Few questions about accommodation, income, and entry date

Hello all!

My name is Madalyn and I've been lurking for a while, but finally ready to ask a few questions. Thanks to all who post here! I am a US citizen living in California with my Scottish husband, Michael. We are planning on moving back to the UK next summer, applying for UK spouse visa in the spring once we hit the 6 months of holding the required savings!

1. savings question:

-background: When we hit the required savings the dollar/ pound rate was fluctuating wildly and I wanted it to be more stable while we waited so I moved it all into 2 transferwise accounts: most of it in pounds, but some in euros, too. Savings are mainly wages, but there's a little inheritance. Before the transferwise accounts it was in a BOA savings account where I transferred chunks of our wages every month from my checking account.

-question: What do I need to do to show the provenance of the savings before it hit the transferwise accounts? Just write a cover letter explaining? Or do I need to go all the way back to my checking accounts showing wages going into that?

2. Accommodation question:

-background: We are planning to temporarily stay with my husband's mom when we arrive before securing a lease of our own. She is a Scottish secured tenant in a council house. She will write and sign a letter describing the house (explaining no overcrowding) and that she approves of us staying there. We will also supply the Scottish secured tenancy agreement which says she has the right to have family stay with her.

-question: Do we need the council to also write a letter? I think the answer is no from what I've read, but I want to confirm if possible.

3. Question about expected arrival date: Is it true you cannot list a date further than 3 months from your online application date?


I wonder how long they will allow these 90 day vignettes? I hope they extend it for the whole of 2021.

THANK YOU for any help you can offer. I appreciate it so much!

Madalyn

 

Hello all!

My name is Madalyn and I've been lurking for a while, but finally ready to ask a few questions. Thanks to all who post here! I am a US citizen living in California with my Scottish husband, Michael. We are planning on moving back to the UK next summer, applying for UK spouse visa in the spring once we hit the 6 months of holding the required savings!

1. savings question:

-background: When we hit the required savings the dollar/ pound rate was fluctuating wildly and I wanted it to be more stable while we waited so I moved it all into 2 transferwise accounts: most of it in pounds, but some in euros, too. Savings are mainly wages, but there's a little inheritance. Before the transferwise accounts it was in a BOA savings account where I transferred chunks of our wages every month from my checking account.

-question: What do I need to do to show the provenance of the savings before it hit the transferwise accounts? Just write a cover letter explaining? Or do I need to go all the way back to my checking accounts showing wages going into that?

2. Accommodation question:

-background: We are planning to temporarily stay with my husband's mom when we arrive before securing a lease of our own. She is a Scottish secured tenant in a council house. She will write and sign a letter describing the house (explaining no overcrowding) and that she approves of us staying there. We will also supply the Scottish secured tenancy agreement which says she has the right to have family stay with her.

-question: Do we need the council to also write a letter? I think the answer is no from what I've read, but I want to confirm if possible.

3. Question about expected arrival date: Is it true you cannot list a date further than 3 months from your online application date?


I wonder how long they will allow these 90 day vignettes? I hope they extend it for the whole of 2021.

THANK YOU for any help you can offer. I appreciate it so much!

Madalyn

Hi Madalyn, welcome. 

I think you can request a date as far as 6 months out now but it did used to be 3 months.

The letter from your MIL and the lease should be sufficient as the lease specifically permits family to stay.

You just need to provide a statement verifying the source of the savings.

The one thing I am concerned about is the fact that you have the money in a Transferwise account. Have you checked that it meets all of the requirements? Are you able to provide physical statements or a letter from them authenticating online statements?

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

.Cash savings – further guidance
Savings must be held in cash in a personal bank/savings account in the name of the applicant, their partner or the couple jointly. The savings can be from any legal source, including a gift from a family member or other third party, provided the source of the cash savings is declared. The applicant and/or their partner must confirm that the money, which cannot be borrowed, is under their control and evidence that it has been held in their bank account for at least the 6 months prior to the date of application.
The bank/savings account can be a current, deposit or investment account, provided by a financial institution regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for the country in which that institution is operating. Current and deposit accounts are usually easily identifiable. An investment account must also meet all of the other cash savings requirements to be considered as a bank/savings account for the purposes of the cash savings rules at paragraphs 11 and 11A(a).
These are the requirements that must be met:
• the bank/savings account is a current, deposit or investment account
• the account is held is a financial institution regulated by the appropriate
regulatory body for the country in which that institution is operating
• the financial institution is not on the list of excluded institutions under the
Immigration Rules
• regular bank statements are provided
• the statements cover the necessary time period required in the Immigration
Rules
• the savings are held in cash (or their cash value is clear)
• the savings can be immediately withdrawn (with or without penalty)
• the funds are under the control of the person and/or their partner for the
necessary time period required in the Immigration Rules
• the source of the funds is legal
• the source of the funds has been declared
 Page 46 of 69 Published for Home Office staff on 4 November 2020
For example, in the UK a ‘stocks and shares’ Individual Savings Account (ISA) does meet the definition of a savings account and the funds can be considered as cash savings if all the requirements above are met. Likewise, a pension savings account from which savings can be immediately withdrawn.
Funds that are held in an account at the date of application that do not meet all of the requirements listed in the above table cannot be considered as cash savings that meet the requirements of paragraphs 11 and 11A(a) in Appendix FM of the rules. An example of an account that generally does not meet all of these requirements is a brokerage account in which funds are used by stockbrokers to purchase shares for the account holder. It does not meet the criteria of being a bank/savings account. See paragraph 7.4.9. in respect of funds held in an investment account which does not meet the requirements of paragraphs 11 and 11A(a). A betting account held with a bookmaker or gambling operator will also not meet the requirements of paragraphs 11 and 11A(a).

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/934644/appendix-fm-1-7-financial-requirement-v4.0-gov-uk.pdf

Thank you so much larrabee!

Actually, I'm so glad you wrote this because I meant to ask this question! I did a little research and on the transferwise website it says you can request and receive within 7 working days an "official signature" or "signed document". This was on the page about requesting an account ownership document. Here is the page : https://transferwise.com/help/articles/2977999/how-can-i-get-an-account-ownership-document [nofollow]

They are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, but I'm unsure if that is the right governing body/ acceptable for spouse visas.

What do you think? I wonder if anyone has successfully used a transferwise account for their savings. I looked quite a bit for this on the internet and couldn't find a solid answer.

Thank you!

Thank you so much larrabee!

Actually, I'm so glad you wrote this because I meant to ask this question! I did a little research and on the transferwise website it says you can request and receive within 7 working days an "official signature" or "signed document". This was on the page about requesting an account ownership document. Here is the page : https://transferwise.com/help/articles/2977999/how-can-i-get-an-account-ownership-document

They are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, but I'm unsure if that is the right governing body/ acceptable for spouse visas.

What do you think? I wonder if anyone has successfully used a transferwise account for their savings. I looked quite a bit for this on the internet and couldn't find a solid answer.

Thank you!

I had a quick look too but didn't find anything anecdotal either. What about the point  -regular bank statements are provided, are they?

Yes, I can download monthly statements or generate a statement covering a certain period of time.

It appears that appendix p of excluded institutions is missing at the moment too which is frustrating. I had another look and could only find it mentioned once on another forum, the applicant was advised against using Transferwise.
I think it would be a good idea to contact the immigration advisers Medivisas (London) to see what they say in this case. It's just too much of a risk without knowing for sure.

It appears that appendix p of excluded institutions is missing at the moment too which is frustrating. I had another look and could only find it mentioned once on another forum, the applicant was advised against using Transferwise.
I think it would be a good idea to contact the immigration advisers Medivisas (London) to see what they say in this case. It's just too much of a risk without knowing for sure.

Will do- I agree, I do NOT want to be denied for that!!! 

Thank you so much for your advice!

Great. Please come back and let us know what they say. 

Great. Please come back and let us know what they say. 

Nothing solid yet. Reached out to the lawyers and waiting to hear back. I've stumped transferwise, reddit, and my Facebook uk immigration group with the question so lawyers will likely be my only hope lol!

However, I did find something out... Was trawling through the immigration changes document they released in October and found out they've deleted Appendix P for good. It's now replaced or been incorporated into Appendix Finance, but when I looked there was still no list of specific establishments. Under 'Financial Institutions' there was just a list of criteria.

Hopefully I'll get an answer soon!