Scanned documents

Dear all,

I've submitted my visa application as a civil partner of a British citizen last week, and it's pretty straightforward – we meet all the requirements, including financial requirements pretty easily.

I have one issue however: I submitted scanned bank statements (which were stamped and signed), and my payslips were printed but not stamped and signed (my partner is a UK civil servant and they don't get paper payslips, only electronic ones).

I asked the VFS agents about this 3 times on 3 separate occasions and was answered by 3 different people independently: THEY SAID IT'S OKAY.

I also included a cover letter explaining this. Furthermore, we attempted to send a few original documents early, but it's been 1 month now – way past their supposed date or arrival – and they still have not come! I fear they are lost!

So am I hopelessly screwed? Or does my visa application stand a chance?

I don't recall my printed payslips being stamped and signed whilst my bank statements were. We got the visa.

Hey John, were your payslips and bank statements originals? Or scanned?

BUMP. Anybody?

I know. Somebody pointed this out earlier that's why I'm freaking out right now because I didn't see it but already submitted my visa application 2 weeks ago. :-(

I hope they just ask for further documents rather than reject it outright. But if ever they do reject it, I'm prepared to send it the originals with the signatures and appeal. Hopefully the overturn is quick. :-(

Any other advice from anyone who's been on the same situation? Especially about the scanning part?

Well bagyo, the first thing to say would be STOP PANICKING if that's the only aspect of the application concerning you.

You've made some basic errors, but the chances are pretty good that your application will not fall for refusal solely on the basis of those scanned documents.

That's not to say the risks don't exist, UKBA caseworkers and ECO's have been known to screw-up, but just to reassure you that UKBA has procedures to manage those situations. (Always provided that other evidence supports the decision.)

Here's a couple of things that UKBA clearly state and will help reassure you and may help others reading this:-

In terms of evidential felxibility UKBA also state:- (read carefully to allow undisturbed sleeping tonight)

So you can see it's not such a major issue in itself.

Now as can can see yourself, UKBA may request re-submission of documents or, if they are confident in the genuineness of the information, may not request re-submission.

I would suggest you take time to make whatever preparations you can in order to comply with requests
for re-submission of payslips and bank statements in line with requirements. UKBA often gives 10 day only and this would be rather tight for you to maintain.

Hope this post helps.

Neither my payslips nor bank statements were originals. They were and still are all printed from the email attachment which is all I get in this paperless age.

My payslips are simply attachments on an email. So I simply printed them off. I did, however, submit a letter (that I wrote) from my company's technical director that I got him to sign stating that I was employed by his company and stating my salary.

Unlike Kuya, our application went in prior to the changes to the rules. However, if your payslips, stamped and signed or not, match your bank statements ( ie income on the bank statements) that are indeed stamped and signed then to my way of thinking should suffice.

As Mr Micawber says, I would imagine that the ECO would surely exercise suitable and appropriate discretion in your favour.

Thank you so much everyone. This really helped to calm me down.

Our finances are sound – they payslips match the bank statement. And we have the signed letter from employer, employment contract, P60 and everything else.

Whew. Thanks again!