Financial Supporting Documents For Uk Settlement Visa

[demus20]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if you could shed some light on the financial supporting evidence required on a UK settlement visa.

Basically, i thought i had everything figured out and ready to begin gathering together. HOWEVER, my wife has begun panicking about her own financial state. Basically, she runs a travel agency but she hasnt ever paid tax nor ever put any significant money into her bank. So her statements are minimal and dont show any significant funds. she doesnt owe any money. just enough to pay the bills, rent and her son's school - mainly in cash.

I assumed that for a settlement visa, they would simply look and scrutinise my own bank statements and employment etc, and pretty much not require anything from her on the financial side?

any information would be much appreciated

thanks!

[7by7]

From UK Settlement Visa Basics

Funds for maintenance can come from the income and/or savings of:

• The applicant
  
• The sponsor
  
• A third party
  
• Any combination of these
  

Anyone who is contributing to the finances must provide evidence that they have the means to do so. If a third party is contributing it is a good idea for them to write a brief letter explaining why.

So her income is not really needed if yours is sufficient.

Anyway, wont her income cease when she leaves Thailand?

[demus20]

thanks for the quick response!

my thoughts exactly, yet her friends keep telling her this, that and the other about what can go wrong etc etc. Apparently one of her friends was rejected on these grounds (no money in their own bank account).

paranoia!!

[VisasPlus]

thanks for the quick response!

my thoughts exactly, yet her friends keep telling her this, that and the other about what can go wrong etc etc. Apparently one of her friends was rejected on these grounds (no money in their own bank account).

paranoia!!

She doesn't need to show any income or savings if you are providing support and maintenance, just as 7x7 says. If she did have, then logically any spouse or partner ( a housewife, for instance) without a job or other income would not be able to qualify for a visa.

Be aware of the possible introduction very soon of a minimum income requirement for the UK sponsor in a settlement application. This is from yesterday's "Guardian" :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/08/immigration-rules-couples-stark-choice

[demus20]

hmm, i do hope that isnt in affect until sometime after january 2013, as that would basically end our dreams of being a family in the UK.

[VisasPlus]

hmm, i do hope that isnt in affect until sometime after january 2013, as that would basically end our dreams of being a family in the UK.

Possibly being introduced next month, demus20, as you know from my other thread.

[dracos]

Not required to include her bank statements but they may help the application and shouldn't hinder it.

Definitely include them if you have been providing any form of financial support to her through bank transfers and clearly highlight them in the application.

We submitted a successful application recently including my wifes bank statements which showed only my transfers in to her bank account each month and then her taking it out over the month until it was pretty much all gone. Certainly didn't hinder our application even though she also had almost no money in her bank account as it was based on my level of income, funds and support.

You could also consider the timing of the submission of the application so you apply on a date when you have the most money in the accounts. Current processing times are around 2 months (see seperate thread) so doesn't need to be exactly 3 months before. Just be wary that you should include explanation and support for any large unusual deposits into bank accounts in the copies of the bank statements that you supply so you can't just get a short term loan to make the bank statements look better!