Once you have been accepted – UK Students

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Indeed, Allaahu ta ‘ala does test the ones He loves.

Once you have been notified of your acceptance to the Islāmic University of Al Madinah, you must visit the Saudi Arabian Cultural Center and bring the following documentation with you:

Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission in United Kingdom & Ireland
Phone Prefix : 0044
Phone : 00442032497000
Fax : 00442032497272
Email : sacbuk@uksacb.org
Address : 630 Chiswick High Road London W4 5RY

1. University degree certificate (you can submit your college qualifications)
2. Letter from your university stating my name, course studied and grade achieved. (This is a must accordingly to the brother dealing with our affairs)
3. Birth certificate
4. Letter of confirmation from the University of Madinah
5. Letter from your local MP
6. Three references from different Mosques or established organisations.

You must also bring the following items listed below, however if you haven’t got your medical report, please continue reading for advice on how to get it:

1. Medical report which has to be signed by a solicitor and attested at the British Foreign Office in Milton Keynes. Completed version.
2. Your passport. Bring it with you so he can make a photocopy.

Go to the second floor in the Saudi Cultural Centre and asked to speak to a brother named Fateh. Please note, do not become disheartened along the way if you find that certain personalities you meet seem to be rude, disrespectful or reluctant to help you in your search for knowledge. Try and make excuses for your brother or sister and this may be the beginning of your trials and tribulations as a student of knowledge.

Hand in everything and ensure that photocopies are made. The brother dealing with your request may be able to  attest your university or college certificate whilst you wait. You may be requested to write on a piece of paper the following in order to get my degree certified/attested:

Saudi Cultural Attaché,

Can I kindly request that you attest my certificates as I have been accepted to study in the Islāmic University of Medina. I thank you in advance for your help. (words to this effect)

[name]
[address]

[telephone number]

If you haven’t already done so, you will need to complete a medical form and then get it certified in Milton Keynes. Once this has been completed, you have to return back to the Saudi Cultural and hand in the outstanding documents to receive your VISA letter.

When you visit the legalization office in Milton Keynes to legalize your medical report, you will have to visit a solicitor (they are situated in close proximity to the legalization office). The solicitor will photocopy and stamp the photocopied version of your medical report stating that it is an official document. You then have to make your way to the  legalization office and submit the original medical report. If the GP who signed your medical report is not known to the legalization office (i.e. not on their database) then you’ll have to wait patiently until they make contact with your GP in order to verify the stamped document. Some students are able to get their medical report from the GP free of charge, others are asked to pay a fee. This can range between £20 or more. Once the document has been legalized, you have to return to the Saudi Arabian Cultural Center to submit the outstanding document (medical report).

Once you have handed in all your documentation, you should be able to collect your VISA confirmation letter on the spot, but depending on how busy they are at the time, this may involve you waiting a while. Please click here to see a copy of the VISA confirmation letter. You must take this letter to another desk on the 2nd floor to get it signed and dated,  then  return back to the original desk whereupon the assistant dealing with your request will make a photocopy of it and get you to sign the photocopied version.

You must now contact a travel agent and submit your documents to him in order for him to apply for your VISA. These documents include your university of college qualification, University of Madinah acceptance letter, VISA confirmation letter and another letter that you will receive from the university along with your passport. You should pay about £40 to the travel agent for him to deal with this request. Your VISA should be ready a few days later.

You must now obtain your unique 13 digit ticket number from the University of Al Madinah. It is advisable to contact somebody over in Al Madinah and kindly ask them to get this number for you. With this number you must call Saudi Airlines on 0207 798 9890 and make a reservation. Let them know that the Government is paying for the ticket and quote your ticket number. Alhamdulillaah this is the final stage in the process wallaahu ‘alim. They will send you an email of the electronic ticket.

These are two important email addresses that may come in handy when you are in contact with the Saudi Arabian Cultural Center.

1. eali@uksacb.org – El Fateh Ali
   
2. jsattar@uksacb.org – Jabbar Sattar