antouk wrote:does this mean the following? :
1. FDs are not acceptable anymore
2. Joint account can be held with anyone(other than spouse)
I had the same confusion about the joint account clause, i called up VFS office for this (thrice), and was put on hold for more than 10 minutes(in the first two calls), after that i cut the phone. Then on my third attempt, they responded that they are not aware of any changes which happned on Sep 11
, and asked me to drop a mail to vfs office stating the query, i obediently did that and my mail looked like:
------------------
Hi team,
I was planning to apply for UK HSMP Tier 1 visa application. I fulfill all the conditions, but had a doubt in relation to the submission of evidence for maintenance funds. On September 11, 2008 –Thursday last week –there was a change incorporated in the guidance forms in some sections including Maintenance as mentioned here:
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/siteco ... r1guidance
According to the new rules, mentioned in the latest document here:
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/siteco ... idance.pdf
A new paragraph has been added in the clause number 197 on page number 31 as –"If you wish to rely on a joint account as evidence of available funds, you must be named on the account along with one or more other named individual."
Now, as I comprehend it, one can also show the joint account statement for the 3 months showing a balance of minimum of 2800 GBP on each day. And the joint account can be with one or more than one individual.
I have a joint account with my father, so please tell me if I can submit my joint account's statement as a proof, according to the newly issued guideline (September 11, 2008). I have this doubt because VFS call center team is still insisting that the JOINT account has to be with spouse only, which I agree could have been a case before this September 11, guideline.
Please check and help me.
Thanks and regards,
XXXX
-------------------
To this, they responded(After 1 day), by sending me this:
---------------------------
Dear XXXX,
Thank you for contacting VFS UK Visa Helpdesk.
With regard to your query:
Joint accounts are only acceptable if held with a spouse and we advise they have a letter of permission from their spouse that all these funds can be used for the applicant. Joint accounts with anyone else are not acceptable. If the applicant wishes to use the funds they hold in these other joint accounts they need to withdraw these funds and deposit the funds in an acceptable bank account for the qualifying 3 months prior to the application. Accounts held in other peoples names - i.e. father's account/fixed deposits etc are not acceptable even if accompanied by a letter. The guidance clearly states the funds/accounts must be in the applicant's name.
We hope the above information has been of help to you. If you require any further assistance please feel free to contact us. Our contact details are as given below.
Thanks & Regards
UK Helpdesk
------------------------
It clearly shows that no one read my full email, and the incompetency of VFS support team, handling queries. The joint account funda is still not clear to me, had it been spouse only, they would not have mentioned INDIVIDUAL. Why would they make it difficult and more complex for a reader.? UK BIA has been simplifying not complicating matters.