[baelien15]

Hi Joppa / Nyclon

I recently came across a post in this forum that mentioned bank statements that have been reissued for the purpose of a visa application can't be used as evidence of the 2 year cohabitation for an unmarried partner visa and that if you are using bank statements, they must be the original statements that were sent out on the original date.

This is quite concerning for me as my partner and I are relying on bank statements that have been resent to us from the bank to prove our cohabitation with each other whilst we were living at his mothers property. I chose to go paperless with my bank when I first opened my account so I have never received 'original' statements on a monthly basis.

Is the above correct? Or are you in fact allowed to use reissued statements for correspondence/proof of cohabitation documentation?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[freezing]

i am by no means a specialist, but a lot of people go paperless these days and for the bank statements they need for applications, people go to bank and ask for print outs. thats what me and my husband did, and from this and other forums i have read, so do most other people. just make sure you get everything stamped - i really believe it shoud be fine. old statements could have been lost in a fire too, who knows.

 

[Kimi2490]

Actually Freezing, you are right about being able to use stamped bank statements for financial proof purposes etc HOWEVER, the whole point of demanding originals for cohabitation proof section is to ensure the sponsor and applicant were actually living at the same address for the entire of the 2 / 2.5 year period.

OP's concern is legitimate. Lets hear from people who have used re issued bank statements in their cohabitation proof section and succeeded.

Another note- we REALLY need to make it clear to all first time visa entrants - please please do not go paperless. for anything. ever. Well at least not until you have your ILR or UK passports.

 

[Kimi2490]

For instance- couple A live in a bedsit from April 2015 to June 2016. They then move to a family house from July 2016 onwards, and change their details with their bank too.

Now, when demanding re issued statements from April 2015 - June 2016 period, does the bank show the bedsit address on the statements or the new, family house address?

If moderators or experienced members have an answer to this- do they accept re issused statements under COHABITATION EVIDENCE (not financial), do let us know, as it will help a lot of future applicants.

 

[freezing]

Actually Freezing, you are right about being able to use stamped bank statements for financial proof purposes etc HOWEVER, the whole point of demanding originals for cohabitation proof section is to ensure the sponsor and applicant were actually living at the same address for the entire of the 2 / 2.5 year period.

OP's concern is legitimate. Lets here from people who have used re issued bank statements in their cohabitation proof section and succeeded.

Another note- we REALLY need to make it clear to all first time visa entrants - please please do not go paperless. for anything. ever. Well at least not until you have your ILR or UK passports.

yeah i am not paperless anymore - and its a *very* good reminder indeed to those even googling this issue now, planning to apply for any visa. but many people do not know beforehand they will need that evidence, so they are paperless and then faces these dilemmas...

luckily/hopefully there are is other proof of the cohabitation then, other bills or rent contracts or the like. or does this specific visa type require bank statements? we mainly used (printed) bank statements to prove "genuine relationship" and finances on a shared account (EEA FM), and bills and contracts as proof of cohabitation. different situations, different visas...

 

[Kimi2490]

Different visas, different situations indeed. EEA FM has, overall, far lesser onus on applicants and sponsors to provide evidence.

They will accept any other form of official correspondence, such as letters from GP, HMRC, pensions, work, official bills such as gas electric water etc. Bank statements just happen to be one of the easiest ones, as nearly everyone has a bank account.

 

[baelien15]

I am with Lloyds bank and the bank statements that have been reissued to me contain a cover letter addressed to my current address saying that I asked for the following statement to be reissued. Then the actual statement on the next page is addressed to the address of where I was living at the time that the 'original' statement would have been sent if I wasn't paperless.

So essentially it shows where I live now and where I lived then.

Will these suffice if they do prove that my address at that time is different to my address now?

 

[Kimi2490]

That's a good sign then. It might be just fine , in that case. but I will let experienced moderators or members who have used these in the past, confirm.