Good news first. I heard from the UK Border Agency a few hours after my last blog.
Now bad news. They want more paperwork from me, by snail mail.
More specifically, they want a transcript–the official one, not faxed or emailed–of my schooling at UBC. If they do not receive it within 4 business days, or if it is the wrong document, they will cancel my visa application. I called UBC and found out the fastest they can mail me my transcript was 2-4 business days, because I live in the USA, not Canada. I decided picking it up in person would be faster (a three-hour drive there and another one back). But, of course, the UK Border Agency has my passport. So my mom is driving up there right now and getting it for me, using a letter of consent I wrote.
On top of this, I called Travelocity about fees. They are expensive, whether you’re changing or canceling your flight. I think we should have gone directly through the airline to buy our tickets, partly because all of their customer support is in India, and I have no idea if they understood when I asked, “If I have a good enough reason, will you refund or wave any fees I’d have to pay to change or cancel my flight?” The answer was, “The policy [which they kept going on about] is to pay this much to change, and this much to cancel.” I knew that, thank you. I called Icelandair to see if they were any more help, but they said if I want a refund, I’m going to have to go through Travelocity because I bought my tickets through them.
I’m hoping now that I’ll hear from the UK Border Agency soon after they get my transcript, and that they will tell me how much longer I have until my visa arrives. Otherwise, I’ll have to cancel my flight altogether (losing half the $ from my ticket) and buy new tickets when I know the date.
There are a few benefits for not going to Scotland on the day I planned, but it’s really difficult to look to the bright side right now. At least I’ll get to Scotland eventually.
Keep checking back for updates. Instead of posting a picture, I’m going to go de-stress by playing video games…