British student visa - a parent's anxiety

As a parent who had recently applied for my daughter’s student visa, I can understand how those who were caught in the delay must have felt. In comparison, our situation was a walk in the park and any anxiety was more to do with my own unnecessary (easy for others to say so) worries.

She visited the website to fix an appointment for when she was due back in KL. Unlike those who applied as a first year student who has yet to set foot in UK, she had booked return air tickets from UK, with all her stuff to be moved to the new place upon her return, subject to obtaining her visa extension for another year. So I worried over what if she could not get it? Her friend was unsuccessful before because of uncertainty over financial aspects.

It would have been so straightforward if we had a Fixed Deposit amount to cover the cost of one year’s fee plus board and lodging. Admittedly we did not have that. We did not even have monthly income, which could easily cover her average monthly expenses (inclusive of the fee). You know what it is like converting your income in MYR to GBP. So it was up to me to convince the assessor (or whatever he is called) that we will have no problem in sponsoring her.

I even had to worry over printing out the covering letter, in this day and age! You see, my printer had this problem with paper jamming and I did not bother until too late. Thinking I could easily find someone’s printer when in KL, I set off with a written draft and all the necessary documents. I was not the only one who has been procrastinating, as when I ask a friend, he replied that his printer was still out since the last time I asked about it. No, he was not one to give excuses and has been the most obliging friend all the time. Then came the next good friend’s reply that his printer prints but comes out in a dark shade like that of a bad photocopy! Anyway I typed the letter and printed out for just in case I had to use it. Thinking that I could fall back on my brother’s new computer and printer, I was told that the diskette from my friend could not be used because his new computer does not take diskette! So at the end I used the original print that looked like a bad photocopy.
It was only after the event, that I realised I could have re-type using my brother’s computer and print from it.

As to the following day’s appointment, I worried over whether to take the LRT or car! With the many instances of our new Home Minister making life difficult for those travelling by car like banning Anwar from 5 km from Parliament, it was a difficult decision then. You see, our place and British visa office are within walking distance of LRT stations and travelling by car meant taking a risk of going away from a LRT station and caught in a massive jam, where even buses and taxis are helpless.

One has to be early to find out the fee required for processing, in order to buy the bank draft. The most convenient is supposed to be Alliance Bank (same building) provided you are a customer. I had to go over to Maybank in Ampark Park across the road.

An applicant is normally told that it will take a few days to process and one can access their website to find out. Their standard reply is ‘we have decided on your application’ or something to that effect, instead of an outright ‘approved’ or ‘rejected’, so one has to find out personally.

I cannot help but wonder why we are so keen on going to Britain for further studies. Besides being the most unfavourable to us in terms of exchange rates, we have to put up with all kinds of restrictions, no thanks to the thousands who ‘jump planes’ ie. those who supposedly went for a tour with return tickets but ‘changed their minds’.

It is easy for Rais Yatim to tell Malaysians to go elsewhere, but first tell that to students, sponsored by our government (can certainly save a lot on scholarships), some can even stay back without having to serve their bonds nor having to pay back.

Honestly, judging from the flow of people travelling between UK and Malaysia, we need them more than they need us. Perak is well known for ‘parachutists’ and many brought back hard earned savings to buy shop houses as investments or start coffee shops. I am referring to The Sunday Star's report (excerpt):

Britain gives thumbs-up to actions against visa abuse
KUALA LUMPUR: So far so good. Three months after Malaysia was told that its visa-exempt status may be revoked by the end of the year due to abuses, the British authorities are giving the thumbs-up to the corrective measures taken to date.
What is at stake is a privilege Malay­sians currently enjoy: visa-free stay in Britain for up to six months.
Britain’s “strong case” for implementing a visa regime against Malaysia is softening halfway through the six-month grace period for the Government to act and plug the loopholes.
The UK Border Agency, a shadow agency of the British Home Office, and the British High Commission are happy with the measures taken by the Malaysian authorities so far.
A UK Border Agency official, who is being based here to evaluate the compliance and security improvements being carried out, is said to be satisfied with the collaboration received.
The agency was formed in April to improve Britain’s security through stronger border protection while welcoming legitimate travellers and trade.
Britain had in July given Malay­sia until December to prevent illegal immigration and improve passport security, crime and anti-terrorism measures and cooperate in deporting Malaysians who overstayed.
If the British Home Office remains dissatisfied at the end of the grace period, Malaysia could lose its visa-exempt status from early next year.