Online bank statements OK for UK settlement visa?

[HarryCM]

My UK bankers have informed me they cannot provide bank statements for my online account. I can print them myself and they will quote my name, account number, address, and the bank's letterhead. However, I cannot get them stamped and the bank have informed they cannot issue a letter confirming their authenticity.

According to the UKVI's maintenance guidelines:

Bank statements must be on official bank stationery, or be electronic bank

statements from an online account (defined as one that operates solely over

the internet and sends bank statements to its customers electronically) which

are either accompanied by a letter from the bank on its headed stationery

confirming that the documents are authentic or which bear the official stamp

of the issuing bank on every page.

I have an email from the bank confirming the online bank statements are official bank documents that can be used for applications.

Has anyone used online statements before when applying for a settlement visa, and if so, were they acceptable?

I hope the UKVI will make allowances for applicants living overseas.

[7by7]

UKVI, and hence the ECOs, have been given no discretion on this by the government; applicants and sponsors must comply with the guidance.

I am reasonably sure that an email wont be acceptable; but stand to be corrected by those more knowledgeable.

[Stanaris]

I tried a few years ago to use print outs and they were refused.

The bank will and do supply official statements but charge for them, naturally.

I believe I paid about £20.00

[HarryCM]

^ This is really bad news. I might be flying to the UK this weekend, just to get some bank statements stamped

[HarryCM]

I may have to cancel the VFS appointment.

How much time are you given (after paying the application fee) to arrange the appointment?

[MaprangHolmes]

I do not know if it has changed but when I applied for my wife's settlement visa I printed out my savings bank statement and they where accepted without any problems but this was about 18 months ago

Edited March 27, 2014 by MaprangHolmes

[r4b]

The bank statements need to be signed and stamped by someone from your bank. Perhaps if you talk to someone at your bank they could send them to you by mail.

[durhamboy]

Print outs of online a/cs are acceptable and don't need a bank stamp. I did this for my wife's SV a year ago. For some technical reason I couldn't even get the bank logo to print out but I did include the original letter from the bank when I opened it. No problems.

[7by7]

Durhamboy, printouts alone without a bank stamp or letter of authentication are not acceptable.

From the Financial Appendix; 3.3. Evidence requirements – general information

3.3.4. Bank statements must be on official bank stationery. Alternatively electronic bank statements can also be accepted for all bank accounts (the account itself does not have to be exclusively online) as long as they are either accompanied by a letter from the bank on its headed stationery confirming that the documents are authentic or which bear the official stamp of the issuing bank on every page.

However, the ECO's do have an element of flexibility on this: 3.4. Evidential flexibility

3.4.1. There is discretion for decision-makers to defer an application pending submission of missing evidence or the correct version of it, within reasonable deadline set for this. Decision-makers will not have to defer where they do not think that correcting the error or omission will lead to a grant.

3.4.2. Decision-makers are also able to grant an application despite minor evidential problems (but not where specified evidence is missing entirely).

I reckon, durhamboy, that the letter from your bank, which you included in the application, either met the requirements of para 3.3.4 or it was enough to satisfy the ECO using his/her discretion under para 3.4.2.

[durhamboy]

Thanks 7by7 for the chapter and verse.

The problem is that many people have internet accounts which can only be accessed on line - hence usually a higher interest rate is paid. I seem to recall that about the time of my wife's SV application one of the agents who uses this forum posted that print outs were acceptable as long as the bank's logo was on them. As said above, I couldn't print the logo with my bank so I included the letter. I think just a print out with logo should be acceptable but I suppose you could get an ECO who is having a bad day!

[7by7]

The problem with printouts, or photocopies, with just the banks logo on them is that they can be easily altered by unscrupulous applicant's, sponsors or agents.

Which is why UKVI now require something more authentic; i.e. a stamp from the bank or a letter of authentication.

The 'chapter and verse' I quoted is the latest official guidance from UKVI to ECO's on this matter.

As I understand it, if only unauthenticated printouts, with or with out the banks logo on them, are submitted the ECO may

1. accept them if other evidence, such as pay slips, backs them up, or
2. delay the application while they ask for authenticated printouts or a letter of authentication from the bank, or
3. refuse the application due to lack of financial evidence.

If it's 1, great; but would you want to risk 2 or, worse, 3?

[durhamboy]

So what should the OP do? As I understand it he lives in Thailand and can't just pop round to his bank to get things stamped. There must be a lot of applicants/sponsors in a similar situation.

[7by7]

Contact his bank and ask them for statements on official stationary or a letter of authentication.

I don't really see the need for him to return to the UK just for this, as he suggests in post 4.

[durhamboy]

As I understand it from his original post the bank probably won't do this. The reason banks offer higher interest for internet based accounts is partly because they significantly cut down on admin costs.

[7by7]

He says that they wont provide printed statements; not that they wont supply a letter of authentication. Though they will probably charge him for this.

They have, after all, already sent him an email.

As I said earlier, I don't know if that email will be acceptable to UKVI.

[durhamboy]

I think he is saying that they won't supply a letter of authenticity. To quote him he says "However, I cannot get them stamped and the bank have informed they cannot issue a letter confirming their authenticity."

[guru]

Things may have changed but In 2006, I printed out Internet banking statements and they were accepted.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[7by7]

Unfortunately things changed significantly in July 2012.

[7by7]

As I understand it from his original post the bank probably won't do this. The reason banks offer higher interest for internet based accounts is partly because they significantly cut down on admin costs.

Mea Culpa for first forgetting the OP and then just speed reading it!

All I can suggest, in that case, is that he submits the printed statements and the email and hope that the ECO accepts them.

[mistephenso]

We applied for my wife's settlement visa in February and I was only able to 'download' bank statements from my online account (I pulled off a year's worth, just to be on the safe side) - my bank will not give paper statements anymore...

Nothing further was said about our application and my wife received her visa a couple of weeks ago. No problem at all!

Given that most banks do the same now, I can't really see how they can refuse a printed version of an online statement!? I know there is scope for fraudulent statements doing it this way, but surely it is just as easy to forge a 'genuine' bank statement too...?

Good luck anyway!

[HarryCM]

The online statements I submitted were accepted. They included my name, account number, branch address and the bank's logo.

I intended including a verification email from my bank confirming the statements were acceptable for legal purposes, but due to a cock up, forgot to. Thankfully they were still accepted.

Based on a few PM’s I received, it seems the UKVI Bangkok generally accept online copies of bank statements, but that doesn’t mean they always will and they can insist on originals at any time.

[pasak]

I can meet the GBP62,500 minimum by showing an original statement from a UK offshore bank. The statement is dated 31st March 2014 and just shows the closing balance. So presumably any other statements printed out from online accounts etc are surplus to requirements anyway. Or does it help to show them more and more money ? That's what they want to see after all LOL! The next statement would be sent out on 31st June 2014. How recent does the statement have to be and how long does the money have to have been in the account?

[theoldgit]

How recent does the statement have to be and how long does the money have to have been in the account?

The rules are rather complex but savings must be held in cash in a personal bank/savings account in the name of the applicant, their partner or the couple jointly. The savings can be from any legal source, including a gift from a family member or other third party, provided the source of the cash savings is declared. The applicant and/or their partner must confirm that the money, which cannot be borrowed, is under their control and evidence that it has been held in their bank account for at least the 6 months prior to the date of application.

If your last statement is dated 31 March, and you're submitting an application before the next scheduled statement at the end of the month, then you're not demonstrating that the funds are still available.

I really don't know if it's worth the risk, I know my offshore bank will send a statement on request and it takes a few days.

[pasak]

Possibly the best thing is to send everything, originals and printouts, account after account. Presumably the richer you are, the greater your chances.

[theoldgit]

Possibly the best thing is to send everything, originals and printouts, account after account. Presumably the richer you are, the greater your chances.

I honestly don't think they are looking for you to be rich, if you meet the requirements the visa will be approved.

Many people just scrape through the requirements and get the visa, the only difference is that they sit with me at the back of the plane.

[jimn]

My online statements were accepted no problems. Can be hard for those of us who live in Thailand to get originals. Also some accounts in the Uk are operated solely online and even those who send statements in the post like Satander encourage people to go paperless ie online only.