Tier 1 General Dependant Visa Refusal Appeal Guidance

[vasubelide]

Hi,
I have recently applied for a Tier 1 General Dependent Visa for my Wife with comprehensive documentation, however it has been refused with the reason that the bank statement was generated from the Internet banking website and that they were needed to be stamped by the bank. However the statement that I submitted was the original statement which I got from the bank branch printed on a the official letter head and on premium quality paper. As per the policy guidance these statements are acceptable and do not need a stamp. I feel very disappointed and am led to believe that the visa was rejected just so that the embassy could make more money. Anyways, I can think of the following options for the next course of action, experts can you please advise if my understanding is right and if there are any other better options.

1. Go for an Appeal - this option I believe would take 6-8 months which I cannot afford
2. Re-Apply for the Visa with a new bank statement (statement which is sent home rather than the one printed at the branch) - which would cost me the visa fee and would still take about a month

I am thinking of reapplying the visa rather than going for an appeal. Is this the right decision?

Kind Regards,
- Vasu

[vinny]

Perhaps first write and ask the ECM to overturn the refusal, as the bank statements were genuine.

Keep your options open.

[sts96508]

which bank is this ?

[vasubelide]

which bank is this ?

it is HSBC

[vasubelide]

Perhaps first write and ask the ECM to overturn the refusal, as the bank statements were genuine.

Keep your options open.

Hi,
Does it mean that I can write a letter to the emigration control manager?
Can you please explain.
Vasu

[vinny]

Yes. Try writing to the Entry Clearance Officer/Manager first.

[sts96508]

search for HSBC in this forum. such statements are accepted. I would appeal the decision if I were you,and provide the postal statement during the appeal process to prove the genuineness of the ad-hoc statement.

[vinny]

Yes. Appeal within the time limit, if the refusal isn't reconsidered or overturned beforehand.

[poornachander]

Even though you print the statements at bank , on demand, those are called adhoc statements which needs to be stamped and signed on every page.

ONLY the statements which you will get by post every month called original statements. This is what I have learnt from a solicitor and many forums.
If you are going to bank and getting or stmts from online system/email should be stamped on every page.

[vasubelide]

search for HSBC in this forum. such statements are accepted. I would appeal the decision if I were you,and provide the postal statement during the appeal process to prove the genuineness of the ad-hoc statement.

Hi,
Thanks for your feedback. I would like to appeal as well. However from various forums and from vfs I learn that appeals usually take 6 to 8 months, which is too long. Is there any quicker way of appealing wherein I can get the visa within a month or two?

regards,
Vasu

[sts96508]

the average time for appeal is not 6-8 months, but it is long enough to drive one crazy! If you can spare the money then reapplying is the easy way out.

There is no quicker way of appealing as far as I know.

[N2012]

Even though you print the statements at bank , on demand, those are called adhoc statements which needs to be stamped and signed on every page.

Is this also true for statements which I've ordered by phone from HSBC? I've only recently changed my account settings so that I'll get monthly statements by post, and I also phoned the HSBC customer service to ask for the past year's statements to use in my visa application. The past statements they sent me look exactly the same as the regular statement that I've just received for January, except that it says "duplicate" under the date of the statement.
Are these duplicate statements also considered "adhoc statements"?

[sts96508]

The water is getting muddied here as regards bank statements.

There should be no problem with ad-hoc or duplicate statements. They only need to be genuine.

I have an account with HSBC too and the only thing which UK BA can have a problem with is that statements printed at a branch have a header/footer of a internet URL. So if case worker is having a bad day he/she may argue that these are online statements hence need to be stamped. That is taking an extreme view in my mind and appeals against this should succeed.

Read the guidance:
ii) Personal bank statements showing the payments made to the applicant: Bank statements provided must be on offi cial
bank stationery, and must show each of the payments that the applicant is claiming. If the applicant wishes to submit electronic bank statements from an online account he/ she should also provide a supporting letter from the bank on company headed paper confi rming that the documents are authentic. Alternatively an electronic bank statement bearing the offi cial stamp of the bank issuing the statements will be accepted. This stamp must appear on every page of the statement. For the purposes of this guidance an online bank account is one that operates solely over the internet and sends their bank statements to their customers electronically (for example over the internet or via email).