₦airaland Forum

justwise: [/b]

She does not need to pay that money to anyone, that is her maintenance money, the question is: Does she have any remaining fee to pay? If she has paid all the fees then the answer is NO.

The CAS will also state that she has no money left to pay.

The bank statement will show that she has her maintenance money, so she does not own the school any school fees or accommodation money.

Justwise is right. The English is very simple there and its an easy YES or NO. And if you have paid your tuition in full, the answer is NO. Nonetheless, that part of the form is very trickish. Id say Government sponsored students who have no pending fees are the once who are totally safe by clicking NO in that section.

Atlantis85: Charles.E is right. I use wakanow but then go a step further by first checking for the most affordable ones (on wakanow) then visit the actual (airline) websites. For some reasons, somtimes, I get it cheaper on the airline websites.

I do same as well. I check on Wakanow and see the prices of all the airlines with just one-click, then I visit the individual site of whichever one I choose as its always N4000 to N5000 cheaper on the airline's site. However, with Wakanow, I can pay in Naira, as well as do an instant bank to bank transfer from my bedroom. Wakanow option is also preferred so as to avoid making big transactions with my VISA card and the transaction happens to hang and I get debited with no ticket issued, as that would mean another plenty plenty back and forth mail seeking for a reversal and blah blah.

Had issues with Aero where my card was debited N40,000 for a ticket but no ticket issued. Called Aero's Head Office and it was resolved swiftly. However, won't risk it with a $3,000 ticket purchase, more-so the beneficiaries (foreign airlines) use a foreign bank and reversals would take longer.

Basically, in order to avoid the wahala: WAKANOW is the way to go and they great at their job.

Tickets should be no big issue. Use wakanow.com , I have used them a couple of times and they perfect.

Atlantis85: @Charles.E
I called the school to request for an extension and i was told to write to the school stating when i would like to come. Is that how it worked at ur school? also how long after resumption do you think would be acceptable?

Thanks

In my case, a mail was sent to the International Students desk and then a call followed suit immediately. They acknowledged receipt and replied same within 5 hours.

The letter basically requested for an extension to first week of October.

Note: Do not ask for an extension beyond two weeks.

tominiyiE: @Don, Dharkchild, thanks so much for the letter. I will like to know if there are any regulations concerning travelling with your child(just 9 months).
I couldnt find any in the pbs dependant policy. Anyone who has done this can help to put me through. Also concerning bank statements, does it have to be a running acct(i.e can u just put the sum, maybe 2m and leave it till about 28 days, without transactions in between)

On the account issue; YES. And even if you choose to make transactions, ensure it does not at anytime fall below the required amount as required by the UKBA. Advise: Always leave something a little more than you require in your account, to cover for exchange rate fluctuations.

Atlantis85: Lol, thanks a lot @ Donxavier. I could almost hear ur 'voice' .

Ok then. i guess once the CAS is issued, i can apply.

Just curious, what is an extension letter or clause gonna read like? Just so i'd know if its included in my cas or sent separately.

Thanks

Just write your school seeking an extension and your request would almost surely be honored. Print whatever they have replied in their response to you directly from your email box and attach to your application. Kappish!

omopapa: Applying for 2weeks extension means Ʊ cant meet up with d resumption date Ʊ were given so its better 2 write a date much later dan 25th to justify ur 2weeks extension bt dats in my own opinion let's hear 4rm odas...

Thanks for your prompt response Omopapa.

Donxavier: Fill the start date as is in your CAS? The start date won't change. If it's the 25th, then so be it.
The extension letter is self explanatory, and that's why you are adding it so it shows that you won't meet up with the start date but you still have 2 weeks additional time.

Thanks for your response Donxavier. I am not referring to course state date. As that is sacrosanct. I am referring to the part of the form which states "On which date do you intend to travel to the UK"

If one's school is resuming 25th September and the CAS says 25th. But then the person later gets a two weeks extension letter from the school, just before applying for Visa.

When filling the form, if you put 24th September in the section of the form (vide attached pic), does it mean anything? Considering that you have attached an extension letter with your application which supposedly implies that you would not be able to meet up the initial resumption date of 25th. Or should a much later date after 25th be put?

CPC Chieftain Disagrees With Party Over Sanusi's 5000 Note

A CPC Chieftain has disagreed with his party which today issued a statement criticizing the CBN for its decision to issue a 5000 Naira note and convert the five, ten, and a hundred Naira notes into coins. (see statement below).

Pint sized controversial former minister of the FCT, Malam Nasir Elrufai, when asked about the 5000 Naira note by one of his fans on Twitter declared that he supported it and vigorously defended his friend, the governor of the CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido (who is married to the sister of one of Elrufai's three wives). However, only hours after declaring his support for the move, the controversial minister was on facebook singing a different tune by releasing a statement from the publicity secretary of his latest party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), condemning the move.

This isn't the first time the controversial politician will be speaking from both sides of the mouth. He had in August 2010 declared that Buhari was too old to run for president and in October of the same year he declared that Buhari was "perpetually unelectable", but after he was dumped by the PDP, he changed tune by December and was actively promoting Buhari for President!

PRESS RELEASE.

The planned restructuring of the Nigerian currency: Our stand!

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has noted, with cautious optimism, the planned restructuring of the Nigerian currency by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In the publicized announcement by the CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Apex Bank shall introduce 5,000 Naira note to the Nigerian polity from
[I]the beginning of 2013. In addition, N5, N10, and N20 that have hitherto been currency notes, shall thenceforth be converted to coins.[/I]

[I] The CBN governor anchored his argument for a higher denomination on the need to complement the cashless economy policy, as it would drastically reduce the volume of currency in circulation. He opined that some countries, notably Japan, Singapore and Germany with higher denominations of currencies recorded 2.8, 1.1 and -0.7 inflation rates respectively in 2010.[/I]

We disagree with this position because, given Nigeria’s struggles with bribery and corruption, this new introduction of higher denomination is antithetical to the much-touted cashless economy. In fact, the era of ‘Ghana-must-go bags’ dwindled with the introduction of the N500 and N1000 notes in the past. It became easier to carry millions of Naira in moderately-sized brief cases and, inexorably, increasing the incidences of high-profile bribery scandals in the polity. Recently, we witnessed the allegations and counter-allegations of solicitation for and receipt of bribe money levied against certain highly influential politicians in the Country. It is axiomatic to infer that those transactions were opaque to the Banking system because of the facilitating ambience of high currency notes. We insist that the introduction of N5000 currency note shall further exacerbate the corruptive tendencies in the Nigerian polity.

Whilst we agree with the CBN that printing of notes is more expensive than minting coins, it is difficult to believe that the solution lies in converting the N5, N10 and N20 notes to coins. First, the cultural values of the Nigerian people do not favor use of coins. The question is: how did we fare with the previous conversion of 50k, N1 and N2 Naira notes to coins? In fact, those currencies tacitly went out of circulation as a result of disuse. Second, with an economy very susceptible to fragile macroeconomic distortions, the tendency is often for the price of goods and services to be at par with the currency notes in circulation. What will invariably happen is the spiraling inflation that may cause further macroeconomic distortions and unwittingly, bringing about political upheavals. Third, the existence of the foregoing scenarios may exacerbate the already polarized Nigerian polity of have’s and have-not’s, with the systematic break-down of the middle class.

The CBN governor was reported to have said that various segments of the Nigerian state shall be encouraged to create avenues for the usage of coins. As plausible as this may sound, the question is: what efforts have been made in the past to mobilize these segments of the State on the usage of coins and what has been the success rate? Furthermore, with the huge mobilization against the pasting of Naira notes on persons at get-together ceremonies, have we succeeded in stamping out this vice? Is it possible to extirpate deep seated cultural practices with hurriedly implemented policies as against allowing structured evolvement vis-à-vis modern realities?

As the enunciators of the Nation’s monetary policy, we are not unaware of the patriotic zeal of the CBN leadership in churning out this latest policy. However, we believe there is the sore need to consider different shades of opinion before making the final draft. In so doing, the matters of State shall not suffer insufficient perspicacity.

God bless Nigeria.

Rotimi Fashakin (Engr.)

National Publicity Secretary, CPC.

Friday, August 24, 2012).

Source: http://www.naijapundit.com/news/cpc-chieftain-disagrees-with-party-over-sanusi-s-5000-note

Hello house. Please just a quick one. My cousin would be submitting his application on the 3rd of September, 2012. His school in the UK resumes 25th September. Does he need to request for an extension from the school, or is it possible that he would get the Visa just on time?

ikcbn: Firstly,I wanna 2 say a very big tank U̶̲̥̅̊ 2 my miracle working God and U̶̲̥̅̊ all 4 Your kind concern on ma problem bt I write 2 inform U̶̲̥̅̊ all ϑaτ̅ I have bin given my ATAS Clearnce this evening so i would definitely go ahead wit my visa application nxt week.
*Cheers*

Happy for you.

johann86: @charles congrats 2 ur friend, pls where did he submit his application? Abj or ikeja/lekki cos my friends and I submitted on d 31st in ikeja and are yet 2 pick up or even get any notification..

He applied in Abuja

Good news for the house, for all those who applied on the 1st of August, 2012. My friend who applied on the 1st of August, 2012, just called few hours ago to say that he was given his Visa today. Wish ya'll same who applied on the 1st of August.

princericheey: Thanks Donxavier and Charles E. One other thing, how do I fill the Vaf9 electronically? I downloaded the form already but I just can seem to be able to fill it electronically.

Visit http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ApplyNow.aspx

princericheey: Good Morning Guys & Happy Sallah. Help me on this ooo, My CAS says: EVIDENCE PROVIDED: Bachelor of Science in... - 2:1 - Information extracted from Transcript and Notification of Result. The problem now is that my transcripts wasn't addressed to the school in the UK. Wetin I go do ooo? Do I detach the Introduction page? I intend applying by the end of August. Justwise, Dharkchild, Donxavier... Help a brother!

You need not bother going to get a new transcript thats addressed to the school you intend going. On this I am certain, the introduction page is irrelevant as long as your Transcript is genuine and by so, I mean has the your school's official seal on it. A friend from my school last year applied to University of Nsukka for MSC and my school addressed his transcript to Uni of Nsukka. Few weeks later, he got ETF scholarship as he was amongst best graduating in his class. All he did was scan his signed and officially sealed 'student copy' of his transcript and send to a UK school and got admission, it was same transcript (original copy) that he gave to the embassy and he got his Visa.

And by the way, you should not even have the introduction letter with you cos your transcript is normally supposed to be mailed to your intended school directly from your previous school alongside the intro letter. But we know that in Nigeria, people get both copies by hand. Following the laws, it is only your student copy that you should be with and student copy has no accompanying intro letter and its this student copy that you would submit to the Embassy.

sexylogan: Charles, y°u r welcome mate. Just tryin to help.
To answer your first question, yes, I think Yøur cousin shud tick the first two boxes in 6.15 as both apply to him. I'm stumped on the 6.16 part though maybe the UEL guidance will help.
On another note, I don't know whether it will reflect on his CAS if he e-mails the school abt his govt sponsorship of his maintenance. I've always thot that its only tuition fees and school scholarships are mentioned in the monetary section of the CAS document. In any case, it wudnt hurt ur cousin to scan it an send as an e-mail to his school and ask whether it can be reflected on his CAS document.

Thanks much. Highly appreciated

Dharkchild: For the section 6.15 yeah, tick both.

For section 6.16 in the course fee, enter £500 and for the maintenance enter 8,000. The fluctuation in price would boy affect it as long as it is still higher than the £7,200, you won't be denied visa.

In section 6.17 your course fee has been fully paid for, so just enter £7,200 in the maintenance and same in total.

Thanks Dhakchild for your prompt response. Highly appreciated

Donxavier: Charles, there is an interactive visa form link in one of the pages. Cant really remember now. I suggest you google UEL(Uni of East London)'s Vaf8 and the appendix interactive visaforms and download them. You get Complete guidance for filling of forms

Thanks Donxavier. I googled the UEL link and tracked the interactive PDF, trust me, it has basically done justice to few sections where I had a double mind of what to fill exactly.

Nonetheless, others feel free to still comment on this if you have any experience with such a situation.

sexylogan: Charles, that is exactly the way I interpreted it.
Furthermore, if y°u download the visa application form (Point based System Appendix 8 for Tier 4 general stusent self-assessment form),6.15 reads;
Put a cross (x) in the relevant box to confirm what evidence of financial sponsorship you have provided.
( )An original letter to confirm the financial sponsorship from an official financial sponsor or Government sponsor
( ) You are receiving official financial sponsorship from your Tier 4 licensed sponsor(eg. A scholarship or bursary),and details of the financial sponsorship are included in the CAS
( )Evidence not required under guidance ,but original letter to confirm the financial sponsorship from an official sponsor or government sponsor, held by applicant
6.16 Complete the box(es) to indicate how much the official financial sponsor is paying towards your expenses
For course fees [ ]
For maintenance [ ]

Using Charles' cousin as an example, he wud tick the first two boxes since he has a Government scholarship towards his maintenance and he has been given 500 quid by his school in the form of a scholarship.
In the box for maintenance, he wud then fill the amount the govt is giving him

Thanks for your comment Sexylogan.

Please feel free to assist in this short question below as well as other fellow nairalanders with idea on this particular issue; Justwise, Donxavier, Dharkchild et al.

For section 6.15 in the self-assessment form: Please kindly verify again if I can tick the first two boxes as Government is offering my cousin scholarship covering maintenance and his school has already offered him 500 pounds scholarship.

And then in section 6.16. Since Course Fees has been paid in full by the student himself, do I leave the course fee section blank? And then for Maintenance; when the assistance by the Government is converted, it is actually a little over 8000 pounds but my cousin needs just 7200 pounds by UKBA requirement. Please do I put 7200 pounds in that slot or should I put the actual converted figure that Govt is giving which is quite in excess of the UKBA maintenance requirement >8000 pounds. And if I am to put the actual amount of over 8000 pounds based on today's conversion on Oanda, what if the value fluctuates slightly by the day he is going to submit, would there be a problem? Even though I know that no currency fluctuation would make it go below the 7200 pounds UKBA requirement. I am worried that if I have to put the actual amount of the Govt assistance when converted and maybe I put like 8,100 pounds based on today's exchange rate, what if by the day he is going to submit, d rate fluctuates and if converted by the ECO and the ECO arrives at something like 8,050 pounds, would there be any issue due to this discrepancy.

And then in section 6.17 Which box do I click because they asked "Do you have any fees and maintenance due for payment" . I am confused by the maintenance due for payment part because maintenance is usually held by the student till he arrives the UK and not paid to anyone.

GOD bless you all as you assist on this. Thanks.

172. A Tier 4 sponsor can include details of Official Financial Sponsorship that they are giving
to the Tier 4 (General) student on his/her Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. No further
documents are needed to show this Official Financial Sponsorship.

Lets note that the UKBA request that if sponsored by Home Government (State or FG), that a duly stamped letter-headed award letter is needed to be shown as evidence.

Based on the above background, if the UKBA was referring to Home Government sponsorship in the guideline in quote above, they would not have said "..no further documents are needed to show this Official Financial Sponsorship" BECAUSE their guideline clearly states that an award letter MUST be shown if sponsored by your Home Govt etc. Therefore clearly means that the above guideline which request sponsorship to be shown in CAS without any need for backup documents, is STRICTLY for and applies only to the Tier 4 sponsor ( The University).

Anyone who shares a different view please feel free to share.

justwise: and in this case my cousin was given a 500 pounds international scholarship from his University (The Tier 4 sponsor)


How many scholarships are we talking about here?

Two scholarships here. His school (Tier 4 sponsor) has given him 500 pounds international scholarship which was deducted from his tuition, therefore he paid his tuition less of 500 pounds.

His State Govt has given him few millions that covers his 7200 pounds maintenance with an excess N200,000

Donxavier: Ok. Everything hinges on the interpretation of the bolded part. It presupposes that the Tier 4 sponsor is the one giving the scholarship. It said they can include details of..... they are giving the student. Unless that part also means they can include the details of any official financial sponsorship GIVEN to the student. That would mean any sponsor and in this case the State Government..

Seriously, I am finding it hard to really see it the way Justwise is seeing it cos the guideline is straight forward.

A Tier 4 sponsor - Means; The University
Official Financial Sponsorship that they are giving to the Tier 4 (General) student - Means any form of sponsorship from the Tier 4
(University) and in this case my cousin was given a 500 pounds international scholarship from his University (The Tier 4 sponsor)
That they are giving to the Tier 4 (General) student on his/her Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies - This 500 pounds scholarship from the school (Tier 4 sponsor) is what would be put on the CAS by the school (Tier 4 Sponsor).
No further documents are needed to show this Official Financial Sponsorship - The student would not need any further documents as prove of this 500 pounds scholarship once it is on CAS.
If the Tier 4 (General)student does not know if his/her Tier 4 sponsor has included this information he/she will need to check this with his/her Tier 4 sponsor - Means that if the student is not sure that the school (Tier 4) has included this 500 pounds scholarship in the CAS, he would have to check with the University (Tier 4 sponsor) and ensure its reflected.

None of the words in the UKBA guideline as I have broken into bits above refer to Sponsorship By Home Government having to be reflected on CAS after all fees pertaining to the school (Tier 4 sponsor), has been paid in full 100% and this paid tuition has been reflected in the CAS.

What the Embassy wants to see is that money for maintenance is available as tuition has been settled in full and the official Award Letter from the State Govt covers this aspect.

Donxavier: Exactly. From what I read, if the University he's attending was sponsoring him, then it has to be stated on his CAS. Then no other financial evidence is required.

If he's being sponsored by his Home Government(State Government) which he is, he needs to show the Letter of Sponsorship with the Letter head and other requirements.

It seems it only needs to be shown on the CAS if it's the University in the Uk giving the Sponsorship.

Thanks Donxavier. This is exactly what the statement in the guideline clearly insinuates by my understanding.

Justwise, your response please.

justwise:

The Tier 4 sponsor in question, is the University I believe.

The Government is not a Tier 4. Please kindly respond. Thanks.

justwise: He has to notify the school that he is partially being sponsored by the Govt, read UKBA guideline on Govt sponsorship

Thanks. But please if you don't mind, can you please give me a link or help me quote a portion in the UKBA guideline that refers to this aspect you mentioned. Cos I have basically digested everything and on Government Sponsorship, this is what I got out from the guidelines (see below);

Evidence of an official financial sponsor or government sponsor

If your Tier 4 sponsor is giving you any any official financial sponsorship, it can include details of this on your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS). You do not need to provide any documents as evidence of this official financial sponsorship. If you do not know whether your CAS contains this information, you must ask your Tier 4 sponsor.

In any other circumstances where you are being given official financial sponsorship, you must provide send us a letter of confirmation from your official financial sponsor. The letter must be on the organisation's official letter-headed paper or stationery, and must bear the organisation's official stamp. It must show:

your name ;
the official financial sponsor's name and contact details;
the date of the letter;
the length of the sponsorship; and
the amount of money that the official financial sponsor is giving to you, or a statement that it will cover all of your course fees and living
costs.





No reference was made that it should be reflected in CAS.

Please kindly respond. Thanks.

justwise: The Govt sponsorship should be stated in his CAS, he should email his school with the sponsorship letter and get his CAS updated.

Hello Justwise, please can you kindly assist here with reference to your comment in quote above. I asked a follow-up question immediately but I guess you didn't see it so I am kindly repeating it here again below.

I am just wondering why you stated that his school should update his CAS with the Government Sponsorship Letter even when his fees has been paid in full and the Govt award letter was to be used as cover for his maintenance of 7200pounds, of which the Govt award is even in excess of this mentioned figure by N200,000.

justwise: The Govt sponsorship should be stated in his CAS, he should email his school with the sponsorship letter and get his CAS updated.

Hello Justwise, thanks for your prompt response as well. His school fee (tuition) has already been paid in full by bank transfer. Please just to reconfirm based on your comment, you still advise the school reflects the Government Sponsorship which is for maintenance in his CAS as well?

Donxavier: The day of submission.

Thanks Much.

Donxavier: Yes, write the oanda conversion figure for his maintenance.
He doesn't need to show a bank statement, a letter of sponsorship from the state government is what is needed.
Already, his CAS should reflect that his full tuition has been paid for by himself.

GOD bless you Donxavier. There is nothing I admire like prompt service delivery and you did just that. Just one more thing. Please which day's conversion do I put on his form, is it the conversion rate of the very day he would be submitting or the conversation rate on the day the award letter was given?

@Justwise and Donxavier.

Good Afternoon. Please in a follow up request from earlier, remember I said that my cousin had complete funds covering tuition and maintenance for his MSc in the UK.

However, just last week, his State Government offered him financial assistance and this has been followed up with a duly signed and official award letter from his State Government.

He has already paid his tuition in full and he now wants to use the Government Award Letter as prove of funds covering maintenance. Please as I am assisting him fill his form, I want to find out if I would still have to do the conversion of the Government Assistance to pounds sterling via Oanda and then write it on the form as is normally done if one is self-sponsored. I am asking this because the award letter given to him by his state Government, has the award value written in Naira only.

Please Note: He has already paid his fees in full and the value of his State Government's assistance as stated in his award letter covers the UKBA's maintenance money requirement and is even in excess by N200,000.

Also please with the above, I also believe he does not even need to show a bank statement?

Your kind response to this would be highly appreciated

Fani-Kayode Blasts Northern Leader Who Said North Dominated Yoruba During Civil War, Says 'We Won The War Not You'

Controversial former minister of aviation and Obasanjo attack dog, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has hit out at a prominent Northern leader, Alhaji Usman Faruk, a former military governor of North-West State during the General Yakubu Gowon regime, who said recently at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna during Sheik Ahmad Gumi’s Ramadan sermon that Asari Dokubo needs to brush up on his history because the North essentially dominated the Yoruba people and conquered the people of the Niger Delta during the civil war and that "Awolowo attempted he failed talk less of one boy (meaning Asari)".

Faruk who also claimed that the North had a population of 120 million compared to only 50 million in the South said that the onshore/offshore issue was cheating the North.

This is even as the equally controversial former minister of the FCT, Malam Nasir Elrufai, yesterday described Boko Haram as freedom fighters to some when he said in a taped interview that "Someone's terrorist can be another person's freedom fighter".


In his response Fani-Kayode released the statement below;

I went through the story in Sahareporters and I must confess that the Elder from the north that spoke called Alhaji Usman Faruk is talking absolute nonsense and he has got his history completely wrong.

I do not share Asari Dokubo's views about bombing the north and splitting the country either but let us all try to be historically factual when we speak. The truth is that It was the 98 per cent yoruba Third Marine Commando under the able command of Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle that liberated the mid-west and the southern minorities from the igbos during the civil war and NOT the north.......

Full article at: http://www.naijapundit.com/news/fani-kayode-blasts-northern-leader-says-we-won-the-war-not-you

Donxavier: It's the student's own. It can't be the parent's, cos it's meant to show the relationship between the applicant and his/her sponsors. It's your cousin's birth certificate.

Thanks alot DonXavier

justwise: [/b]

That one.

Thanks Justwise

@Justwise - Please I need this info for a cousin. He wants to understand, since his parents would be sponsoring him for his Msc abroad, aside having the required funds for 28 days of which is settled, when you say that Birth certificate should be added if parents are the sponsor's, do u mean the parents birth certificate or the student's own?