₦airaland Forum

mialate:
Thanks Ekpotek. I would only include my certificate as I couldn't print the statement. Hope that's okay.

I will suggest that you visit your Pension Fund Manager, and request a statement from them, or letter from them. This could be the difference between approval and denial. No document is too insignificant when applying for UK visit visa.

Solatium:
Saying there is no minimum is like we are not being honest with this question,I have asked this same question here and no one seems to provide a definite answer,same answer you gave was what some of the respondent gave.....But we all know that an account balance.of[b] #500k WILL NEVER SECURE YOU A UK VISA,NO MATTER HOW STRONG YOUR HOME TIES IS[/b].However going by what.I have read here from those who made a successful application I will say a closing balance.of #1.2million with genuine documents and strong reasons/ties makes.you stand a better chance

.

@Solatium. You're wrong. I secured my last UK visa with just N219K closing bank balance in March 2017. This was my fifth successful application. Likewise, my brother and his family were denied in 2016 with a closing bank balance of N4m in their account. Applicants are judged on their social and economic ties to Nigeria and the assurances that they will return back to Nigeria after their visit. If the ECO is not convinced that you will return back and not overstay or elope, even if you have 100m in your bank account will not secure you a UK visit visa.

Francois10:
The UK Visa Application Centre, Lagos User Pays VAC switch

With effect from the 3rd April, 2017, the UK Visa Application Centre in Ikeja will no longer be a User Pay VAC. However, applicants who wish to submit their applications at the Victoria Island Centre will now be subject to the User Pay fee.

This change is essentially put to drive applicants to their Ikeja centre, which have received few patronage. Last time I submitted at Ikeja centre, I spent less than 10 minutes from document assessment to biometric. I am sure many applicants will start going back to Ikeja now.

dcutey:
Mialate, in my opinion I don't think it matters what company is on your pension account since it's a retirement savings account but you can state that you started your career and opened the account while still with your former employer. I'm planning to submit six months statement of my retirement savings account as an economic tie. You can explain the 300k debit if it will strengthen your application.

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@Mialate, @dcutey. This is very good and smart move in my opinion. A lot of applicants do not know that a pensionable job is a very strong home and economic ties, as it demonstrates to the ECO that you're not likely to overstay by AWOL. Besides you can only access your retirement saving after retirement at 60-65 years. However, there must substantial amount in your retirement savings to satisfy the ECO. Go ahead and include your retirement saving account documentation.

shessyfavour:
Please, is the extra $70 going to be paid online with the visa fee or would be paid separately at the centre? Thanks

You pay the $70 online with the visa fee.

smilz:
Good day house,

Please what's the minimum I can have in my bank account when applying for a UK visa. Just want to visit for a week.

Thanks.

There is no minimum or maximum amount. What matters is your home ties and sufficient funds to cover your trip without stress.

crossbonehelped:
Thanks for the help so far. Need help in filling some parts of my application.
There's this particular part I'm asked how much I earn monthly after tax. Parts of my salary however go towards a loan repayment and my cooperative savings.
Wondering if I should add all together or just put in what enters my bank account alone? Would be submitting my payslips to show how much I'm being paid, tax deducted and other deductions too.
Would appreciate the help. Thanks.

Deduct just the tax to arrived at what you earn monthly. Savings and loan repayments are temporary deductions which are part of your monthly earning.

lexyj123:
hello house good day. how can i pay visa fee of $113 while there is a limit of $100 per day. i have been trying with my card since. please any alternative way? thanks i need an urgent response.

Use a dollar ATM card. If you do not have one too bad. Or ask someone with such a card to pay for you.

phraoh:
Thanks,

But my appointment and submission is for VI centre and not Ikeja. I just didnt realise that they have different website when i was registering with TLC after payment on the Visa4Uk site. So i registered at the Ikeja own and not VI.

Is that a problem? Cos i would assume that TLC is same regardless.

No problem only that you will pay handling fee if you decide to submit at Ikeja, regardless of your choice.

KEYSERSOZE:
Hello house,

i applied for a 6months visa last year,which i got. i now intend applying for another visa (renewal), but my salary for the month of jan, feb & march will be paid same time in march. i intend to apply for another visa(renewal). i hope this would not cast a shadow of doubt on my bank statement.

Many thanks for your suggestion & opinions

Only the ECO can determine that. You previous visit and immigration history to the UK will count here. Be honest and tell the ECO about your salary payments.

oloolo:
Good day just wise and other gurus in the house..

I intend travelling to the u.k for the first time on vacation. My actally date of travel was supposed to be last month but I had to shift it to this month because of work.

My question is, in my form I stated that I will be visiting London for a one week stay. But now I want to just spent one night in london and head to Dublin to see my cousins I intend spending 2 weeks. My cousin has already booked a return bus ticket to take me from london to Dublin the second day after I arrive (and back in 2 weeks) as I want to visit a lot of attractions in london. I need to to state that I did not declare that I have any family member in the UK.

I have also booked a hotel for my one night stay in London. I will also be traveling with about $2500 for shopping and pocket change. .

I hope the Point of entry officer will not raise issues

Yes you can change your traveling plan. The question is do you have an Irish visa. Without valid Irish visa, going from London to Dublin even by bus is illegal. The POE will only ask you some few questions about your visit to the UK. If you decide to stay one night, fine. Beside you may be unlucky to be check at the border between U.K and Ireland.

phraoh:
Hi all,

Applying for 6months visa and when i was registering at the TLC website, i unwittingly chose my Visa centre as Ikeja when i actually booked for submission and biometrics for VI..And i cant seem to be able to change it as they said my reference number has already being registered..

Please i want to know if its ok or an issue?

Furthermore, can someone clearly itemise all the documents and requirements needed to be submitted so that i can tick them off and will it all be original ,say Incorporation certificates since am self employed etc.

Thanks all.

The issue there is that if you to use Ikeja, be ready to pay handling charges of $$$. You should consider sending them an email for them to change your submission centre to VI. All documents either original or otherwise must be photocopy into A4 size. Your original documents will be return back to you. I advise you copy all your documents including your international passport pages to avoid making these copies at exhorbitant price at the centre.

crossbonehelped:
Thanks a whole lot for the candid advice

Was thinking of obtaining a letter from the cooperative stating that I have access to the said amount on request and would be submitting my payslip which shows the monthly deductions for the cooperative as I would be submitting my application in the next 3 days and feel putting such a huge sum for any reason might be counter productive.
Then someone advised that using my dad as my sponsor shows family ties meaning I have peeps here that I'm close to as against going all alone without demonstrating any family support here.

First. Your dad is not a home tie. Your work and career is more of a home tie than your dad. Having said that. If you do not want the money paid into your bank account now to avoid inflating your bank balance. You should consider including copies of your cooperatives pass book in your documentation. Then declared in the application form that you have N800K savings. Then include a cover note highlighting the deduction from your payslips and corrobate it with same entries into your cooperative pass book. By this way the ECO will actually see your savings in the pass book supported by a letter from your cooperative chairman written on the cooperative letter head that the money is available to you on request.

collinsfbi:
Really!
Is this for real! free!
Anyway I don't know so I can't dispute that but I have never heard of a free visa applicant package. I think the normal application fee for 2yrs is around $429 excluding centre charges.

Free means that you would not be charge any handling fee at VI centre. Ikeja submission centre charges handling fee. Pls check TLC website for the currrent charges.

crossbonehelped:
Hi. Been on this thread for a while and really learnt a lot.
Plan travelling to U.K. in May ending for the second part of my medical licensing exam. Already paid the £845 fee for the exam and want to apply for the visiting business visa that plab exam falls under.
I have been working in a federal Govt facility for about 5 years but wasn't really planning on travelling till late in the year but some change in U.K policies means I have to travel soon.
My source of concern is the fact that my savings account only has about 200k which is about £500 inside while my estimated total spending would be about £1200 as I intend to spend only 4 days total. I however have a cooperative savings of about 800k which is available on request by me and I intend getting an official letter to that effect.
There's also a provision for a sponsor for which I'm considering using my Dads account as he could help to the tune of £1000 but I'm caught in between using just my saving account in the bank which is about 200k and my cooperative saving for which I could assess around 800k or just using my Dad as the main sponsor and probably adding about 200k myself to the money.
Note that I'm above 30 years of age though unmarried and the money in my dads account is a savings that's been on for over 3 years though the money is largely untouched but payments are made monthly.
Thnsks for the anticipated help.

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I will advise that you do not use your father bank statement as this may be viewed by ECO as poor home ties to your country, after all, you're working and should be able to sponsor yourself without support from anywhere. .Since you have N800K available, request for this money to paid into your bank account. Then explain in a cover letter, that the money came from your cooperative savings with evidence and documentation from your cooperative to support it. With 1M in your bank account you are good to apply.

ladylco:
Thank you so much @collinsfbi,

I still need the V.I fees too so that i can compare.

Submission at V.I centre is free, the last time I checked.

ladylco:
Please anyone who has recently applied for 2 years visa should please tell the visa fee

330 pounds

nonoski:
Good day house
Please I need a little clarification
Myself, my wife and two children submitted our forms and did biometrics on the 14th of March.
However yesterday I received email notifications for myself and my daughter that a decision has been made.
Curious I checked the TLS website and noticed my Wife and Son still had there's pending for decision even till this afternoon.
Please is it possible that a family that submitted together will receive their passports separately?

It all depend on how you submitted the applications either singly or as a group. You don't need to worry just wait for other applications to arrive at a decision before going to pick up the passports. Sometimes, there is some delay in updating the TLS website. If there is going to be long delay they will send you an email to that effect.

justwise:
Thanks for this update.. i never knew that its possible now.

@Justwise. You're welcome. How is the weather there? Will be arriving UK on Saturday and off to Dundee on Sunday.

dcutey:
Thanks for the response but we are not using most of our savings, we just have many accounts and I feel submitting all of them would reflect the true status of our finances. Please what about the other questions I asked? How should we fill the application? Thanks

Yes you are at liberty to submit as many bank statement as possible to justify your finances.

Since the trip will be jointly financed by both of you. In each application form specify what each partner is contributing to the trip.

justwise:
I guess you don't understand why i asked that question, i'm sorry if you found it intrusive, moving on...

1..should we just calculate the average of six month payslip we plan to submit? No you present your salary as its supported by your payslips and explain the method of salary payment by your company.

2.How our applications can be linked? I don't think you can link the application forms, you have to apply separately at the same time and use the earliest appointment date to submit both applications.

3. whether we both can select co-sponsor since we are using funds from our many accounts? Yes you can

4. Should we also divide and allocate cost of the trip in each application based on our salaries? You don't have to do this since this is a family trip. Let the total cost of the trip be stated in both application forms and use the additional information page to explain that its a family trip.


Spending 700k or 1M will depend on your monthly income hence my initial question

@dcutey. You can link the applications together after online submission when booking online appointment to submit at TLC website. You will be requested to enter your application reference no and that of anyone else to create a group appointment.

mialate:
Good evening Great people. Am back again. I submitted my online application and stated I don't know anyone in the UK which is true. Due to the card restrictions here my hotel reservation was done with the help of colleague at work who's brother leaves in the UK while I pay her back. Please do I explain this in my supporting letter. So the ECO doesn't see a contradicting reply.Remain blessed.

No. You still do not have anyone in the UK. It's your friend brother who probably does not even know you.

collinsfbi:
You are right bro, it used to be and from your quote, that was around early 2016 but now it's not longer compulsory and if you add it, it doesn't add anything to your application again. Even before it must be a paid hotel but now, applicants won't be refused without hotel booking. It was reviewed recently after your quote.

Thanks for the update which is true. However i doubt if home office will ever call an applicant to request for additional documentation for a visit visa. Remember for a visit visa, there is no appeal or admistrative review. The rule is to provide enough document to support your application irrespective of if it's needed or not. Since original documents are no longer submitted. The onus is on the applicant to make his case before the ECO.

mialate:
Thanks Ekpotek. Last question please my business isn't registered and considering its online business the sales and profits vary per day. Should I just declare only my salary am sure of than declaring amount that varies from day to day. God bless you all as you help clear my doubt.

Your salary is your primary source of income. This you must declare. Your business is secondary, declaring it is optional unless it is reflected on your bank statment. You only need to point out to ECO any suspicious large or irregular inflow into your bank account as coming from your online business. This disclosure, remove the suspicion from ECO of inflating your bank balance for visa purpose. You are free to take many snapshots (www.screenhunter.com) of your online business webpages and include them as supporting documentation. This is fair enough, after all, there many people making a lot of money online on e-bay, amazon.com, Jiji, Jumia. Disclose any large amount inflow into your bank account which is not salary as this help to clarify things for the ECO.

collinsfbi:
Flight and hotel booking is no longer compulsory, so don't waste your money booking flight or any hotel until your visa is ready. All you need to do is to input the address of the hotel you intend to stay while filling the online visa application form. Fact!

@Collinsfbi. I disagree with you entirely as your post in misleading. If you are applying for a UK visit (tourist) visa. You're required to provide confirmed hotel booking as part of your documentation unless you're planning to stay with your invitee. Then you must provide their address including telephone number as well as documentation to support your intention to stay with your invitee. You may wish to go back and read about @wales600 reasons for refusal reproduced below. Like I said most hotels on booking.com offer free cancellation or confirmed booking without charging your credit/debit card, which means that you can cancel your booking if you do not get the visa. So, it does not cost you a kobo to book a hotel.

wales600:
Dear @Justwise,

I need urgent advise.
I applied for a 2 -year uk visa. Date of submitting my application was 16th May, 2016. I collected my passport yesterday and my application was refused.

The reason for refusal is as follows:

The decision
I have refused your application for a visit visa because @I am not satisfied that you meet the requirement of V4.2(a)-(e) of AppendixV: Immigration rules for visitors and I have also considered your application under paragraph V.3.6 of Appendix V: Immigration rules

. You have provided a hotel reservation for XXXX from Bleep to Bleep. Our office contacted the hotel on 9 June 2016 and was informed that the reservation was cancelled on 28th April 2016. This was before you submitted your online on 16/05/2016. I note you have declared on your application form that you will stay at the XXXX. Given that you cancelled this booking before you submitted your visa application online. I am satisfied that you applied deception when making your application. I am therefore not satisfied that you have accommodation arranged for your visit to the uk. This in turn leads me to doubt your intentions to travel on this occasion.

. Given the above I am not satisfied that you are a genuine visitor and will leave the uk at the end of your visit or that you have sufficient funds available to cover your costs whilst in the uk without working or accessing public funds.

.Your application for a visit visa has therefore been refused under paragraphs V4.2(a) and (e) and V.3.6 of the Immigration rules

opomulero:
Please house,
How will i get flight itinery cos the normal flight booking without payment will expire in 72hrs max.

Secondly, d accomodation booking.

And it was stated that we should not pay for them b4 visa and if they verify these documents after 72 hours or so it wont be valid anymore.

Kindly enlighten me.

Pls note. Flight booking is just an option and not required as a documentation for U.K. visa. So you do not need to include it.

Accommodation booking is complusory if you plan to stay in a hotel. In that case you can search and book accommodation at www.booking.com. Most hotels offers free cancellations, as such you can cancel the booking if you do not get the visa.

sucre26:
I travel to Turkey at least 3 times in a year to buy my goods and i think it's an European country. I have a USA visa and I also have a child that's an American citizen. I stated all this in my application.

Turkey is not a European country and their visa is not as stringent as that of UK. Still, regardless of your American visa, if the ECO feels that your visa is not that important, it could lead to another refusal. Since this is your second refusal, only reapply when you have a very strong and compelling reason to visit the UK, that ECO may need to take into account in arriving at a decision.

mialate:
Thanks Ekpotek. Am grateful. A quick question the note should be typed on an additional sheet of paper?

Yes you're free to use additional sheet, if the space in the additional information form is not enough.

sucre26:
I submitted my sales receipts. I also submitted my shop rent receipt, tax card, CAC certificate. I also have several stamps on my passport which shows my frequent travels to Dubai and turkey where I purchase my goods and I stated that in my application

The ECO may be more concerned about the stability of your business and if you will return back after your visit. My advise will be to first build up your immigration history by visiting other EU countries or USA then reapply in future.

sucre26:
Hi everyone. I applied for a UK visa 2 weeks ago and I was denied. I have my own fashion boutique. In the form I stated that I earn N6,000,000 in a year. But in the refusal letter it was stated that I earn that in a month which I didn't state In my form. I'm confused at the moment. I submitted 3 different account statements with close to about 4million in the accounts. I've attatched the refusal letter and also the part of the form where I wrote the amount I earn in a year. Please what necessary steps do I need to take when reapplying? Thank you

What evidence did you provide to support how you're making N6M a year after tax?

lilreese:
yes join them permanently? what sort of visa do i need

Go for a settlement visa. Check here to see if your qualified

https://www.gov.uk/settle-in-the-uk/y

Sgregg:
My people please need advice on how to proceed. My sister's application for U.K. Visit visa was refused and she is visiting to participate in my child's christening during which she will be the God mother. So this has really come as a shock to me.

Reason for refusal is around the sponsor's funds. The personal statement supplied has over 5million balance. But it seems ECO had concerns.

Sponsor's docs submitted were:
Company CAC
Company doc showing list of directors and list of share holders.
Company memorandum.
1 year Personal bank statement as he will be sponsoring from the personal account ( I noticed the personal bank statement had months without any deposits,but some spending. There doesnt seem to be s trend on how money goes in. He sometimes move large sum from his business account to the personal and won't deposit for another few months . The money in the account has been there for over 6 months , so wasn't put in towards to time of application). I understand he has other personal account but still no Trend on how these are run.

I don't know if we should re apply and then supply his business bank statement which is very active with almost 30 million turn over annually .

Do we stand a chance. ? It's 3 weeks to be event.

She applied to travel with her kids , not sure if should should apply alone this time. Incase they feel she is running away.

I just need her here. She is the main God parent as she is catholic . It works a bit different with Catholics.

Please see refusal and advise.

Sorry for the refusal. From the refusal letter, me think The ECO is more concerned that your sister is unemployed and visiting you with her kids? I don't think reapplying will change things as this visit is not an emergency. I would suggest that you encouraged your sister to work on improving her personal circumstances by getting a job or be self-employment, to have any chances of getting a UK visa. Marriage is no longer a strong tie anymore. The ECO querying of your sister bank statement is secondary.