Document check for ILR (SET M)

[nevsito]

Good afternoon

My wife and I are about to apply for ILR (SET M), for her, and have a concern over the required 6 months bank statements. NatWest stopped sending statements to us in the post in 2019, so I requested a statement covering the time frame to be posted to us. This has arrived but does not bear much resemblance to the original statements they used to mail.

I went into a branch to requested a statement be printed which also covers the date of my most recent payslip. This was done but on standard paper and is in black and white. They stamped the first page, but refused to stamp any others, nor would they sign the statements or provide a cover letter confirming authenticity. From what I have read on these forums all statement pages need to be stamped, or a letter needs to be provided. Can anyone advise if what I have is sufficient or the likelihood of it being accepted given the bank's refusal to assist further?

I have been able to switch the statements back to being paper and posted and received the most recent months OK, but I do not know if this will help or hinder the application- can someone advise?

Thank you and stay safe
Mr Voice

[zimba]

Upload digital statements. It should be fine

[nevsito]

Thank you Zimba- agreed they should be fine and they look perfectly acceptable- but I'm slightly paranoid given the requirements

Cheers,
Nev

[CULLINAN]

Digital copies are fine as Zimba said.

2) electronic bank statements 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.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration ... d-evidence

[nevsito]

Thank you Cullinan

The digital statements have the NatWest logo at the top so I take it this counts as an official stamp? I had it in my had I needed an ink stamp on every printed page that I would then upload to the HO!

Nev

[vinny]

Is a Bank logo is equivalent to an official stamp? I think you may be right about requiring the Bank’s official ink stamp on every printed page, if there is no letter on bank headed stationery confirming that the electronic bank statements are authentic.

But, in view of 39B, is it reasonable for the UKVI to impose these requirements on a third party?

Perhaps they can determine a saved online pdf statement as being from the bank?

[CULLINAN]

Yes as vinny pointed out 39B, with the new UKVCAS system, where no originals are needed, everything is scanned, I believe, the online bank statements bearing the official bank logo and look like originals are fine.

[nevsito]

Thank you Vinny & Cullinan. I have the following:-

1) Online PDF statements covering the time frame required, in a different format to the posted statements, but still bearing the logo, addresses, issuing bank details, and other relevant information
2) Statements printed in the bank, covering the same time frame, but with the first page only being ink-stamped

It seems worthwhile to attempt to get all pages of the bank printed statement stamped, but if this is still met with refusals and they are not able to write a letter of authenticity, I would plan to submit both sets of documents above, along with a covering letter- does this sound like a good approach?

Kind regards
Nev

[seagul]

1) Online PDF statements covering the time frame required, in a different format to the posted statements, but still bearing the logo, addresses, issuing bank details, and other relevant information

These statements if aren't pacifically marked as "online copy" then will be fine. Also all the official guidance seems of never been bothered to get synched with UKVCAS's guidance.

[nevsito]

Thanks seagul

Thankfully I went to a different branch of the bank today and the statement was printed, and stamped and signed on all pages without question. So I believe we should be all good now

Thanks to all for the advice

Nev

[nevsito]

Good evening

My wife and I are about to apply for ILR on the SET M route and wanted to quickly check the co-habitation documents required- the application requests 6 letters/documents to evidence this, and we have the following:-

- 3 council tax letters from March 2018, 2019, & 2020
- 2 utility bills from October 2019 & July 2020
- 1 bank statement from June 2018

All have both our names listed as addressees.

Is this sufficient or is it recommended to send more? I'm also conscious that the first council tax letter is almost beyond the 30 month time frame- is this likely to be an issue?

Kind regards
Nev

[CR001]

Your cohabitation evidence needs to be from 3 to 6 difference sources, spread evenly for every 3 to 4 months.

[nevsito]

Thank you- we can source other documents but only have 3 types available. Final document check for the application - we will submit the below:-

Co-habitation:-

- March 2018 - Council Tax
- July 2018 - Bank Statement
- Dec 2018 - Bank Statement
- March 2019 - Council Tax
- July 2019 - Energy Bill
- October 2019 - Energy Bill
- March 2020 - Council Tax
- July 2020 - Energy Bill

Financial:-

- Previous 6 months payslips
- Previous 6 months bank statement, printed in branch, each page stamped and signed
- Signed letter from employer HR confirming employment, salary, start date, permanent employment
- Signed letter from employer Payroll confirming payslip authenticity

English Language:-

- Degree certificate
- UK NARIC letter confirming English level and validity of degree for English language requirement

Property:-

- Mortgage statement confirming myself as property owner
- Signed letter for permission for my spouse, (the applicant), to reside with me
- Mortgage deeds confirming property ownership

Misc:-

- Applicant's passports with all stamped pages printed
- Sponsor's passport for evidencing British citizenship
- Marriage certificate
- Current Biometric Residency permit
- Signed family declaration

Can anyone see any problems with this?

Kind regards
Nev