My visa was refused twice. In Brazil it's quite common. The British government is not very happy with Brazilian students or tourists in its territory, the latest news is that for 2009, Brazilians may need a visa to visit UK, doesn't matter how long they want to stay. According to the government, Brazil and more 10 other countries including Venezuela, South Africa, Malaysia and Bolivia, are the most propitious to offer risks to the UK. These risks include false passport and other false documents, criminality, illegality and terrorism.

Nowadays, it's easy to Brazilian people and I believe most nationalities to get into the UK to stay a maximum of 6 months. It's important to have your ticket back, your accommodation paid or a letter of a friend who's inviting you to stay in his house, credit cards or cash to spend during the time you're here. It's quite easy, unless you're lying, because, they usually discover. The number of Brazilian people sent back to Brazil in 2006 is 11.300, approximately 31 people per day. I know of lots of people who come here to visit for a few days and have to come back in the next flight, without leaving the airport.

The most common visa is the student visa. It can be for a school of English, a bachelor's, master's or doctor's degree. Depending on the course, it'll be easy to be accepted. But the course is not everything. You're going to give reasons why you're coming, showing the people from the Home Office that your choice is worthwhile and prove that you have the money for each day of your stay, although, you can work part-time while you're studying and full time in holidays. The course must be full-time. It works as a minimum of 15 hours per week.

To prove that you have all the financial support to live here, you have to show either your savings or any help you're receiving from your school or a sponsor. The sponsor has to write a letter explaining why he's sponsoring you, and all the bank documents must be in his name. It's important to say that it doesn't count any property you may have in your name or in your sponsor's name. You or him needs to have real money to deal with your expenses monthly. The income you need to have is of about £550 per month. One of my mistakes was showing that my sponsors had property, but no real money at the present. It doesn't really matter if you have 5 cars, 10 houses and have visited already 20 countries. It doesn't guarantee that you'll have the money to live in the UK without funds from the government. If it's your school that's paying for your expenses, be sure they'll know what to do.

Basically, the most important documents you'll need to send are: your flight ticket return (doesn't matter if you're staying more than 6 months, if you're staying for no more than one year, they're going to ask for it); your accommodation for at least one month; your course being paid at least in half; the specific form you'll need to fill which you'll find in the visa's webpage; your statement letter explaining why you want to come, how this experience will help you when you come back to your country (don't ever say that you have the intention to stay in the UK or work even if just part-time, the mainly reason you're coming is to study and come back to your country, if in the middle of the way you decide to stay or to work, it's another thing); any prove that you have bond in your country, like a letter from your university saying you're still registered or a letter from your employer explaining that you're going to work there when you come back; your sponsor's letter and the income he or they receive, being it showed as pay slips, bank statements, saving's account, etc. It's important to have proves of where the money came from. If you have ten thousand pounds in your account which were deposited one month before your trip, they may ask where the money came from, to be sure it's not a loan from the bank, for example.

London is the second most expensive city in the world. Be sure you're prepared to live here. As much as you can pretend you have money, you're going to need it anyway. If you're prepared to work for bars and restaurants, retail, cleaning and all these commercial jobs, you're going to be asked for documentation and every time it's getting more difficult to work without it. As the EU citizens are in great number in UK, it's very easy for an employer to find a person with the right documentation and doesn't choose the wrong one. Though, if you have the documentation, jobs in London are everywhere any time of the year, working part-time won't be difficult, and full-time on your school holiday.

The minimum wage is $5,52 per hour. In restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars, the tips are usually good. In these places, where you might receive tips, you can earn about £700 per month working 20 hours per week, earning the minimum wage. The accommodation will cost anything between £200 and £1000 per month for a room or a bed in a flat or house. It all depends on which part of the city you're living. As closer to the centre town, as more expensive. The transport is the most expensive from Europe, can cost from £16,99 (student oyster card for zones 1 and 2 tube and bus) until £30 pounds per week. Be prepared! Pass through all the process of documentation is not the only headache you might have.

The visa is a stamp in your passport, and the consulate usually aloud you to stay in the country more time than the duration of your course, about 2 to 3 months more. If it's a bachelor's, master's or doctor's degree you actually have one year to work in your area in the end of your course. To renew a student visa you're going to need a letter of attendance, grades of your last course and all the documentation you provided before.

The process of a visa can last (in Brazil, for example) from 2 weeks until 2 months. Though the Brazilian consulate is getting faster. You can only send the documentation with a maximum of 3 months before you're applying. If you're applying for a visa in September, you can only apply after June, for example. The consulate may ask you for more documents, or even to show up in an interview, be prepared to travel. The fees for the visa are usually not cheap and even if your visa is refused, they don't return the money. The best thing to do, and that's what I did, is look for an agency that can help you with the documentation. They'll organize everything for you, ask you for specific documents, help you with the writing of your sponsor's letter and your personal letter, they analyze your situation to see what's the easiest way to show to the British consulate that you have conditions to travel and live here.

The prices in Brazil for a complete service are of about $800. You may think it's a expensive, but at least you're going to be sure that your visa will be accepted. If the agency knows you don't have the condition to go for lack of proves of financial support or other kind of, they certainly will tell you and don't make you lose money. I paid a very big fee for the consulate refuse my visa twice, when I could have paid only once, paid the agency and have gone 4 months before. Yes, all the process of my 3 visas took 4 months when it should have taken only 2 weeks, if I had had the help of professional people before. What's important to notice is the type of agency you're dealing with. You must have references, or at least a very good website to compare one or another. Usually the most expensive are the most serious. If you don't have condition to go to the agency, spend your time speaking on the phone with the agent, don't just send emails. The right process is when the agency asks all your papers, organize them, send them back to you for a last check up and you send it to the consulate. Never let the agency send it, as you'll never be sure if it really had been sent correctly or not.

In Brazil, the agency I applied is called London Connexion.

I couldn't go to the agency's office because it was too far from where I lived in Brazil, so I did all the process via telephone, email and post office. People there are very patience and careful with every detail of your application.

You can choose to work in your application by yourself, the important thing is don't forget the tips I give you here. And always check in to the official web site for visas to see if there's any changes in the process.

Be careful with the documents, organize them in a way the people at the consulate can understand and won't need to look for papers, give it all organized and clear. Always send original documents, and especially if it's from the bank, it has to have the stamp of the bank and the manager's account signature. All the letters must be in English, if yours is not that good ask someone to help you.

Here are some important web sites you might need to read before apply.

UK Border Agency

UK Immigration

UK Work Permit

UK in Brazil: Visas

Without further ado, here is the list:

1. Krakow, Poland

   Situated in south eastern Poland (a geographic area known as Galacia), Krakow is not subjected to the harsh weather most of Poland receives. The capital of the Polish Kingdom from 1038 until 1596, Krakow contains some of Europe's most majestic churches and an impressive castle. Spared the destruction of World War II and largely spared communist development during the rule of the USSR, Krakow maintains an old world Europe feel similar to Prague or Budapest. Krakow is also an hour by train or minibus from Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration camp from World War II. Poland is a member of the European Union and is quite safe. Despite being a member of the EU, Poland has yet to join the Euro and is still quite affordable.

2. Budapest, Hungary

   Just three hours by train or car from the Austrian capital of Vienna, Budapest is a thriving center of culture in its own right. Budapest is well known for serving as a second and equal capital of the Austrian Empire following the Dual Compromise of 1867, but truthfully it spent equal time in the Austrian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. As a result, the influence of both cultures, though vastly different, is quite apparent. Many buildings reflect Viennese type architecture, while surrounded by Turkish baths (which are quite famous!). Having spent so much time under the rule of others Hungarians, or Magyars, are a proud people with a troubled history. Hungary is also part of the EU and not on the Euro. It, too, is relatively affordable.

3. Copenhagen, Denmark

   A well known city in Europe, Copenhagen is not as full of tourists as one might think. In fact, few enough tourists visit this city that many who do consider it “overlooked.” The established capital of a thriving, if small, western European country, Copenhagen is definitely worth a visit. Danish bread is particularly well regarded throughout Europe and there is no shortage of it here in the capital. The city is also Europe's most cyclist friendly, with cycle lanes that parallel main roads for maximum access. Copenhagen is also conveniently located to northern Germany (also beautiful) and Malmö, Sweden is just across the bridge. For its beauty, as well as its proximity to other great spots in Europe, Copenhagen is a must. Copenhagen is in the EU and has voted by referendum not to adopt the Euro. Despite this, prices in Denmark are quite high (as is true of all of Scandinavia). Copenhagen is less expensive than Stockholm and Oslo.

4. Istanbul, Turkey

   While it is true half the city lies in Asia, the old town, or Sultan Ahmet as it is called, is located entirely on the European side. Located in the political hotbed Middle East, Turkey is a surprisingly safe and out-of-this-world friendly country. Though it borders countries such as Iraq and Iran, Turkey is astonishingly democratic and very western. Turkey is the only secular Muslim country in the world. Furthermore, Turks, proud of their history and eager to tell their part of the story, have done a fantastic job preserving Ottoman palaces and relics. From the Hagia Sophia to Topkapi Palace, Istanbul is sure to please and educate. Though not a member of the EU, customs is a simple process and visas are available at all entry points (by train, car, or plane) for a fee of $20 U.S.

5. Istria, Croatia

   Located on a peninsula to the north of its more famous relative, the Dalmatian Coast, the Istrian Peninsula is equally beautiful and less touristy. Begin your stay in Poreč, located only an hour south from Trieste, Italy. This town of 9,000 is easily accessible by car or bus and customs through Slovenia into Croatia are a breeze. Visit Vrsar and Rovinj on day trips, but be sure to be back in Poreč for every dinner, as Croatian and Italian cuisine are on display each night in some of Europe's finest restaurants. Fresh fish and other seafood are available in small markets around town and they sell only the current day's catch. Don't forget a boat cruise around the Adriatic like only Croatian tour guides can provide! In short, Istria provides all the beauty of the Mediterranean without being overrun by unappreciative visitors. But hurry, Europe's best kept secret is about to get out! Like Turkey, Croatia is not a member of the EU, but it is a candidate and should be admitted by 2009. No visa is required for U.S. citizens.

One final note: I have traveled extensively throughout Europe and have visited each of the aforementioned destinations. All of this advice is first hand information and comments will be quickly answered.

1. A person comes to you from the front and nudges you while you are on a bus. He is likely working with a second guy who takes your wallet from behind while you are distracted.
2. A gypsy may stick a large poster right in front of your face. While she does that another may lunge for your breast pocket and rip out your wallet.
3. One thief may pose as a director and offer you a role in a picture as you take coffee together. While you go into the café to pay, he conveniently takes your bag you left on your chair and sticks it in his.
4. You are wearing a money belt you think is fool proof but some con artists are so quick, they can unzip the ones that have zippers all across and take out your wallet while you are still in shock
5. You can be walking down a street with a shoulder bag while a guy on a moped decides to run by you on the street and rip the bag right from your shoulder
6. You can be walking under a window while all of a sudden some manure is dropped on your suede jacket from above. A man from behind you offers to help you off with your coat while you are of course concentrating on the stink; he gingerly takes your wallet. At the same time the man upstairs offers a profuse apology for the shit dump and offers to clean the coat. Naturally the thieves work as a team and you have to be absent minded for them to rip you off.
7. You could be on the road to Barcelona from Madrid when a motorist drives up along side you and points to your tire. If you are naïve, you will stop to the side of the road and check it out but so will he. When you get out, he gets in your car.
8. You could be driving along the same road and the assailant will literally jump out in front of the car and refuse to move. As you leave the car to challenge him, his assistant runs into the car and drives off.
9. You take a hotel room as a tourist and a person renting a room next to you knocks on your door in an emergency. Naturally you go and see what the problem is but as you do, his associate gets into your open door and takes your passport.
10. You have just bought a necklace and are showing it off to a friend when a thief coming from the opposite direction literally pulls it off your neck. Naturally this works best with a light chain or string of pearls.