VISA fee

[JTP73]

I just received an invoice for $304 from SMU for a "VISA fee". I am wondering if that is their fee for forwarding the paperwork to Grand Cayman or to "sponsor" SMU students. Anyone?

Also, I assume that I will still need to pay $250 for me, $250 for my wife, and $??? for my dog. Is that correct? And cash only is accepted?? Thanks in advance.

JP

[SMU-Info]

I suggest you contact student accounts with that question. The visa fee is $250 per individual.

[rapunzel]

I just received an invoice for $304 from SMU for a "VISA fee". I am wondering if that is their fee for forwarding the paperwork to Grand Cayman or to "sponsor" SMU students. Anyone?

Also, I assume that I will still need to pay $250 for me, $250 for my wife, and $??? for my dog. Is that correct? And cash only is accepted?? Thanks in advance.

JP

yea, i got the same invoice today too. is this just for 1st semester students? thanks so much

[Raj625]

I got it as well, whats the deal with this? This is pretty darn high for a visa fee. Its usually like 80 bucks at most, and even that only for countries that require it.

[jonasp]

i'm guessing this is covered by the loans you take out for the school.Isn't this part of the money the school takes from your loans? or is it an out of pocket expense?

[JTP73]

i'm guessing this is covered by the loans you take out for the school.Isn't this part of the money the school takes from your loans? or is it an out of pocket expense?
Not sure as to the source of the money to pay for it, doesn;t matter much. Still trying to understand if, in addition, to paying $250 to get in the Cayman door, we need to pay this $304 (unknown) VISA fee. Anyone else?

[DA]

I got the same invoice today and will be calling up student account tomorrow.

[senz_asian]

These kind of surprises tend to make me rethinking about the choice of attending SMU. There are just to many fees pop up out of nowhere! The school must be more transparent by displaying the TOTAL OF EACH SEMESTER AND A BREAK DOWN OF ALL THE FEES LIKE THE ONE FROM ROSS. Then, students know exactly what to expect!



THIS IS REALLY CONCERNING!

[Knight007]

hmm...I have no clue ..I'm confused when the Visa fee is going to be charged
or paid though??

[datx]

I too got the same invoice.

[jonasp]

tution is like 3-4 grand more the first semester than the 2nd or 3rd according to the loan disbursement so maybe it is covered. The visa and kaplan would account for at least 1200. It would be nice if we had a full invoice containing a list of all things we are paying for though instead of new invoices every other week with additional fees.

[rapunzel]

hey guys,
i've talked with the student account personnal today about this "visa fee". Basically, the $250 visa fee is to be paid in CI$ and coverted it would be US$304. So, the school pays the CI$250 for us so that we won't have to deal with when we arrive on the island. In return they bill us that amount...and this US$304 would obviously be deducted from our financial aid.
hopefully that clears the confusion.

later,
R

[JTP73]

hey guys,
i've talked with the student account personnal today about this "visa fee". Basically, the $250 visa fee is to be paid in CI$ and coverted it would be US$304. So, the school pays the CI$250 for us so that we won't have to deal with when we arrive on the island. In return they bill us that amount...and this US$304 would obviously be deducted from our financial aid.
hopefully that clears the confusion.

later,
R
Thanks R, for doing the legwork. That helps a lot, but on question remains, for those of use who are married and bringing our spouses onto the island, do we still need another $US 304 for them to be on our visa?

JP

[Sebastien Guilbard]

The Visa Fee is from the Cayman Island Immigration department and not for SMU. It is requested from each person who will live on the island.

[Knight007]

I checked the Welcome Packet pdf and found it listed on Pg. 19.


DOCUMENTS NEEDS FOR IMMIGRATION (MANDATORY)

STUDENT: Application Form, Photographs (1 full face, 1 profile), Police Record (no criminal charges must be

listed), FINANCIAL AID: Loan student; letter of financial aid grant stating amount of grants, Independent

student: letter from sponsor, letter from sponsor.s banks stating financial capabilities. MEDICAL: results from

chest x-ray, HIV & VDRL. DEPENDANTS (WIFE/HUSBAND): Included on Cayman Islands Immigration

application as an accompanying dependant, Police Clearance (no criminal charges must be listed), Medical

(including chest x-rays results, HIV & VDRL), and Marriage Certificate. DEPENDANTS (CHILDREN):

Included on Cayman Islands application as an accompanying dependant Birth Certificate (this must show both

parent names). UPON APPROVAL OF STUDENT VISA, THERE WILL BE DEPARTMENT OF

CAYMAN ISLANDS IMMIGRATION FEE OF US$250.00 PER PERSON (PER DEPENDANT).

[rapunzel]

hmm..now this is more confusing than ever. i guess we should call them again at student accounts and find out more about this.

[rynobuddy]

Begining this past semester, the school collected our passports and had them stamped by the Cayman immigration giving us a student VISA for 6 months. All current students got charged $304 US ($250 CI) for the student VISA.

This is not a hidden charge or anything like that. I know it seems expensive, but thats what Cayman charges, unfortunately we have no control over that. Just have to deal with it.

Now another question was posed about spouses? I came by myself so I have no info on that, but I would have to imagine it would be $304 US per person or rather per passport.

[rapunzel]

so we have to keep paying US$304 every 6 months? i thought the visa fee was only a one time fee?

[Knight007]

so we have to keep paying US$304 every 6 months? i thought the visa fee was only a one time fee?

I dont think so. When I filled out my Immigration Form, there was a question which asked "how long will you stay in Cayman?"
I contacted Immigration Dept. at SMU and the guy told me to put down as
long as it will take your Basic Science to finish.
I asked him cuz I didnt know if visa was on a semester basis or for entire
studies at Cayman...

Maybe thats just how Cayman Government works, its possible they
grant visas only for 6 months, and you renew it.

I will find out today.

[Knight007]

Just spoke to SMU's Immigration Dept. in Florida.

$304 Visa fee is a one time fee.
Cayman used to issue Visas for only 6 months at a time, and they
"recently changed their policy" to give out visas for the "entire duration"
of your studies at SMU.

Enjoy your weekend everybody !! :)

[rapunzel]

thanks for doing the research! that was nice of ya!

[HR Manager Cayman]

I hope this helps all of you in regards to your student visa application fees.

A student visa is good for 4 years (i hope you guys are not intending on being here that long)

The immigration dept only stamps you pasport for 6 month periods ( do not ask questions, thats just how they do it).

The visa fee is Cayman Dollars 250.00 (one time fee).

Once you are on the island come to my office and we will get your pasport stamped ( so you do not have to que at immigration for 2-4hrs).

Once your 6 months are up, all you do is bring your pasport back to us and we will get it stamped again for you.

If you have any other questions in regards to this matter ,email me and i will gladly answer any questions.

mluke@smu.ky


P.S

If you do not have your immigration paperwork complete and sent to the admin dept in florida by now, there is a possiblity that the immigration dept will not allow you on the island.

PLEASE GET IT IN ASAP SO I CAN GET ALL OF YOU APPROVED FOR THE START OF THE SEMESTER.