Anyone else waving their DC off for Y3 Uni abroad?

[waltzingparrot]

DS20 is off to Spain in a couple of weeks and I've surprised myself by feeling quite wobbly about him living in another country.

It's probably because he's so disorganised here, I can't imagine what being disorganised in a strange country/another language will be like.

He's currently driving up and down the country trying to sort his student visa (left it so late).

How's everyone else coping ? Any tips/ideas of things you're doing to help them?

Oh, good luck to him with the visa! DS is abroad at the moment (he’s doing June to December for reasons best known to himself) and his visa only came through two days before his flight was booked.

He is currently trying to get back home for a second jab, but as he’s not yet had his second jab, he needs to quarantine both ways. And his funding seems not to be quite as sorted as he’d assured me it was…

DD is doing dual language programme. S1 abroad cancelled so in UK until January. Currently relaxed about s2 when she’s due to go for a work placement in Spain and worried that she won’t engage with s1 online as it’s pure self study. Am sure we’ll have last minute visa drama too…..she had ADHD and struggles with that kind of planning and organisation!

I'd definitely advise getting on the visa application early. So far DS has done 2 trips to London and one to Manchester and still hasn't got his Visa. Apparently, application today was rejected because the Spanish Uni hadn't stamped a form.

He sent 4 emails to the Spanish embassy in London which went unanswered, for which they have apologised but could do nothing to advance his application.

It's not been an easy process. If only he'd started earlier

Oh no - this will be us next year and I’m dreading it. The visa sounds like a nightmare to organise and Dd definitely isn’t the most organised.
I’m in Northern Ireland and I don’t know if that will make any difference.
Dd doesn’t know yet if she’ll be going to France or Spain.
I’m a dreadful worrier so it’s going to be fun!

@nicky2512

Oh no - this will be us next year and I’m dreading it. The visa sounds like a nightmare to organise and Dd definitely isn’t the most organised. I’m in Northern Ireland and I don’t know if that will make any difference. Dd doesn’t know yet if she’ll be going to France or Spain. I’m a dreadful worrier so it’s going to be fun!

@nicky2512 don’t worry, the visa process is straightforward and you just need to apply in plenty of time. My dd is off to Spain in September.

@bevelino thank you. I hope your dd has a great time! I just dread things like this as there’s always something to go wrong.
No one else in my house worries thankfully! Just me.

Sending big hugs your way @waltzingparrot. This was me 3 years ago now, and at the time I found the whole thought of him being in a different country almost unbearable.
Although it's important to step back as they're obviously adults, I did give a number of gentle support type reminders, and took copies of his passport, visas and travel insurance just in case, fortunately they weren't needed.
I'd defiantly recommend booking in a long weekend to see him (not straight away though!); I wasn't able to do this as my son wasn't based in Europe, though we did spend a weekend with our niece when she was away in Spain and it was a great experience for her to share 'her' city with us, as well as for us being able to picture her surroundings. In lieu of this with my son we picked a holiday celebration there and made an event of it here, inviting over family, making some traditional meals, then FaceTiming him so he knew we were thinking of him.
Covid adds another level of challenge to this for you and the Uni themselves will have a point of contact and it wouldn't hurt for you to have a note of their name or department should things change while he's out there.
We also threw a themed leaving party, and got a welcome home poster up on his return, I wanted to show that even though I knew I would (dissolve into a blubbering wreck) shed some small tears at the airport, I / we were excited about this for him, and he didn't need to try and dampen his mood on our behalf.
Ultimately he returned safely having had some fantastic experiences; despite my (pathetic!) fretting he didn't fall in love with either the country or a new partner, and although I found it hard at times, I'm so impressed with him for having the guts to go and do it.
Good luck to you all!

@214 That was lovely! I know I’m still a year away but you have definitely given me some ideas and made me think!
I’m glad all went well for your Ds and wish well to all those who have a child heading away this year.
It would be nice if this kept going - updates on how they are getting on and maybe some helpful advice!

Think the relative complications of getting a Spanish visa depend a lot on whether you need a student visa (not too bad) or a working visa (not too good). My DC started the process 3 months ago and won't be getting one in time to start work in September. See this BBC story - www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-58247963

@214 Thank you for some really good suggestions that hadn't crossed my mind.

We do plan to have a short break out there but he's already stated he's going to fly home for Christmas and his girlfriend wants to visit as well. We might wait for the weather to warm up at Easter because he picked North Spain with their long cold winters (apparently).

@nicky2512 If you are in Northern Ireland, is your DD entitled to an Irish passport and therefore able to bypass the hassle of needing a visa to work or study in EU countries?

@LilyPond2 Hadn’t thought of that. We are British passport holders but that actually is a possibility. Something we will have to investigate when I hear how problematic the whole thing can be. Thankfully we have time not like the poor kids stuck in the middle of it this year.

Yes, DD1 arrived in Oklahoma on Monday for her year abroad. She's all set up with a room on campus, and term starts next Monday, so earlier than UK. Visa/permission to travel involved a LOT of admin, but it all went smoothly in the end. Enrolling for classes was much harder, and she has ended up with a right old mixture. But I'm sure she will have a fantastic time.

Mine is off to Germany. We were used to her being away as she did sixth form in a different county and then a year at uni, before coming back and staying since lockdown. Doesn't bother me she's going abroad, but I suspect it'll be a wrench when the time comes.

She has a friend who thought she'd applied early enough for her Spanish visa and is still waiting. Luckily DD doesn't need a visa to enter Germany. Main thing is to be doubled vaccinated, luckily her doctor agreed to second vaccination early as her local friends haven't been called yet for their second vaccines.

She booked her flight last week, uni contacted her the following day to say they'd done a risk assessment and she had to have a return flight booked, so she's ended up booking two singles rather than a return, costing more. Wasn't much choice for early August when her course finishes.

She applied for a Ghic at the beginning of August, they said it'd be two weeks, but still not arrived.She can travel without it, but it'd be better if she gets it before so we don't need to worry about it getting lost in the post.