Frozen in time: British expats losing out on pensions in Thailand

[MicroB]

When submitting supporting evidence for a UK visitor visa application, is there a need to disclose banking details. I'm happy enough to submit a P60, and a redacted front page of a bank statement (obscuring the account number), showing savings balance, because I don't really trust someone at VFS to safeguard that data. They don't need to know my bank account number, do they?

[MangoKorat]

Yes, you do need to include your banking details if you are acting as a financial sponsor, whether an obscured account number is acceptable, I know not.  A P60 whilst helpful, is only proof of what you have earned, it doesn't prove you still have the money or that its available to sponsor the visit.

 

I've only ever submitted un-altered bank statements so can't comment on whether they will have anything to say on that.  However, many people including myself, regularly give their bank details to complete strangers on the phone etc.  Your bank should have safeguards in place such as One Time Passwords that will prevent your account number alone from being useful to fraudsters.

[Celsius]

So funny.

 

But you trust Thai immigration with thousands of photocopies scattered around with your bank account details, passport biometric data various financial statements, etc....

 

 

 

[ian carman]

Of course you have to show it otherwise it could be a copy of someone else’s account.I think you need about £2k balance to be a sponsor 

[hotandsticky]

6 minutes ago, ian carman said:

Of course you have to show it otherwise it could be a copy of someone else’s account.I think you need about £2k balance to be a sponsor 

 

You need to show the appropriate amount to cover the costs of the proposed visit. 

 

Unlike Schengen visas there is not a specified amount per day - £2k would not come close in my case so you need to satisfy the ECO that the amount is sufficient.

[ade591]

Yes, bank statements needed. When I sponsored my wife some years ago, I gave 6 months of bank statements printed from my online bank and highlighted my salary payment.

[ade591]

I also provided the most recent payrise letter from employer indicating my salary. 

[roo860]

21 minutes ago, ian carman said:

Of course you have to show it otherwise it could be a copy of someone else’s account.I think you need about £2k balance to be a sponsor 

There is no specified amount for UK visitor visa sponsor. 

Edited May 21 by roo860

[theoldgit]

VFS staff don’t have sight of the statements if the applicant uploads the supporting evidence themselves, only the UKVI decision maker will have access.

As the previous poster has rightly pointed out, there is no minimum figure required to satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer that you have sufficient funds available, you and the applicant need to satisfy the ECO that there are sufficient funds available for the trip declared in the application, it’s affordable to you and that it’s reasonable for you to do so.

[hotandsticky]

2 hours ago, ade591 said:

Yes, bank statements needed. When I sponsored my wife some years ago, I gave 6 months of bank statements printed from my online bank and highlighted my salary payment.

 

 

One month would have achieved the same result.

 

Less paperwork (but enough to evidence financial adequacy) is best.

 

Edited May 21 by hotandsticky

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, roo860 said:

There is no specified amount for UK visitor visa sponsor. 

Correct.

 

And what would be considered adequate will depend on length of stay, stated purpose of visit, stated itinerary and planned activities  etc etc.

 

A month or two visit to see family, staying the whole time in the family home, obviously needs much less in way of funds than a 6 month visit for tourism with stays in hotels etc.

 

 

[Shannoblic]

Please forgive my ignorance - I may have missed something in the guidelines.

 

I intend taking my wife to the UK in December for 3 weeks to visit family.  I have been on the Government website and started filling out the Application Form [I know it is too early yet but it can be saved and sent later].

 

My question is - the form seems clear enough but where and how do you submit all the supporting documents and who to?  We have all the documents scanned but I don't know what to do with them.

 

Thank you for any help and guidance.

[theoldgit]

12 hours ago, Shannoblic said:

My question is - the form seems clear enough but where and how do you submit all the supporting documents and who to?  We have all the documents scanned but I don't know what to do with them.

The opportunity to upload your supporting evidence will present itself as part of the actual submission process, you cannot upload and save in advance.

[johng]

On 6/13/2024 at 9:26 PM, theoldgit said:

The opportunity to upload your supporting evidence will present itself as part of the actual submission process, you cannot upload and save in advance.

 

I'm stuck at the upload stage..why on earth have they divided it into separate categories   what goes where ?

 

I'll probably just pay the 600 baht and have them do it at the

application centre.

 

Also the website  does not like  addblockers  or refusal of cookies I had to turn off all defences on my router and PC  just to get to the appointments page or got thrown out unceremoniously with this very misleading banner !!!!  I tried for 2 days  but eventually it dawned on me that it was probably not under maintenance

 

 

[manylizards]

I've done it recently (September 2024) and I uploaded as follows for my wife's application:

 

Financial Evidence

- Wife's Thai bank account statement

 

Other

- Wife's covering letter

- Wife & Son's Thai passports

- Letter from son's Thai school (and translation)

- Wife's & son's Thai ID cards (and translation)

- Son's UK Passport

- Copies of House Registration entries for Wife's family (and translation)

 

Life Events

- Wife's & Son's Birth Certificates (and translation)

- Marriage Certificate (and translation)

- 2x Wife's Name Change (and translation)

 

Sponsors /Employment

- Invitation Letter from me

- My passport (full colour copy)

- My bank and mortgage statements

- Details of my UK business (Company Registration docs, bank account)

- Log of money transfers to wife and my Thai bank account

 

By the way, I am resident in UK, wife & son are resident in Thailand, only travelled outside to Hong Kong once. She doesn't work and both are supported by me. 6 month Visit visa granted.

[johng]

33 minutes ago, manylizards said:

I uploaded as follows for my wife's application:

Thanks very much  very useful info.

[manylizards]

Oh just remembered I also uploaded copies of my parents UK passports to "Other", just to evidence us saying they have visited my wife & son in Thailand five times with me.

[hotandsticky]

7 hours ago, johng said:

 

I'm stuck at the upload stage..why on earth have they divided it into separate categories   what goes where ?

 

I'll probably just pay the 600 baht and have them do it at the

application centre.

 

Also the website  does not like  addblockers  or refusal of cookies I had to turn off all defences on my router and PC  just to get to the appointments page or got thrown out unceremoniously with this very misleading banner !!!!  I tried for 2 days  but eventually it dawned on me that it was probably not under maintenance

 

 

 

 

 

You can upload it wherever you like.......you won't get penalised for uploading, say, bank statements into the accommodation section. Do what feels right, just upload enough supporting information without burying them in paperwork. Keep it simple  -  supply evidence of the genuine relationship/reason to visit, financial adequacy and reasons for the applicant to return to Thailand (so that the ECO can be satisfied that 'on the balance of probability' the applicant is not a flight risk.