1. I am being paranoid and
2. There is some new information with me
so I am creating a new thread to confirm this query:
Situation
1. HSBC policy is not to sign/stamp statements they issue in their branches. (these statements are on official letter head but have a word "duplicate" on them).
2. Postal statements ordered through HSBC customer service also contain "duplicate" word on them.
Question
1. Did any one apply with HSBC UK duplicate bank statements (for maintenance and/or past earnings section) for Tier 1 Visa from India? Are they accepted as valid proof ? (Even if they contain a word "duplicate" on them) ?
Interesting stuff
As every one knows that HSBC staff don't sign/stamp their statements, but I persisted there (for like 1/2 hour) for getting atleast one of the two:
A. Letter that these statements are authentic. (They say that they dont write any open format letters for account statements, because of fraud cases)
B. Stamp and sign on "duplicate" statements (same argument, they dont do this because of fraud cases)
I was more inclined in getting the letter in option A above.
And guess what? The customer service guy sitting there secretly removed a stamp (with branch name and sort code on it) and he signed the duplicate statements. (He said, "I am only doing this bro because u r an Indian, Best of Luck!!")
Now I am in double thoughts, as HSBC doesn't stamp and sign statements, will the above signed statement raise a red flag in ECO's mind? I think I will not submit the stamped version. I will only submit "duplicate" version of statement without sign and stamps.
Summary
In summary, my question is this: Can some one please assure me that "duplicate" bank statements issued by HSBC branches are accepted as vaild proofs in Indian BHC's without requiring sign and stamps?
Any successful applicant's reply will give me a great relief.
Thanks for reading this far!! Any reply will be of great help
P.S. Guidance notes have the following paragraph:
206. This evidence must be original, on the offi cial
letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation
and bearing the offi cial stamp of that organisation. It
must have been issued by an authorised offi cial of that
organisation.