EEA 4 Application and bank statements

[macpie]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and would like to ask other members for advice.

Last week I applied for Permanent Residency (EEA4) after being married to my EU wife for over 5 years. As a proof of my 5 years continuous residency in the UK I provided 5 years bank statements. I realise that a big bundle of statements is not the best choice but as we moved houses several times over the 5 years period, we were unable to find many old bills. Before posting the application I requested the statements from the bank. When the statements arrived a lot of them was missing (for periods May-October 2011 and May - December 2012). We complained to the bank about missing statements and the woman we spoke to promised to resend missing statements asap. Missing statements arrived a week later however they looked more like copies rather than original statements as they were not printed on the bank's headed paper. We complained again and again were promised new original statements. As we were very upset with the situation, the person dealing with us offered to write a letter explaining the situation and confirming the originality of the statements as well as expressing willingness to be contacted by the Home Office if such need arises. The letter arrived before the missing statements so we decided not to delay my EEA4 application any longer and sent the copies of statements together with the letter from the bank explaining the mistake.

My question is: Is there a chance that the Home Office accepts the copies of statements accompanied by the letter? (at the end of the day most of the 5 years statetments are original apart from those for the periods mentioned above).
Should I send to the Home Office statements for those periods once we finally receive them from the bank?

I would very much appreciate any advice.

[Imshzd]

If original bank statements cover 6 months,each year then there should be no problem.
If not, then its better to re sent original statements.

[sheraz7]

As a precaution, If the missing period is not short and the relevant statements covering that period have arrived then preferably send them with recorded delivery along with a covering letter bearing application reference number instead of keeping these with you. It might be helpful for application.

[macpie]

Thank you very much for your response.
It's very frustrating that simple request for bank statements turned into such nightmare.
I will resend statements once they arrive.
Should I wait first for my COA stating my reference number and then resend the statements? I imagine the Home Office is overwhelment with applications and adding additional documents to the original application may not be as simple as it seems.

[sheraz7]

when you know your application reference or even before to it you can write your necessary details such as name, date of birth etc. then you can send the missing ones.

[macpie]

Thank you very much for your response.
It's very frustrating that simple request for bank statements turned into such nightmare.
I will resend statements once they arrive.
Should I wait first for my COA stating my reference number and then resend the statements? I imagine the Home Office is overwhelment with applications and adding additional documents to the original application may not be as simple as it seems.

[augustine70]

Interesting, I only sent about 12 to 15 pages of bank statement covering more than 8yrs. Just bits here and bits there and about 5 to 8 pages of my wife's bank statements (off the top of my head, possible less to be more precise). I don't know if its that important to cover every single month.

[macpie]

Thanks guys for your help! Its much appreciated

[macpie]

Interesting, I only sent about 12 to 15 pages of bank statement covering more than 8yrs. Just bits here and bits there and about 5 to 8 pages of my wife's bank statements (off the top of my head, possible less to be more precise). I don't know if its that important to cover every single month.

You're probably right that it's not that important to cover every single month. In my case though if the caseworker didn't accept the copies of statements it would mean there would be two huge gaps in my statements, one gap 6 months long and second 8 months long. I'd rather resend original statements than risk having my application rejected as a result of some silly mistake on the part of the bank.

[Firefade]

If you havent moved much, a sep-december of each years statement is good enough or is there a minimum because 5-years statement would only make the process longer as the caseworker might have to sort them out for 6months before she even look at other things haha.

[macpie]

[quote="Firefade"]If you havent moved much, a sep-december of each years statement is good enough or is there a minimum because 5-years statement would only make the process longer as the caseworker might have to sort them out for 6months before she even look at

To be honest I don't think sept-dec statements are enough to prove your residency. As other members advised, at least 6 months statements are needed for each year. I sorted out all the statements from oldest to the most recent ones and divided them into 5 piles (year by year). Hope this will make it easier for the caseworker.
Still haven't resent the missing original statements as I'm waiting for my COA and ref number. I'm wondering where should I send those missing statements to, Liverpool or Durham. Any idea anyone?

[Amber]

Hi everyone,

I called Home Office today to ask about something in relation to my EEA 4 aapplication. The woman on the phone asked me questions to confirm my identity, like our names, dates of birth etc. Then she asked about my address and it turned out that they still have our old address on their system (from 5 years ago when we applied for my Residence Card) and told me to fill out 'change of address form' on their website. I just find it strange as we've been living at the current address for a year now and the application was submitted 2 months ago stating current address. Also, I called home office once before in July enquiring about the same application and the person I spoke to then didn't mention any problems with our address. Don't remember exactly if back then he asked to confirm my address but remember him asking other questions like names, date of births. Surely he asked about our address too.
When I said to the woman on the phone that we stated in the EEA 4 application only our current address and that I find it puzzling as to why they still have our old address on the system, she said she doesn't know and it's only in my interest to change the address on their website as otherwise our documents may be sent out to the wrong address.
Has anyone experienced the same situation?

But where was your COA sent?
Thats something i have never heard before.

[red.flower]

Hi everyone,

I called Home Office today to ask about something in relation to my EEA 4 aapplication. The woman on the phone asked me questions to confirm my identity, like our names, dates of birth etc. Then she asked about my address and it turned out that they still have our old address on their system (from 5 years ago when we applied for my Residence Card) and told me to fill out 'change of address form' on their website. I just find it strange as we've been living at the current address for a year now and the application was submitted 2 months ago stating current address. Also, I called home office once before in July enquiring about the same application and the person I spoke to then didn't mention any problems with our address. Don't remember exactly if back then he asked to confirm my address but remember him asking other questions like names, date of births. Surely he asked about our address too.
When I said to the woman on the phone that we stated in the EEA 4 application only our current address and that I find it puzzling as to why they still have our old address on the system, she said she doesn't know and it's only in my interest to change the address on their website as otherwise our documents may be sent out to the wrong address.
Has anyone experienced the same situation?

But where was your COA sent?
Thats something i have never heard before.

Hi Firefade,

I find it strange too! She just asked me to confirm my current address and when I did she said that HO still has my old address on the system and that she's only trying to be helpful by making me aware of it. I told her that my COA was sent to our current address and that we stated our current address clearly in the application. She said it's in my interest to change it in order to avoid having my documents sent out to the old address.