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I showed bank statements of around £20000 in total in my own account and my father's account. I also Included a sponsorship certificate affidavit of support from my father which tells that he will be financing my studies.

After I was granted the visa I thought it would be better if I open an bank account with an international card to make transactions during my stay in UK easier because my previous account didn't have an international card. I required £5000 to do that so I transferred £5000 to my father's account in another bank to open a new joint account of me and my father.

Will having less funds in the accounts I showed money from cause any problems at airport and with UK immigration officers?

Would I be fine If transfer those £5000 back to my accounts and bring latest bank statements with me to airport which shows the proof they were only sent to my new account and after that I sent them back in case they have a doubt that I no longer have enough funds?

jass s
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4 Answers4

38

This should not be a problem.

Bring statements for both the account you used to apply, and the new account. Make sure that the £5000 transfer appears on both statements so that the transactions can be matched.

If asked you can explain exactly what you explained here.

18

What they're worried about is what we call "funds parking", which is a scam applicants use against VIUK to appear richer than they really are. They borrow money, park it in the bank account during the visa application, and then give it back to the lender once they have secured their visa.

As long as you were honest about the sources of the money, and isn't not being taken away, then it is not funds parking.

Stick with the move you made, and just have documents to prove it.

It is perfectly reasonable to move some funds into an account more easily spent in the UK; just bring along paperwork that shows the value is there, on the off-chance they ask.

Do not move the money again, because that just looks suspicious.

Harper - Reinstate Monica
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5

What you did sounds perfectly reasonable to me and different from a funds parking kind of scheme.

If asked at the border, give a short explanation of what you did: You needed your funds in an account with an international card and you can move more funds from the original account into your new account.

Don't tell a whole story as if you did something wrong and were trying to talk your way out of it.

Quora Feans
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3

Nothing will happen

Border police doesn't know the regulations pertaining the visa process. They don't even know the basic ones, let alone a complicated phrase like documenting finances for one year of university fees + 1035 per month for 9 months.

Border police doesn't need to know these regulations either. Their duty is to make sure you are the person stated on the vignette. They will ask you a few questions like which university or course you follow, where you will stay, how you will finance yourself but they will never ask for proof. They usually focus on younger people coming to visit family, i.e., the majority of the population who tend to overstay their visa.

I suggest you the following:

  • Print out your ATAS clearance if you have one. It contains every single information regarding your university and your course.

  • Print out your CAS. It includes all vital information pertaining to your visa.

  • Carry the financial statements with you but never show them unless challenged very directly. You are not a suspect but over-cooperation would make you look like a suspect.

ck1987pd
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