st79

Hi

I have a small student loan, do I need to get rid of it before I apply for my spouse visa?

WS

No you don't. Just inform SLC before you move out there.

st79

Thanks

I will let them know but my main worry is that will it affect the visa app?

DaveandLinda

No, this shouldn't affectyour application at all. My daughter emigrated last year and she has a huge student loan. You just need to let them know you have emigrated and give them an address - they do threaten to employ detectives to find you and send you the bill!

They will then sort out everything to arrange payments once you are working.

Georgina H

I made an arrangement to pay a bit off mine each month by direct debit as I don't have a job to go to in Perth when we arrive. They were very helpful, which was surprising! As long as you let them know you don't even have to arrange a payment straight away if you don't have a job its only really when you do and your salary meets or exceeds their threshold but I thought it would be easier to start it now

WS

DIAC won't know anything about the loan. I've heard SLC are particularly useless at managing your account especially if you move overseas so if it's only a small amount I would recommend just paying it off.

asprilla

No.

But if you want to maintain a credit rating in the UK, yes.

Glw88

After being a uni dropout and receiving a loan, I received some repayment guide leaflet which said something about informing the Loans company if you're leaving the country for a certain period of time, think it was at least 4 months from what I remember.

marcpiano

Had MAJOR dramas with SLC:

Hopped back to Perth in June 06 and was told by SLC they didn't want to hear from me till April 07 anyway. Wrote them in April 07 and received no reply by July. Rang in July and they said they wouldn't deal with me without a particular ID number, which the operator (incorrectly) said he couldn't give out on the phone when I said I'd lost it.

Left it for a few weeks and tried again, same problem. Wrote again in December and rang a month later - they apparently never received my April letter, had received my December letter, were processing the Australian address and would be sending out the forms to organise overseas repayments.

That was three weeks ago. Still nothing. By law it doesn't show up on your credit rating in the UK anyway.

Lee&Jade

there is no need to get rid of it just inform the SLC befor you go,

WS

SLC are pretty useless so if it's only a small loan just pay it off

st79

Thanks

I think I will try and pay as much off as I can.