Scanning documents

Hi everyone.
So I was hoping when I started the online ILR that it would give guidance on scanning documents. I've just gotten through the personal section, and still nothing though. I suppose its at the end?
I am doing the application little by little each day, and was hoping to alternate scanning and application so i'm not sat scanning things for hours. Can anyone shed any light on some specifics? For example:
What format did you save scans as?
For payslips, do you have to scan the exterior where the postage/address is?
For anything that requires scanning multiple items for the same requirement (payslips, bank statements, letters, etc) - do you scan these individually and upload the numerous files? Or do you scan them all into one file and upload that?

PS - if anyone else is doing their application this time of year, I have been finding that having holiday movies on in the background is very calming lol.

I scanned everything into individual files. Most of mine were .jpegs because that is how my scanner at work scans but a couple were .pdfs. I scanned every page of the letters or bank statements into one file but kept each month separate.

The scanning upload options are at the very end (scans just need to be uploaded by the time of your biometrics appointment) so you do them after you submit and pay for your application.

I didn't scan any envelopes but our pay slips have our address on them. The headings in the scanning section are vague so I just put my scans where I thought they fit best and included a cover letter detailing what documents I had scanned into each heading. Keep track of what you need to submit based off of feedback here because the list at the end of your application will not be complete. It only required my active passport and partner declaration. Never once did it ask for my marriage certificate and only referenced the Life in the UK test after an update just before I submitted.

I scanned everything into individual files. Most of mine were .jpegs because that is how my scanner at work scans but a couple were .pdfs. I scanned every page of the letters or bank statements into one file but kept each month separate.

The scanning upload options are at the very end (scans just need to be uploaded by the time of your biometrics appointment) so you do them after you submit and pay for your application.

I didn't scan any envelopes but our pay slips have our address on them. The headings in the scanning section are vague so I just put my scans where I thought they fit best and included a cover letter detailing what documents I had scanned into each heading. Keep track of what you need to submit based off of feedback here because the list at the end of your application will not be complete. It only required my active passport and partner declaration. Never once did it ask for my marriage certificate and only referenced the Life in the UK test after an update just before I submitted.

The list I was given when I got to the end of the finance section was pretty long, but I have kept tabs on things over the last six months. For example, mine asks for passports used to travel to or remain in the UK. That's vague. I travelled here twice on my old passport, but only used my current one for moving here.

And the one thing I am confused about is - do I have to also include bank statements showing our monthly expenses if they are not on my husband's statements? (Ours come out of the joint account.)  I first came across someone on here talking about it aaaaaages ago, and I've seen mentions of it on different threads. I have asked repeatedly about it on multiple threads, but no one has answered me. And I can't find the original thread when I first asked what she was talking about. You wouldn't happen to know, would you?

And the one thing I am confused about is - do I have to also include bank statements showing our monthly expenses if they are not on my husband's statements? (Ours come out of the joint account.)  I first came across someone on here talking about it aaaaaages ago, and I've seen mentions of it on different threads. I have asked repeatedly about it on multiple threads, but no one has answered me. And I can't find the original thread when I first asked what she was talking about. You wouldn't happen to know, would you?

You do not need to show outgoings.

You do not need to show outgoings.

Ok. Awesome....
Any chance you saw someone talking about something like this too? I specifically remember talking about mortgage, council tax, and utilities. I swear I've seen several mentions of things, but now I think I might be going a little crazy mis-remembering things.

Ok. Awesome....
Any chance you saw someone talking about something like this too? I specifically remember talking about mortgage, council tax, and utilities. I swear I've seen several mentions of things, but now I think I might be going a little crazy mis-remembering things.

A recent mortgage statement is recommended to be sent as part of the accommodation requirement, if applicable.
I think they do now ask for a council tax bill too so that should be sent also. It's a great one for the correspondence evidence in any case.
Utility bills usually make up a fair part of the correspondence evidence as well.

You don't however need to provide bank statements to evidence these outgoings, just the bills, for the reasons I've given.

A recent mortgage statement is recommended to be sent as part of the accommodation requirement, if applicable.
I think they do now ask for a council tax bill too so that should be sent also. It's a great one for the correspondence evidence in any case.
Utility bills usually make up a fair part of the correspondence evidence as well.

You don't however need to provide bank statements to evidence these outgoings, just the bills, for the reasons I've given.

Sigh, I was hoping to use my council tax bill as letter evidence. Unfortunately, the spacing won't allow this. I was much better collecting this time around than last time, but I did miss 2 months and unfortunately they are the months that would line up with the month my council tax statement comes in. :-(
I didn't see that as requirement on the checklist it gave me, but I know its not comprehensive :-( Thanks for the head's up. I was planning on putting the last mortgage statement for accommodation, but I will put the last council tax bill in that section too just in case. Cheers for that.
Do you know if there have been any other little additions they have snuck through?

We rent and my application specifically asked for a council tax statement, which I popped in.  It might be easier to use statements under two categories now as you upload your documents into each section so could upload it twice (I uploaded my USA passport into both the required section and into the English Language Requirement section just to make sure that there was something there).  Our council tax comes from a joint account and while my husband's income goes into his personal account, there was no issue with not showing the corresponding bank statement to the council tax.  If you have a mortgage, perhaps they don't need a council tax statement as your mortgage and Land Registry will have your names on it while only my tenancy agreement states that I am living in the property. 

The addition of the council tax was the only addition that I noticed.  My list had only two mandatory items (passport and partner's declaration) and other suggested documents which were not as comprehensive as the list suggested on this forum. 

Sigh, I was hoping to use my council tax bill as letter evidence. Unfortunately, the spacing won't allow this. I was much better collecting this time around than last time, but I did miss 2 months and unfortunately they are the months that would line up with the month my council tax statement comes in. :-(
I didn't see that as requirement on the checklist it gave me, but I know its not comprehensive :-( Thanks for the head's up. I was planning on putting the last mortgage statement for accommodation, but I will put the last council tax bill in that section too just in case. Cheers for that.
Do you know if there have been any other little additions they have snuck through?

I was under impression you could use documents in two different sections? For example the only good joint mail we get is Council tax and Bank Statements. Someone told me I could use them in both financial or accommodation AND mail/proof of relationship. Hopefully that’s true...makes my life way easier since I won’t have to hunt down as much individually-addressed mail. 😬 Thanks and good luck, not looking forward to this!

I was under impression you could use documents in two different sections? For example the only good joint mail we get is Council tax and Bank Statements. Someone told me I could use them in both financial or accommodation AND mail/proof of relationship. Hopefully that’s true...makes my life way easier since I won’t have to hunt down as much individually-addressed mail. 😬 Thanks and good luck, not looking forward to this!

Yes, you can.

I was under impression you could use documents in two different sections? For example the only good joint mail we get is Council tax and Bank Statements. Someone told me I could use them in both financial or accommodation AND mail/proof of relationship. Hopefully that’s true...makes my life way easier since I won’t have to hunt down as much individually-addressed mail. 😬 Thanks and good luck, not looking forward to this!

Why would you use council tax for proof of the financial section?

Why would you use council tax for proof of the financial section?

She means bank statements for financial and council tax for accommodation.

Hi

Not sure if you've gotten to the "save" section but it does give you a list of the documents you need to provide. Honestly if you can spare the £40 use the scanning service, made my life so much easier! I highly recommend it. Also, I was way more stressed than I should have been. This time around its really about providing the financial proof and not so much the "we're truly a couple" proof. I felt the whole process was much smoother and easier than before and the hardest part is the wait for the decision. I never received an email or a letter until my ILR card showed up in the post.

Good luck