Parent Visitor Visa - IT Contractor

[jain208]

Hi All,

Before asking the question, I will give you a bit of context about myself. I am a UK citizen (previously had Tier 1 visa) and have started doing IT contracting from October 2016, after being a permanent employee for several years. I am planning to apply for my parent's visitor visa in April this year (it will be there 4th visit to UK). Being an IT contractor, I have a limited company with me and my wife being the only directors.

As I had quite a surplus in our bank accounts, we decided to not take any salaries this financial year. Just to add, there is more than sufficient balance in the business account, if Visa office considers that as my income.

As per my parents, they are partly dependent on me. They are retired (no pension as my father had a business), but they have some investments in shares, mutual funds and FDs. They cover their day to day expenses from the income from investments and the money that I send to them every month. I will be transferring a lumpsum amount to my parents account to cover for visa and airplane ticket costs.

Now my question is what documents do I need to submit for the visa, for my financial status.

Is it sufficient to provide:-
1. My business account statement
2. Copy of my company incorporation letter
3. Copy of my share certificate
4. Payslips prior to October 2017, when I was a permanent employee
5. P45 from my last employer
6. Previous 3 years P60
7. Contact details of my accountant

Apologies for such a long question, but my situation is a weird one, as even though I have considerable business income, I technically I do not get any salary. I will appreciate any help in this. And I will be happy to give any more information if you need, to answer my query.

Thanks,
Abhishek.

[vinny]

What strong ties do they have to their home country?

[jain208]

Hi Vinny,

Thanks for the reply.

As per family ties, they have all their family, apart from me, in India. In the past 3 visits, we have provided the list of relatives in India, and that had worked fine in all instances.

I think family ties-wise, I should be fine, unless they have changed the rules. My main worry is about proving my financial position.

As my parents have sufficient money in their account to cover the cost of their travel, and I will also transfer some funds in their account, will proving my salary be that big an issue?

[CR001]

Money in a Ltd company bank account belongs to the business, a separate entity to you. It cannot be your "piggybank".

You should also try not to transfer large sums to parents shortly before they apply, it can create complications.

[jain208]

I have transferred money (2-3 lakhs) to their account all the three previous times they have come here for their travel and visa expenses, and I have always mentioned this in the cover letter as well as my sponsor letter, with evidence (my bank statement showing outgoing and my mother's account statement showing incoming).

If all this is a problem, I can just show that they are bearing all costs of their travel, as they have sufficient balance in their account, along with investments they they can encash, if needed.

Another option is that I withdraw some money from my business account, that I can show as my income. Will that work?

In my situation, what would you guys suggest I should do?

Thanks,
Abhishek.

[jain208]

Simply put, if my parents have sufficient funds in their account, do I need to prove my financial position and provide any financial documents (bank statement proving my salary)?

[jain208]

In some places, I have also seen (for contractors) that a letter from the accountant can be provided. I can arrange for a letter from my accountant, but I am not sure what sort of information is needed from them? My accountant can say that I can decide on what salary I want to withdraw, and I can start drawing salary when I am in need of cash, ie when the funds in my account dries up.

[vinny]

As per family ties, they have all their family, apart from me, in India. In the past 3 visits, we have provided the list of relatives in India, and that had worked fine in all instances.

If their past 3 visits were fine, then what has changed to make this one different?

[jain208]

Nothing has changed as far as family ties are concerned. The thing that has changed is my employment situation. As mentioned in my previous message, I was a permanent employee first, and recently have moved to IT contracting.