Hey guys!

I just want to drop some advice and tips for accommodation for new students that will be coming soon. I made some mistakes and these tips will help you avoid getting scammed or make similar mistakes.

First, know the accommodation terms.

*An ensuite room:* Has a bed and bathroom inside that is accessible.

*A double bed:* A bed that two people can fit in.

*A single bed:* A bed for one person.

*A shared apartment:* An apartment shared by multiple people, who have their own beds, but typically share the living room and kitchen together.

*Owner-occupied house:* A house that the landlord or owner lives in as well.

*Bills included* : This means that gas and electricity bills are included in the rent. Some usually include WiFi and bins bills. But always ask to confirm. If it's included fine, if it's not then you have to pay it yourself after its split with your housemates.

Accommodation in Ireland usually comes like this.

A double bed ensuite
A single bed ensuite
A double bed sharing the bathroom with someone else
A single bed sharing the bathroom with someone else.
A studio apartment: Has all the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom in one space.

USEFUL TIPS FOR ACCOMMODATION:

1. Always view the house in person before paying.

2. Never pay to view a property. I have heard of anywhere where people in Ireland pay for viewing.

3. Always have a written agreement with a witness present. This is very important especially when it comes to deposits. Most landlords will ask for a deposit along with the rent, which will be refunded to you when you leave. You are entitled to it. So make sure you have it written down. Screenshot chats too.

4. Once you pay the deposit, get the house keys and make sure they work before going to bring your things and move in.

5. Once you've paid and about to move in, take note of everything that has spoiled or needs to be fixed. Show the landlord and get evidence that you mentioned it to him. Take screenshots of chats about it. If you don't do this, they can withhold your deposit, when you're about to leave, and say you spoilt it.

6. Most rent agreements require that you give the landlord a months notice before you leave the house. Take note of when and confirm. If you need to leave immediately, you can find someone to replace you ASAP.

7. Be wary of Facebook accommodation scams from strangers and be aware of the prices of accommodation.


AVERAGE ACCOMMODATION PRICES IN GALWAY (rough estimate)

Close to school and Eyre Square:

A double bed ensuite - €700 to €900
A single bed ensuite - €600 to €800
A double bed sharing the bathroom with someone else - €550 to €700
A single bed sharing the bathroom with someone else. - €450 - €600
A studio apartment - €1,000 and above.

If it's farther from school it could be lower.

Thanks and safe travels!

A lot of current students in these batch are worried about booking appointments for IRP/stamp 1G renewal. Please is it difficult to get an available appointment and are they ways to get one soon?

Avalanchee:



Congratulations 🎊

I'll like to connect with you. How can I reach you?

Send a DM here.

rudyislife:
Please how did you go about the personal pick up?can someone pick theirs up from the Embassy personally

Yes someone can pick it from the embassy personally. But please send them an email first. When they reply, you can go ahead. It's usually from 2pm downwards.

carissaa:
Hey,
Please how were you able to pick it up from the embassy? Can anyone approach the embassy? Or does it have to be a staff. My friend's passport is stuck and she needs to travel on Sunday.

Thanks

Sorry for the late reply. Yes, first of all, I wrote an email to the embassy stating that someone would pick it up for me.

Then I gave him an authorisation letter and a copy of my passport Datapage. He used it collect it from the embassy.

He also submitted his own passport biodata page as proof of ID

Djdimeji:

Yes it was.
Cork.
Still expecting....

Alright. It will be successful.

Djdimeji:

Pascal122! Happy for you bruh! The entire process nearly gave you a heart attack, buh glad you can laugh over it now.
Congrats bruh!
What city are you going to btw?

Thank you very much. It wasn't easy at all.
I'm going to Galway.

How about you? What's the update?

Update:

My visa appeal was successful and approved!!!
All thanks to God!


Thanks to everyone here who helped and contributed.

To save someone from going through the stress I went through, Please when submitting your appeal documents, you can include your passport along with it. Then send it with a return or prepaid courier. It will get back to you, you can ignore what the website says.

DHL wanted to frustrated me, but it was a nairalander here that helped me collect my passport from the embassy after it was stamped.

I hope everyone has a successful study year and beyond in Ireland.

asue:
@Pascal122 and @Awesomeosas how did your appeal go? I am appeal stage also. I did vfs on the 13th of July, got my decision on the 22nd of August stating refusal and my documents arrived by ups on the 1st of Sept. I sometimes feel the VOs don't go through the documents properly or vfs did not send it. Most of the things they stated for my refusal were provided, maybe except enough employment history evidence.

Still waiting

Djdimeji:


How far Pascal??

I just submitted my appeal today. Hopefully it's good news soon. How about you?

Bayo0502:


Can you share their contact details? Thanks

012713606
012713605

Call them on any of these lines.

.

jaxeri:


Okay, pls when you get it let me know their reasons. Thank you.

Okay so I've gotten the letter. The reasons were just as I feared.

Let me state that piggyvest is not acceptable for proof of living expenses. The Irish embassy doesn't accept microfinance bank statements and piggyvest operates as one. Especially if you're self sponsored. Don't use piggyvest please.

However, they also added more reasons for me. More evidence to explain gap, observe conditions, insufficient employment history, explain reason for deviating with more evidence, and authenticity of documents.

So I have a lot on my plate for the appeal.

Paulicface:


Yes I did, IELTS.

You've not replied the questions I quoted you

jaxeri:


How far bro....have you collected the letter from ups?

No I still haven't.

Djdimeji:

Nooo! What's steps have you taken?
Have you tried contacting the embassy? UPS?
What was their response?
Was it mail or call you tried.
Can imagine how restless you'd feel right now. Something is wrong somewhere. Stay calm bro

I just got off a call with UPS Nigeria customer care. They said the embassy released my package to them yesterday evening and I should get it soon.

Paulicface:


I noticed too, mine is supposed to 11th July for student visa, but I got my passport today, and my visa was approved.

Who is going to Dublin?

Congratulations man.

Please let us know what you did right so we can learn.

Were you self-sponsoring yourself or sponsored?

Did you use edubond?

What did you pay? How much did you submit in your financial summary?

What did you use as your ties to Nigeria? Did you deviate from your course of study? Please let's try to help each other by being active and open.

@Paulicface

Djdimeji:

Hello Pascal122, how far? Gotten your documents yet?

Nope.

Djdimeji:


But why now, it's long overdue by now. Can imagine your distress.
Don't lose your cool. Mail and call and drag any contact number or address you can lay your hands on for both the embassy and UPS.
This is wrong, for a paid service not free, even more so for something as important as this.
Stay calm bro.

Thanks man. I will be patient.

jaxeri:


I think Awesomeosas has gotten his own. You should get it next week. Sorry bro.

Hope so too. Thanks.

jaxeri:


How far bro....have you gotten it now?

No I haven't gotten my documents ever since I saw that my visa was refused on Monday. You can't even begin to imagine the kind of mental anguish I've been since then.

I don't even know whose fault it is, the embassy or UPS. None have replied any of my emails. I am beyond frustrated.

Yorubabhoy:

University of Limerick?

I got a refusal since lastweek Monday August 7th. Have not gotten my documents back..... Anybody in the similar situation?

Seriously this is messed up. They should send this on time so you can have time to appeal. The embassy needs to do better.

Paulicface:


Interesting, so what could possibly have gone wrong. Your funding wasn’t depreciating with the Naira.

Honestly I want to know myself. I tried my best to do everything in the application.

jaxeri:


That's true. Which University are you going to?

NUIG o

Djdimeji:
Eyah, so sorry bro.
There's still time for an appeal. Anticipating a positive result for you!!!!

Amen

jaxeri:


Okay. You should contact ICasNg too, and also factor in this constant naira devaluation in your POF.

I'm funding was in USD. There's no way it wasn't enough.

jaxeri:


Sorry bro, you should get it within the week.
Did you pay your full tuition?
Do you have any Agent to help with the appeal?

Thanks. I paid half. I will get an agent from the school once I know what the issue is.

My visa was refused. I just checked the website and saw it. My school resumes September 4 so I'm devastated.

How soon can I get my passport so I can appeal?

Awesomeosas:



Please can you help me with a sample of your appeal letter so I can know the format on how to prepare mine pls 🙏

I didn't submit an appeal. I'm sorry. I'm waiting for my study visa too.

FemiJohnson29:
Please when did you submit your appeal? Mine got to the embassy Aug 1, last Tuesday, and from the decisions released today I saw my reference number with "refused"

Mine wasn't an appeal. Submit a month ago. M
Regarding your case, maybe they made a mistake or something because it sounds very strange. Wait till you actually get the confirmation. I hope you satisfied all the things they spoke about to the best of your ability.

diidii:
Will we be informed when the decision is taken. For example if they work on it during the week or we'd have to wait for the weekly decisions to be released?

I don't know too. I'm just making estimation. That's why I'm asking people who've gotten responses to share theirs with dates.

jaxeri:



How far bro.....you suppose dey expect your approval soon o.

Amen o. In two weeks time by God's grace. My heart dey shake.