₦airaland Forum

I need urgent advice on what to do at this point.

I am a business owner doing well in Nigeria, but I have never traveled out of the country before.

I submitted my bank statement and other supporting documents to the UK embassy for a visit visa. It seems they contacted my bank (Providus) to verify my statement.

The statement was generated directly from my internet banking platform—it’s a heavy statement with a clear financial track record. Shortly after, my account officer reached out to ask if I had submitted my statement to the embassy, which I confirmed (as seen in the images below).

Despite this, I just received an email from the UK embassy informing me that I submitted a false document and have been banned for 10 years. I am completely in shock because my business account details are 100% accurate, and I have never falsified any document.

Providus Bank never reached out to me for clarification before responding to the UK embassy. My account officer is fully aware of my business, the legitimacy of my transactions, and my financial standing. However, she is extremely slow and does not act promptly.

I have never traveled outside Nigeria before, and I wasn’t even planning to stay long in the UK. My goal was simply to use my passport for the first time and keep my travel history open, knowing that I am financially capable of travelin.

@Jolene, @Davodyguy, and everyone in the house, what can I do to appeal or defend this 10-year ban?

I have already sent a strongly worded email to Providus Bank calling out their unprofessionalism, but I urgently need a solution to this problem. Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

Nysckits:
I need urgent advice on what to do at this point.

I am a business owner doing well in Nigeria, but I have never traveled out of the country before. I submitted my bank statement and other supporting documents to the UK embassy for a visit visa. It seems they contacted my bank (Providus) to verify my statement.
The statement was generated directly from my internet banking platform—it’s a heavy statement with a clear financial track record. Shortly after, my account officer reached out to ask if I had submitted my statement to the embassy, which I confirmed (as seen in the images below).
Despite this, I just received an email from the UK embassy informing me that I submitted a false document and have been banned for 10 years. I am completely in shock because my business account details are 100% accurate, and I have never falsified any document.
Providus Bank never reached out to me for clarification before responding to the UK embassy. My account officer is fully aware of my business, the legitimacy of my transactions, and my financial standing. However, she is extremely slow and does not act promptly.
I have never traveled outside Nigeria before, and I wasn’t even planning to stay long in the UK. My goal was simply to use my passport for the first time and keep my travel history open, knowing that I am financially capable of travelin.
and everyone in the house, what can I do to appeal or defend this 10-year ban?
I have already sent a strongly worded email to Providus Bank calling out their unprofessionalism, but I urgently need a solution to this problem. Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

This is distressing. Sorry about that. Unless you can show and prove that that document is in fact genuine, you have no chance.
If you do not get any respite in terms of insurmountable evidence from Providus then lawyer up and go back to Providus as unfortunately a 10 year ban is a life ban from UK except when you are applying for a spouse visa as a spouse to a British citizen or settled person in UK.

My mail to Providus

giselle237:
This is distressing. Sorry about that. Unless you can show and prove that that document is in fact genuine, you have no chance.
If you do not get any respite in terms of insurmountable evidence from Providus then lawyer up and go back to Providus as unfortunately a 10 year ban is a life ban from UK except when you are applying for a spouse visa [quote author=Nysckits post=133923740]I need urgent advice on what to do at this point.

I am a business owner doing well in Nigeria, but I have never traveled out of the country before.

I submitted my bank statement and other supporting documents to the UK embassy for a visit visa. It seems they contacted my bank (Providus) to verify my statement.

The statement was generated directly from my internet banking platform—it’s a heavy statement with a clear financial track record. Shortly after, my account officer reached out to ask if I had submitted my statement to the embassy, which I confirmed (as seen in the images below).

Despite this, I just received an email from the UK embassy informing me that I submitted a false document and have been banned for 10 years. I am completely in shock because my business account details are 100% accurate, and I have never falsified any document.

Providus Bank never reached out to me for clarification before responding to the UK embassy. My account officer is fully aware of my business, the legitimacy of my transactions, and my financial standing. However, she is extremely slow and does not act promptly.

I have never traveled outside Nigeria before, and I wasn’t even planning to stay long in the UK. My goal was simply to use my passport for the first time and keep my travel history open, knowing that I am financially capable of travelin.

@Jolene, @Davodyguy, and everyone in the house, what can I do to appeal or defend this 10-year ban?

I have already sent a strongly worded email to Providus Bank calling out their unprofessionalism, but I urgently need a solution to this problem. Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

What a great opportunity. Gather your evidence, sue providus bank, get as much you can get from them and find a way to clear the misunderstanding.

Nysckits:
My mail to Providus

It doesn’t have to do with your account officer.
They say they contacted Providus bank and Providus bank told them that what they have is different from your records. Is this part true? This is why they have said your statement is non genuine. Are parts untrue?
Your account officer is likely not the one that was contacted it would be the Head office.

Cashmadam:
No rule. I know someone who got 10 years first time - after a previous refusal.

Everyone's situation is different so just try.

Good luck!

Thanks so much.. Cashmadam

Chudycharles:
Thanks so much.. Cashmadam

be careful with her tho

A word is enough for a wise

giselle237:
It doesn’t have to do with your account officer.
They say they contacted Providus bank and Providus bank told them that what they have is different from your records. Is this part true? This is why they have said your statement is non genuine. Are parts untrue?
Your account officer is likely not the one that was contacted it would be the Head office.

I hope you saw my message and conversation with the account officer as well.

I generated statement from the internet banking and are you saying the statement generated from the internet banking is not sufficient enough to apply for visa and why will Providus say it's not genuine when it can easily be verified on their system.

Nysckits:
I hope you saw my message and conversation with the account officer as well.

I generated statement from the internet banking and are you saying the statement generated from the internet banking is not sufficient enough to apply for visa and why will Providus say it's not genuine when it can easily be verified on their system.

There is nothing in your conversation with the account officer that I seem mot to be seeing. You were confirming if they reached out to them. Canada or UK. Nothing really significant. Account officer is not the one UKVI will necessarily reach.
Read the refusal letter.
They said that Providus bank said the records they have and the one UKVI is showing them are not same.
UKVI then went on to say they were thinking of considering this as an innocent mistake but will not as all statements are in your name and they feel intent was to deceive.
I believe I have already told you how to go about this to the best of my knowledge.

The starting point in my opinion is to get the document investigation report referred to in the refusal. Once you have been able to get it, you can now challenge Providus Bank with the facts contained therein.

Nysckits:
I need urgent advice on what to do at this point.

I am a business owner doing well in Nigeria, but I have never traveled out of the country before.

I submitted my bank statement and other supporting documents to the UK embassy for a visit visa. It seems they contacted my bank (Providus) to verify my statement.

The statement was generated directly from my internet banking platform—it’s a heavy statement with a clear financial track record. Shortly after, my account officer reached out to ask if I had submitted my statement to the embassy, which I confirmed (as seen in the images below).

Despite this, I just received an email from the UK embassy informing me that I submitted a false document and have been banned for 10 years. I am completely in shock because my business account details are 100% accurate, and I have never falsified any document.

Providus Bank never reached out to me for clarification before responding to the UK embassy. My account officer is fully aware of my business, the legitimacy of my transactions, and my financial standing. However, she is extremely slow and does not act promptly.

I have never traveled outside Nigeria before, and I wasn’t even planning to stay long in the UK. My goal was simply to use my passport for the first time and keep my travel history open, knowing that I am financially capable of travelin.

@Jolene, @Davodyguy, and everyone in the house, what can I do to appeal or defend this 10-year ban?

I have already sent a strongly worded email to Providus Bank calling out their unprofessionalism, but I urgently need a solution to this problem. Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

sirrotex:
The starting point in my opinion is to get the document investigation report referred to in the refusal. Once you have been able to get it, you can now challenge Providus Bank with the facts contained therein.

It is their property, they do not give it out.
The onus on him now is to prove beyond reasonable doubt that this was an error by them and their checks were not properly done, the ban could then be converted to a refusal or re adjudicated abinitio.

Good day everyone, I need your input please.

I was elected to be fully sponsored for a month 's training in the UK. I have a letter to that effect.
Where they asked " personal amount you want to spend in the UK" since it's a fully funded training what do I write please 🙏
I will appreciate a response to this question.
Thank you

giselle237:
It is their property, they do not give it out.
The onus on him now is to prove beyond reasonable doubt that this was an error by them and their checks were not properly done, the ban could then be converted to a refusal or re adjudicated abinitio.

Can you guide me on how to go about this cos I am.in the state of limbo and I am very certain that if Providus bank should revisit this by spooling the bank statement with the same date range, they will surely see the mistake is from their end.

I just downloaded the same bank statement used now from the internet banking platform and all information there is perfectly correct.

Can you guide me on what to do or the next step to take please?

Nysckits:
Can you guide me on how to go about this cos I am.in the state of limbo and I am very certain that if Providus bank should revisit this by spooling the bank statement with the same date range, they will surely see the mistake is from their end.
I just downloaded the same bank statement used now from the internet banking platform and all information there is perfectly correct.

Can you guide me on what to do or the next step to take please?

You said this earlier- “Providus Bank never reached out to me for clarification before responding to the UK embassy. My account officer is fully aware of my business, the legitimacy of my transactions, and my financial standing. However, she is extremely slow and does not act promptly”

Please explain why you think any of the above is necessary? Why does the bank need to reach out to you again if they are contacted by an embassy to confirm bank statements?
What is your account officer’s palava in your bank statement? She is extremely slow and does not act promptly- I do not understand.. please provide clarity.

In the meantime, make an official complaint first and foremost to Providus bank via their official communication channels and cc all the CBN complaints emails in all your correspondence.

The name you use to register the visa is different from the name on your bank account statement

Nysckits:
Can you guide me on how to go about this cos I am.in the state of limbo and I am very certain that if Providus bank should revisit this by spooling the bank statement with the same date range, they will surely see the mistake is from their end.

I just downloaded the same bank statement used now from the internet banking platform and all information there is perfectly correct.

Can you guide me on what to do or the next step to take please?

xaves:
I was elected to be fully sponsored for a month 's training in the UK. I have a letter to that effect.
Where they asked " personal amount you want to spend in the UK" since it's a fully funded training what do I write please 🙏
I will appreciate a response to this question.
Thank you

£1

I agree that it is their property but there must be a way to apply for it even if he has to pay for it like the GCMS notes in Canada. Sincerely its not going to be an easy ride for him but if he is determined, he can get the refusal upturned or compensation from Providus

giselle237:
It is their property, they do not give it out.
The onus on him now is to prove beyond reasonable doubt that this was an error by them and their checks were not properly done, the ban could then be converted to a refusal or re adjudicated abinitio.

giselle237:
You said this earlier- “Providus Bank never reached out to me for clarification before responding to the UK embassy. My account officer is fully aware of my business, the legitimacy of my transactions, and my financial standing. However, she is extremely slow and does not act promptly”

Please explain why you think any of the above is necessary? Why does the bank need to reach out to you again if they are contacted by an embassy to confirm bank statements?

What is your account officer’s palava in your bank statement? She is extremely slow and does not act promptly- I do not understand.. please provide clarity.

In the meantime, make an official complaint first and foremost to Providus bank via their official communication channels and cc all the CBN complaints emails in all your correspondence.

Why shouldn’t my account officer have reached out to me or been able to speak on my behalf, knowing that this is a business account that she manages? She is fully aware of my account activities and can attest to its authenticity.

The fact that she later asked if I submitted my statement to the embassy clearly shows that she was contacted regarding the verification internally. This means she was aware of the situation but still failed to act in my best interest.

I have now sent the email to Providus Bank as you suggested, and I also copied CBN, since the statement was generated directly from their system. I am 100% certain about the authenticity of the statement I submitted.

Yet, here I am being punished for an offense I know nothing about, and I have been left in limbo.

I don’t even know if Providus Bank confirming the statement now would be enough to rectify this devastating 10-year ban.

10 years is a long time, sir. This is a heavy blow.

PP123:
The name you use to register the visa is different from the name on your bank account statement

It's a business Account sir and I am the director of the business. CAC document clarifies this and this has nothing to do with the issue on ground sir.

Sorry about this. I understand how frustrated you must be.

I don’t think this will be too difficult to overcome. This is my suggestion: Go to Providus Bank’s head office. Take the account statement you submitted to the embassy along. Have them confirm that the statement is genuine. Once they do that, raise holy hell with them.

You must threaten to sue them and you must be very, very angry. Ask to see the most senior person at the Head Office. If possible, go with a lawyer. You must display madness!

Provided the statement you submitted was indeed genuine and printed off their internet banking platform, they will apologize. Have them write a letter to UKVI addressing their mistake. They should send the letter to UKVI via email. You can find the necessary UKVI emails on their website. Tell the bank to give you a copy of the letter. You should also send an email to UKVI and attach the letter.

I strongly believe this ban will be overturned. But whether you will be granted the visa is a different matter entirely.

Please keep the forum posted.

Nysckits:
I need urgent advice on what to do at this point.

I am a business owner doing well in Nigeria, but I have never traveled out of the country before.

I submitted my bank statement and other supporting documents to the UK embassy for a visit visa. It seems they contacted my bank (Providus) to verify my statement.

The statement was generated directly from my internet banking platform—it’s a heavy statement with a clear financial track record. Shortly after, my account officer reached out to ask if I had submitted my statement to the embassy, which I confirmed (as seen in the images below).

Despite this, I just received an email from the UK embassy informing me that I submitted a false document and have been banned for 10 years. I am completely in shock because my business account details are 100% accurate, and I have never falsified any document.

Providus Bank never reached out to me for clarification before responding to the UK embassy. My account officer is fully aware of my business, the legitimacy of my transactions, and my financial standing. However, she is extremely slow and does not act promptly.

I have never traveled outside Nigeria before, and I wasn’t even planning to stay long in the UK. My goal was simply to use my passport for the first time and keep my travel history open, knowing that I am financially capable of travelin.

@Jolene, @Davodyguy, and everyone in the house, what can I do to appeal or defend this 10-year ban?

I have already sent a strongly worded email to Providus Bank calling out their unprofessionalism, but I urgently need a solution to this problem. Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

Before the Visa Officer decided to contact Providus, there must have been some issues he or she felt didn’t add up, they likely don’t verify bank statements.
I really do not know why you used a bank statement generated from online, generally I think online statement is for personal use, to review transactions and not for official uses.
A simple bank reference letter would have made that officer not doubt your statement because he would have seen the letter, signature and stamp.

This is a huge internal issue if truly it was genuine
I have a running Providus Bank and there’s no difference between their online bank statement and when you print it from the branch.
So take your printed copy to the bank and ask them to show you the computer generated statement if there’s a difference, the officer said “how they came to the findings is documented on file” so they not only flag it as fraudulent, Providus Bank gave them proves as well.
Because before you ban someone, the visa officer must provide proof from the original source.
But this is really sad.

Nysckits:
I need urgent advice on what to do at this point.

I am a business owner doing well in Nigeria, but I have never traveled out of the country before.

I submitted my bank statement and other supporting documents to the UK embassy for a visit visa. It seems they contacted my bank (Providus) to verify my statement.

The statement was generated directly from my internet banking platform—it’s a heavy statement with a clear financial track record. Shortly after, my account officer reached out to ask if I had submitted my statement to the embassy, which I confirmed (as seen in the images below).

Despite this, I just received an email from the UK embassy informing me that I submitted a false document and have been banned for 10 years. I am completely in shock because my business account details are 100% accurate, and I have never falsified any document.

Providus Bank never reached out to me for clarification before responding to the UK embassy. My account officer is fully aware of my business, the legitimacy of my transactions, and my financial standing. However, she is extremely slow and does not act promptly.

I have never traveled outside Nigeria before, and I wasn’t even planning to stay long in the UK. My goal was simply to use my passport for the first time and keep my travel history open, knowing that I am financially capable of travelin.

@Jolene, @Davodyguy, and everyone in the house, what can I do to appeal or defend this 10-year ban?

I have already sent a strongly worded email to Providus Bank calling out their unprofessionalism, but I urgently need a solution to this problem. Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

Jolene474:
Before the Visa Officer decided to contact Providus, there must have been some issues he or she felt didn’t add up, they likely don’t verify bank statements.
I really do not know why you used a bank statement generated from online, generally I think online statement is for personal use, to review transactions and not for official uses.

It is written on www.gov.uk that you can use online statements. Gov.uk is the Bible of the Home office: the Holy grail.
In the UK no one goes to bank because of bank statement- the use of online statements is 9 out of 10 times.
Right information only please

.

Pls is 250k a good salary to apply for Uk visit visa

giselle237:
£1

Thank you for your response sir/ma, please why £1 ?
Thank you

NO. Start from 450k

Rhodalicious:
Pls is 250k a good salary to apply for Uk visit visa

No, no you got me wrong, Just to put clarity, I never said you can’t use online statements, I know it’s there on their gov.uk website.
My reason for that believe is because I used a “Standard Chartered Bank” for my visa and the online statements and very different from the branch paper statement.
The date format is different , headings are different.
I feel a little bit reserved about this because if an officer sees a branch paper statement from Standard Chartered Bank and then later see an online statement, there is a huge difference, and they are trained to detect difference from same documents, that should make the officer hold up and call in, remember this people are not in Nigeria.
We don’t know why the officer even decided to email Providus Bank at first, have been a regular customer with the UKVI and though they denied me a lot, they never did they call to check my bank statement for once, or maybe I was too poor lol and if they even did before a bank would reply an email to say their customer bank statement is not as seen on their system, that’s a big thing.
Providus online statement and paper statement are same information, same format and structure.

My best bet was an email was sent to the bank head office, that’s Providus concierge.

Please we would like to confirm this applicant bank information.

Account Name
Account Number

On 21/10/2024, kindly confirm the credit amounts.
On 08/12/2024, kindly confirm the debit amounts.
Or
They come specifically, Dear Providus Bank, kindly confirm on so so date, the given transaction occurred on so so account.
How then does a bank official having called the customer’s account officer as he said will proceed and say

“Dear UKVI, the above bank statement information does not match our client financial records.”

Mistakes can happen, and I best hope it’s a big mistake on Providus Bank or UKVI part so you can really fight this, please if you know your statement wasn’t altered, please fight it to the end, don’t allow them steal your integrity.

The UKVI made mistake with me, they gave me a refusal that was from someone else application, so yes I know how it feels, but like I said, once you know you legit, go all way out and fight your bank.

And I’m also saying to avoid future occurrence, please except you can’t go to your branch due to maybe special circumstances, always go in branch and get your bank statement.
Tell them specifically, I want to use it for my UK visa application, then also request a bank reference letter.
This bank reference letter to me signifies that you a reliable customer, they only give bank reference to accounts older than 6 months in Nigeria banking rules and if your account has had fraudulent issues, they may not still give you.
Tell them you want to address the letter to the UK Home office, they will tell you to write a letter to the branch manager to request for a reference letter.
Just write it, I John Doe, humbly request for a bank reference letter and should be addressed to
Address: UK Home Office
2 Marsham Street,
London, SW1P 4DF

That’s all.
Every bank has their words for reference letter, you signed it and give to the customer service and they will print your bank statement from your desire dates and attach this letter too.

giselle237:
It is written on www.gov.uk that you can use online statements. Gov.uk is the Bible of the Home office: the Holy grail.
In the UK no one goes to bank because of bank statement- the use of online statements is 9 out of 10 times.
Right information only please

.

Concerning booking appointment with VSF in IKEJA, which time is best to avoid issues, 8am or 1pm? Please advice

You can only speculate what happened in his case, you do not know exactly as you are not an Entry clearance officer.
My qualms is, this has nothing to do with online statements.
They are all I ever used for UK visa applications. I have never used a bank reference letter as well, likewise many others. In the UK, nobody also cares about that and so will not demand for such from you:
That is the message here-
1. Online downloaded bank statements are 100% accepted.
2. They verify bank statements ALL the time. Several refusals and bans emanate from this especially when our people use fake statements. That you were not aware, does not mean it did not happen please.

Right info only.

Jolene474:
And I’m also saying to avoid future occurrence, please except you can’t go to your branch due to maybe special circumstances, always go in branch and get your bank statement.
Tell them specifically, I want to use it for my UK visa application, then also request a bank reference letter.
This bank reference letter to me signifies that you a

How can one reschedule appointment after missing biometric

I’m only on the caution that his honest with the document.
Of course I’m not there, I’m only taking his words that he genuinely got the statement online, if that was true then what is it? I’m only commenting on the assumption that his honest and he didn’t alter it.
Then why was it seen as a fake document?

He only can answer that by getting to the bank.

Personally I feel “online generated statements” may not be same with a branch statement.
This people won’t call you to confirm, sometime the bank won’t even explain.
Example: If you make a transfer on Saturday 30/1/2025 my bank online statement will record it as 30/1/2025. But if you go and print it from the branch, the date on it will be the next working day 2/2/2025.
I’ve noticed this difference, imagine a visit officer is holding your “online bank statement” and says please confirm the transaction on this dates.
Is that not a recipe of confusion already? The entry officer is seeing 30/1/2025 but the bank official is saying No, it’s 2/2/2025.
This is the reality, I wanted to use my “online statement” but I realized that it was different from the branch.
That’s what I’m trying to explain, I’m not saying “online statement” is void, No no.
I just feel sometimes it’s not in harmony with the branch, the day a transaction is posted on an account might be different.
If you doubt, I can show the public my monthly statement and then my paper statement I submitted, you would notice difference in date.
A POS merchant debited recorded on 11/10/2024 on your online statement may not reflect on that same date in the branch, when the transaction clears, the date may be 17/10/2024.
Some banks has this issue in Nigeria, do your research.
Not all banks, but my bank has that issue and that’s why I avoided “online bank statement “ that was my point.

giselle237:
You can only speculate what happened in his case, you do not know exactly as you are not an Entry clearance officer.
My qualms is, this has nothing to do with online statements.
They are all I ever used for UK visa applications. I have never used a bank reference letter as well, likewise many others. In the UK, nobody also cares about that and so will not demand for such from you:
That is the message here-
1. Online downloaded bank statements are 100% accepted.
2. They verify bank statements ALL the time. Several refusals and bans emanate from this especially when our people use fake statements. That you were not aware, does not mean it did not happen please.

Right info only.

Nysckits:
Please how can I contact you or send a private message to you.

I have an emergency on my application that requires an urgent attention.

Can I have a whatsapp or call number please or can you please send your email address so I can contact you directly.

Hi, Just seeing this

Akizeh:
Good evening everyone.
Please what time can I go and collect my passport from VFS Ikeja .
Just got a collection mail but with no time specification.

9am to 3pm