Print out bank statement

[September]

Just asking...do the British embassy accept print bank statement online ?

Apology if this has been asked, just curious if anyone does, thank you

[September]

No one bother to respond anyone tried to send to british embassy (manila)print online bank statement .

[rusty]

My bank does not send me statements, therefore, I submitted online statements and it was OK.

[Arthur Little]

My bank does not send me statements, therefore, I submitted online statements and it was OK.

Yes, that's fine ... YOU'D no choice in those circumstances! But I suspect September is asking if PHOTOCOPIES are acceptable. And I doubt if they ARE ... because after MY wife and I were married, we'd to present ORIGINAL statements to the Embassy when she applied for her spouse visa.

[joebloggs]

for online bank statements i would take them to your bank and ask them to stamp and sign them to minimise your chances of refusal

[September]

Thanks guys,you are all angel

[Doc Alan]

Yes, that's fine ... YOU'D no choice in those circumstances! But I suspect September is asking if PHOTOCOPIES are acceptable. And I doubt if they ARE ... because after MY wife and I were married, we'd to present ORIGINAL statements to the Embassy when she applied for her spouse visa.

That presumably means that as a precaution bank statements for ANY kind of visa should be original.

[Arthur Little]

That presumably means that as a precaution bank statements for ANY kind of visa should be original.

I believe SO, Alan ... thing IS, when Myrna applied for her spousal visa, we were given to understand that only ORIGINAL Bank Statements would be acceptable. You may recall my having mentioned in another thread somewhere, that I was present when she handed over her application to the VFS staff in Manilla. Although I'd already brought along photocopies [on the "off chance"] the lady at the desk told me they needed the originals ... but hastened to assure me they'd be returned safely once they had served their purpose.

And indeed they WERE ... together with Myrna's passport and the other relevant documents we'd supplied ... when her visa was granted just over one month later.

But I'm aware some folk choose to complete their application online ... and therefore imagine that that's what prompted Joe to suggest these people take the precaution of having THEIR statements notarised by the bank(s) beforehand, just in case ...

[darren-b]

I believe SO, Alan ... thing IS, when Myrna applied for her spousal visa, we were given to understand that only ORIGINAL Bank Statements would be acceptable. You may recall my having mentioned in another thread somewhere, that I was present when she handed over her application to the VFS staff in Manilla. Although I'd already brought along photocopies [on the "off chance"] the lady at the desk told me they needed the originals ... but hastened to assure me they'd be returned safely once they had served their purpose.

And indeed they WERE ... together with Myrna's passport and the other relevant documents we'd supplied ... when her visa was granted just over one month later.

But I'm aware some folk choose to complete their application online ... and therefore imagine that that's what prompted Joe to suggest these people take the precaution of having THEIR statements notarised by the bank(s) beforehand, just in case ...

Assuming of course your bank actually has branches where you could take them, which isn't always the case nowadays.

Even 5 years ago when my wife applied the Embassy did not complain about unnotarised print-outs of online bank statements, etc, so now I would have thought they'd be even more understanding.

So if online statements are all you have then provide them, just be ready to explain to anyone at the VFS that there are no originals. If the ECO wants they can always do some checking of the contents direct with your bank.

[joebloggs]

i know of a small number of people who have had their visa refused and one of the reasons given for the refusal was submitting online bank statements, but i can't recall anyone being refused and the only reason given was because online bank statements were submitted.

so if the case worker has concerns about another area of your app, and you've submitted online bank statements, then they might refuse you for that reason to. more likely supplying 'online bank statements' would be used as a secondary reason for refusal and not the primary reason.

but i wouldn't give them any reasons for refusal, minimise your risks as much as possible. if your'e going to use online statements, see if the bank can send you printed ones or ask them to stamp your online ones.

the reason is, because anyone could produce a online bank statement, and i think because of the data protection act, the bank will not give details of your bank account to the HO.

for extending student visa's and other types of visa, its pretty clear online ones are not acceptable unless...

Documentary Proof

Personal bank statements

Your personal bank statements should show:

* Your name,

* The account number;

* The date of the statement;

* The financial institution's name and logo; and

* The amount of money available.

You can use bank statements that are for a specific purpose (also known as 'ad hoc') as evidence, as long as:

* They include all of the information above; and
* They are printed on paper with the letterhead of the bank.

You cannot use mini-statements from cash machines (ATMs) as evidence

You can use electronic bank statements from an online account if they include all the information above. Each electronic bank statement should be stamped by the official stamp of the bank on every page of the statement.

[darren-b]

i know of a small number of people who have had their visa refused and one of the reasons given for the refusal was submitting online bank statements, but i can't recall anyone being refused and the only reason given was because online bank statements were submitted.

so if the case worker has concerns about another area of your app, and you've submitted online bank statements, then they might refuse you for that reason to. more likely supplying 'online bank statements' would be used as a secondary reason for refusal and not the primary reason.

but i wouldn't give them any reasons for refusal, minimise your risks as much as possible. if your'e going to use online statements, see if the bank can send you printed ones or ask them to stamp your online ones.

the reason is, because anyone could produce a online bank statement, and i think because of the data protection act, the bank will not give details of your bank account to the HO.

for extending student visa's and other types of visa, its pretty clear online ones are not acceptable unless...

Documentary Proof

Personal bank statements

Your personal bank statements should show:

* Your name,

* The account number;

* The date of the statement;

* The financial institution's name and logo; and

* The amount of money available.

You can use bank statements that are for a specific purpose (also known as 'ad hoc') as evidence, as long as:

* They include all of the information above; and
* They are printed on paper with the letterhead of the bank.

You cannot use mini-statements from cash machines (ATMs) as evidence

You can use electronic bank statements from an online account if they include all the information above. Each electronic bank statement should be stamped by the official stamp of the bank on every page of the statement.

Banks may not give out information, but may be willing to confirm information contained within statements. Student visas are different as they require fixed amount of maintainance funds, where re-reading the application forms for a settlement visa it seems bank statements are not actually mandatory. This is from the checklist on the vfs site

"Evidence that sponsor can support you financially. We would recommend you supply up-to-date detailed bank statements and other savings covering a period of 6 months prior to the date of application and evidence of employment."

I agree if all you provide is printouts of online bank statements then you may be taking a risk, but if they only form part of you financial evidence (you also provide original pay slips, maybe p60s, etc) then it should be nothing to worry about.

[Arthur Little]

re-reading the application forms for a settlement visa it seems bank statements are not actually mandatory. This is from the checklist on the vfs site

"Evidence that sponsor can support you financially. We would recommend you supply up-to-date detailed bank statements and other savings covering a period of 6 months prior to the date of application and evidence of employment."

I agree if all you provide is printouts of online bank statements then you may be taking a risk, but if they only form part of you financial evidence (you also provide original pay slips, maybe p60s, etc) then it should be nothing to worry about.

Well, being present at the time, I can certainly recollect my wife being asked for [the originals] of MY bank/building society statements ... with ME being her sponsor. I mean, these contained the ONLY proof of my worldly wealth, after all ... apart from owning my own house, that is! As for pay slips, I didn't/don't have any, as my occupational pension was/is paid directly into my bank account ... and any paper notification received intermittently, i.e., whenever there were/are any index-linked changes to the regular monthly instalments.

You mention up-to-date, detailed bank statements and evidence of other savings as being RECOMMENDED ... rather than MANDATORY ... but realistically what other method IS there of proving one's solvency?

[rusty]

but realistically what other method IS there of proving one's solvency?

I run my own limited company for which I am the director and only employee. My salary is made up of pay, expenses and dividends, If I supplied just my pay slips this would not have shown the full picture.

What I provided was pay slips, business and personal bank statements and a letter from my accountant details mine and the companys finicial status.

[JAMZ]

With HSBC, you can go to their branch and ask for a 6-month bank statements free of charge printed on letter head paper. At least that's far better than printing online.

However, if you want bank statements with your delivery address in it, you can request it but wont be available until after 7-10 wrkg days.

I assume other banks would roughly be the same, am not sure.

[mark99]

Hmm well my bank now has a policy on its account of only offering online statements (to save paper) and there is no branch near me because it's a largely online bank. In that situation I have no real choice but to submit print-outs.

But I have plenty of other evidence showing I've supported my fiancee directly and a personal investment portfolio, plus I own my own property so hopefully it won't be such a big issue. Ironically I am far more concerned about the potential for all this data to be abused.

My statements show roll numbers and sort-codes as well as the account number. Will they mind if I redact (lol) / blank out the Roll number and sort code?

[Bluebirdjones]

... that's what I did ... edited out the account number.

I attached a covering letter addressed to the ECO, explaining that for personal
security reasons I was "blanking" them out... but if they were required, I was
happy to supply the account number over the phone to him, and I included a
home & mobile number.
Rather strangely, no-one ever called.