FLR(M) Maintenance and Supporting documents

[Sichup]

After having struggled for a post study worker visa less than a year ago we are now moving on for FLR and finding it's requirements to be even less specific than last time.

At least with the post study worker there was a set target of £800 per month, but with FLR we just don't know how much is enough. I've read numerous posts with different advice and just don't know what to believe. Where do all the estimates of time frames and amounts for bank saving or monthly pay come from?

My wife and I are in what most would consider to be a very financially stable position with each of us on a salary of £30k+. Our only issue is that rather than savings we have only debt. All of it is managable and mostly interest free, being furniture, student loans and overdrafts etc. However this does mean that our bank accounts for the time being never show any savings.

We intend to apply for the visa around September time while making sure that over the next 3-4 months we have one bank account with a high stable amount maintained in it.

Would it be sufficient to bring bank statements of over £2000 for three months and payslips to show that we can maintain ourselves? We have no doubts that we can support our lives here, just want to make sure the UKBA sees it too.


At this point is it necessary to bring documents in joint names to show we are living together? I see no mention of it in the application form (except for those unmarried or same-sex) but have read others who say it is required.

Thanks for any help.

[ElenaW]

The maintenance figures we use are based on the amount that an unemployed couple receive in benefits. Do you have children? This number increases with children. It was raised recently to something like 412 gbp left over after rent and council tax per month.

2000 is sufficient but what the bank statements need to show is regular incoming coming in and normal spending on living expenses going out.

Showing that you have lived together will only make your application stronger as it helps prove relationship authenticity.

[Sichup]

Thanks for the quick reply. We don't have children so thats one less thing to worry about and slightly less money required.

When we were trying to keep £800 for 3 months we made a separate account just for it. We were scared that a bill might be delayed or some random event causes a dip below the required amount, which even temporarily seemed to cause failure for some. Is this the case with FLR? If it gets low for a time then goes back up again could it cause problems?

Is authenticity of the relationship something that is in question? If so why is it not a requirement of the application procedure to bring documentation. It just seems that if a couple only had the form from the UKBA site to go by, had been living fine for years and never could foresee themselves needing public funds there is still a chance they might be refused through insufficient knowledge of the requirements.

[ElenaW]

When we were trying to keep £800 for 3 months we made a separate account just for it. We were scared that a bill might be delayed or some random event causes a dip below the required amount, which even temporarily seemed to cause failure for some. Is this the case with FLR? If it gets low for a time then goes back up again could it cause problems?

flr(m) is more lenient in its financial requirements. So no, you don't need a constant amount for a period of time. In fact, it may hurt your application if you just have a constant amount without any incoming income or outgoing expenditures.

Is authenticity of the relationship something that is in question? If so why is it not a requirement of the application procedure to bring documentation. It just seems that if a couple only had the form from the UKBA site to go by, had been living fine for years and never could foresee themselves needing public funds there is still a chance they might be refused through insufficient knowledge of the requirements.

There is mention of proof of cohabition but in general they do just want to see that you are married (in your case)and that you are fine financially and accommodation wise.
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