Expert: David Stewart White - 9/17/2004

Question
Hello there,
I am ayoung american student who is moving to London
next may for school. i have no  idea where to begin as to
getting a passport or visa or whatever and what I have to
do, and if there is anything else involved... i also dont know
much a bout the apartment rentals? Do u know where I can
find cheap place to stay? Can i get a roomate on a certain
website or anything? Any answers would be most helpful!
thanks

Answer
Sam,

Here's a website from the British government that explains how to get a visa for long-term study.

http://www.britainusa.com/Visas/visas.asp

Of course, first you will have to obtain a US passport, if you don't have one.  So here's the US Dept. of State's pasport info. website:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html

The school you will be attending is probably the best source for info on housing, roomates, etc.  London is an expensive city, so student housing information from the university that you will attend is important.  

I assume that you already have made arrangements to study in the UK...this is important because you need to have done that before you can get a student visa.

One commercial service that specializes in student travel is
STA:

http://www.statravel.com/statravel/default.aspx

There may be some helpful material on that website (keep in mind that they are a travel agency, selling products).

I hope this information is useful.  Best of luck.

David White
mail@KidsToLondon.com