Unstamped Bank E-Statements

Hi All,

When we submitted our fiancé visa application, we just included e-statements, which we downloaded from the bank‘s website. They are not stamped. Is the Home Office going to refuse the application because the bank statements are unstamped e-statements? Our lawyer made no mention of this requirement whatsoever. Is there anything that can be done to rectify this?

Kind regards,

Hi All,

When we submitted our fiancé visa application, we just included e-statements, which we downloaded from the bank‘s website. They are not stamped. Is the Home Office going to refuse the application because the bank statements are unstamped e-statements? Our lawyer made no mention of this requirement whatsoever. Is there anything that can be done to rectify this?

Kind regards,

The guidance is very clear on this point.

.1. In relation to evidencing the financial requirements in Appendix FM the following general provisions shall apply:
(a) Bank statements must:
(i) be from a financial institution regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for the country in which that institution is operating.
(ii) not be from a financial institution on the list of excluded institutions in Appendix P of these rules.
(iii) in relation to personal bank statements be only in the name of:
(1) the applicant’s partner, the applicant or both as appropriate; or
(2) if the applicant is a child the applicant parent’s partner, the applicant’s parent or both as appropriate; or
(3) if the applicant is an adult dependent relative, the applicant’s sponsor or the applicant, unless otherwise stated.
(iv) cover the period(s) specified.
(v) be:
(1) on official bank stationery; or
(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-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence

However, if the rest of the application is without fault, the chances are that they will let it slide. You could, if you wanted to, have originals sent from the bank in case they do question the e-statements which you provided but anecdotally this will likely be unnecessary.

I'm not sure if/how this applies here, but it might be worth noting that one of the changes in the linked PDF from the home office that was posted here yesterday -

 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928756/CCS207_CCS1020373376-002_Explanatory_Memorandum_to_HC_813__PRINT_.pdf

says under section 2.5 that they will now. 

"allow applicants to rely on electronic bank statements without requiring that they be certified by the bank on each page."

I might be misreading so do wait for someone with a more in depth knowledge of the topic chimes in, but I spent an hour scrolling through the changes last night to see if anything affected my upcoming spouse application and that jumped out at me

I'm not sure if/how this applies here, but it might be worth noting that one of the changes in the linked PDF from the home office that was posted here yesterday -

 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928756/CCS207_CCS1020373376-002_Explanatory_Memorandum_to_HC_813__PRINT_.pdf

says under section 2.5 that they will now. 

"allow applicants to rely on electronic bank statements without requiring that they be certified by the bank on each page."

I might be misreading so do wait for someone with a more in depth knowledge of the topic chimes in, but I spent an hour scrolling through the changes last night to see if anything affected my upcoming spouse application and that jumped out at me

Thanks for the link. It also mentions the e-statements in section 7.206.

Hopefully this is the case. The office we hired for the application handles a lot of cases. I’m pretty sure they would’ve caught that. They kicked back some documents we’d provided, which didn’t meet the requirements. I’m assuming they are aware of the e-statement issue.

I'm not sure if/how this applies here, but it might be worth noting that one of the changes in the linked PDF from the home office that was posted here yesterday -

 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928756/CCS207_CCS1020373376-002_Explanatory_Memorandum_to_HC_813__PRINT_.pdf

says under section 2.5 that they will now. 

"allow applicants to rely on electronic bank statements without requiring that they be certified by the bank on each page."

I might be misreading so do wait for someone with a more in depth knowledge of the topic chimes in, but I spent an hour scrolling through the changes last night to see if anything affected my upcoming spouse application and that jumped out at me

The changes are for applications from December 2020. Applications made before the date and time for that relevant change, for entry clearance, leave to enter of leave to remain, will be decided in accordance with the immigration rules in force at the time.

From page 7 of the statement of changes to the immigration rules.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/928751/CCS001_CCS1020373376-001_Statement_of_changes_in_Immigration_Rules_-_HC_813__PRINT_.pdf

Basically, these changes are to stop EEA citizens (and non-EEA citizens coming to the UK using EU regulation/ European court rulings) and to ensure that these will be treated the same as those using UK immigration laws e.g. these will need a visa to work of live in the UK; will now have to pay the health surchage to use the NHS bill free; they can't have Public Funds (some benefits, emergency housing, council housing) for 5 years etc. These will also have to comply with the stricter UK criminal laws, which will also change in December to overide European Court Rulings that stopped the UK deporting those who used the EEA rules to enter the UK.


The other changes are about various visas to the UK and the changes to those visas, hence the different dates for these changes.