions@st-and.ac.uk). If you're a returning undergraduate student and you'll miss more than the first 3 weeks of classes then you will need to take a Leave of Absence (email registry-ug@st-and.ac.uk). If you're a returning postgraduate and will need a Leave of Absence email registry-pg@st-and.ac.uk. There is a Senate Regulation that no undergraduate student may miss more than three consecutive weeks of study.
If you need help with your visa email sss@st-and.ac.uk - they have a visa expert.

[MelissaL]

You're definitely not alone. There's been a lot of trouble with visas this year. The UK consulates switched to some new system, which is one of the things I've heard it blamed on. The University is definitely aware of the problem and even set up an email for students to keep the registry up to date with the progress: late-matriculation@st-andrews.ac.uk.

[hoopy froodette]

Yes, the Government's new Points Based Immigration System is causing lots of problems and delays in students getting visas. At one point they had decided to give student visas for a maximum of 4 years, meaning no international student could take a WIYA or Industrial Placement course, among others.