I'm helping a mate sort out a UK visit visa for his Mrs, his bank statements go up to the day before he got here - the 4th December and we have only just started sorting it out, how up to date do his bank statements need to be?

Thanks

Jimmy

Assuming he's just about to apply they will be fine.

They ask for up to the most recent six months of statements, if the statements are consistent I think they will acceptable.

well i'm sure now it will be after New Years by which point the statements will be 3/4 weeks old but he's not online so it'll be a real bugger getting more recent ones.

The specified evidence for financial requirements in settlement applications says that documents such as bank statements should be less than 28 days old, so that would be the yardstick in all applications. That said, the ECO can accept them if they are older, but he can also ask for an updated, recent, bank statement if he wants to. In theory, he could refuse the application. He normally wouldn't do that with a settlement application, but he might with a visit visa application as there is no right of appeal against the decision.

If they make the application before the 4th January, then it should be okay. If not, then I would wait until an updated bank statement is available, just to be sure.