Visa Process- Order of Events?

Hi,

It's been over 2 years since my last FLR (M) and I understand the system has changed.

Can anyone confirm if I need to have all relevant documents scanned in when I submit my application or are they only needed before the biometrics appointment?

I'm eager to click submit- but want to make sure I won't be putting myself in an unrealistic scanning time crunch!

Also I've read the following in various forums, but wanted some clarity on the following statements:

-My bank has sent me statements in the mail which I am planning on scanning in. I remember it being a hassle last year to get them all certified. From what I understand, this is now no longer necessary.)

-I am planning on printing my payslips from an online website, they will not be signed or stamped by employer. This did not seem to be a requirement on the documents section of the form-will there be any issues here?

-My employer letter addresses everything written in the documents form, but does not specifically mention that my payslips are genuine/authentic, as this was not mentioned on the actual application- will this be an issue?

Thank you!

Hi,

It's been over 2 years since my last FLR (M) and I understand the system has changed.

Can anyone confirm if I need to have all relevant documents scanned in when I submit my application or are they only needed before the biometrics appointment?

I'm eager to click submit- but want to make sure I won't be putting myself in an unrealistic scanning time crunch!

Also I've read the following in various forums, but wanted some clarity on the following statements:

-My bank has sent me statements in the mail which I am planning on scanning in. I remember it being a hassle last year to get them all certified. From what I understand, this is now no longer necessary.)

-I am planning on printing my payslips from an online website, they will not be signed or stamped by employer. This did not seem to be a requirement on the documents section of the form-will there be any issues here?

-My employer letter addresses everything written in the documents form, but does not specifically mention that my payslips are genuine/authentic, as this was not mentioned on the actual application- will this be an issue?

Thank you!

It can take a while to get a biometrics appointment so you'll have plenty of time to scan, however,  you should have all of your documents in hand before you hit submit.

It is not necessary to have statements which are original and sent though the mail certified but for copies printed from online, it still is.

Your payslips as printed from online need to be accompanied by a letter verifying their authenticity. It can be a separate letter but it is a requirement.

Beware, the instructions are very basic, they often don't include all the documents required let alone nuances such as correct authentication.

See here for the rules on correct formatting.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-fm-se-family-members-specified-evidence

Can anyone confirm if I need to have all relevant documents scanned in when I submit my application or are they only needed before the biometrics appointment?

You cannot upload any documents until AFTER you submitted your online application. They just need to be uploaded between booking and attending your biometrics appointment... or if you want, you can add document scanning to your appointment for an extra fee and just take your documents with you to biometrics, where they will scan and upload them all for you.

The process is:
- gather all your documents (and start scanning them if you like)
- fill out the online application
- submit the online application and pay for the visa
- wait for an email with a registration code for the UKVCAS website
- register an account with the UKVCAS website
- book your biometrics appointment
- upload your documents to the UKVCAS website
- attend the biometrics appointment
- wait for the visa to be processed

You should NOT submit the online application until you have gather every single document and checked that they meet all the requirements.

-My bank has sent me statements in the mail which I am planning on scanning in. I remember it being a hassle last year to get them all certified. From what I understand, this is now no longer necessary.)

The bank statement requirements have not changed since 2012.

The requirements are that they must either be:
- original bank statements received in the mail (do not need to be certified or stamped)
OR
- online statements printed at home from online banking that are either stamped by the local bank branch on every page, or accompanied by a letter from the bank confirming their authenticity

-I am planning on printing my payslips from an online website, they will not be signed or stamped by employer. This did not seem to be a requirement on the documents section of the form-will there be any issues here?

Electronic payslips MUST be accompanied by a letter from your employer on company letterhead, signed by a senior official confirming that they are all genuine.

Most people have this added to the mandatory employer letter so that they do not need to get 2 letters from their employer

-My employer letter addresses everything written in the documents form, but does not specifically mention that my payslips are genuine/authentic, as this was not mentioned on the actual application- will this be an issue?

See my reply to the question above.

You will either need to get the letter rewritten to include authentication of every payslip or ask your employer for an extra letter detailing the payslips.

It should include, for each payslip:
- pay date
- gross pay
- net pay
- date deposited into bank account
- an explanation for any discrepancies between payslip date/amount and bank deposit date/amount


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Thank you both for the very thorough answers!

Would this work?

We use an online payroll system in which payslips issued by Mazers are received electronically to employee’s designated email address, which is secured with a password. I can confirm the following payslips included in Julia’s application are authentic and correct, and that the instances where the payment was deposited into the bank accounts before the pay date is in accordance with the school’s term dates.

Pay Date   Pay Period Covered   Amount on Payslip (Net Pay)   Date Deposited into Bank Account


**The payslips also have a tax period, tax code, and PAYE reference number- is there any value in adding these as well?**

We use an online payroll system in which payslips issued by Mazers are received electronically to employee’s designated email address, which is secured with a password. I can confirm the following payslips included in Julia’s application are authentic and correct, and that the instances where the payment was deposited into the bank accounts before the pay date is in accordance with the school’s term dates.

Pay Date   Pay Period Covered   GROSS PAY Amount on Payslip (Net Pay)   Date Deposited into Bank Account

It doesn’t need to be that detailed in regards to the paragraph before the list.

Just something like:

I confirm that the electronic payslips included with the application are genuine and correct as follows:

Pay Date   Pay Period Covered   Amount on Payslip (Net Pay)   Date Deposited into Bank Account

And then any payslips that have a slightly different date/amount to the bank deposit should be explained with reference to the exact dates in question, for example:
- the July 31st payslip was deposited on July 30th due to July 31st being a Saturday
Or
- the May 31st payslip was deposited on May 28th due to the bank holiday weekend

The payslips also have a tax period, tax code, and PAYE reference number- is there any value in adding these as well?**

No, they aren’t needed, but it MUST include the gross pay as well as the net pay as the gross pay is the figure they use to work out if you meet the requirements.


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Thank you so much!
The only other curveball to throw in is that I've been on maternity leave this year.

My current letter from my employer (before adding in the payslip authenticity)  says:

Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to confirm that Julia X is an employee of X and is employed as
X, this is a permanent role.
Julia has been an employee since 16th May 2019 her gross starting salary was £X, she received a salary
increase on X to £X followed by another increase on X to her current gross salary of £X per annum.
Julia commenced maternity leave on X and returned to work on X.

I was also planning on uploading the maternity pay documents they sent me listing how much is SMP and how much was contributed by school etc

Let me know if you think this is fine, or recommend anything be changed