When will I get my UK student visa

How long did I wait for my visa?

I submitted my UK student visa application along with all the original documents and original passport at a VFS global visa application center on the 11th of June, 2014. I had opted for a courier service to deliver my documents to me since my hometown didn't have a visa application center and I can't travel there again. I had also opted for a SMS service to inform me about the status of my visa application. For both these services I had to pay Rs. 525/- which was collected from me directly at the visa application center.

Even though I paid for the sms service, I never received a single sms from the visa application center. Later, after receiving my visa, I came to know that DND(Do Not Disturb) was enabled on my mobile number. Check if you have done this too by entering your mobile number in this link - http://www.dndcheck.in/ If so, contact your network provider to get it disabled.

After about 2 weeks (which was a really long wait for me), on the 25th of June, exactly at 6.00 P.M, I received an e-mail stating that a decision has been made on my visa application and it has just reached back the visa application center. Neither this e-mail nor the sms alert (if you have opted for) will tell you what the decision is. Only when you open your passport you will be able to know the result. And since I had opted for a courier service I had to wait again till I received it in my hand.

All these couriers are dispatched through BlueDart, so you easily track where your documents are by going to the following link:

https://www.bluedart.com/

There you have to select the radio button "ref no" and enter your reference number starting with GWF - the one that was generated when you submitted your visa application online. My courier was dispatched the next day and delivered to me on the 27th of June. [In case you did not opt for a courier service, you can directly visit the same VFS center and collect your documents the next day itself.] I had to show one my original ID proof to the person delivering my courier from BlueDart before receiving my packet.

All my documents were correctly returned to me and above all I was really very happy to see my visa stamped inside my passport. :) I am entitled to enter the UK exactly one month before the start date of my course and remain there until four months after the completion of my course.

Comments and queries are welcome..