Can I use fixed deposit for maintenance proof?

One of the most common question, when it comes to show the maintenance fund proof, is whether we can use a Fixed Deposit?

The fixed term deposit CAN be used as a maintenance proof, provided, accompanied by a letter from the bank.
The letter should state that the amount can be liquidated or en-cashed at any point of time, apart from the following details:

• The letter should be on the official letter head of the bank
• Name of the Fixed Deposit holder,
• The Fixed Deposit account number, if any
• The start and end date of the Fixed deposit
• The bank account that the Fixed Deposit is associated with

Note:
1.The original Fixed Deposit should be attached to your supporting documents list
2. If the Fixed Deposit is not in English, you need to translate it and attach both the original, as well as the translated copies

Common Mistake - Not submitting latest application form

It is a lot of hard work required to read the Tier 1 General guidance, application, dependant's guidance and application forms. (Also the photograph guidance form) One of the common mistakes people do is that download the forms, print it out and start filling in the application forms without ensuring that the form is the latest one. While submitting the forms to HO, it is absolutely essential that you send the latest forms. Otherwise, the case worker might reject your application most of the time.

Suggestions:

Before sending the application forms, ensure that the form you filled in to send is the latest version.

No recourse to Public funds

Almost all of the Tier 1 category Visa holders will have the title in their Visa (Vignette). So what does this mean?
We often see that people ask questions on what is a public fund and what is not.? We are confused whether the 'health in pregnancy grant' falls into a public fund or the 'maternity allowance'?

The answer to those questions are right in this document provided by HO
Public fund

What is a Subject Access Request? (SAR)

Context:
We are all not perfect? Are we?
Some times, we may have forgotten the information that we have filled in or a consultant might have filled in the details that you might not know. When you plan to deal with such situations, one might have wondered how he/she can find out the information that HO has about him/her!

So there is an option that BIA has published on Requests for personal data

Premium Application service booking methods (In Country)

There are three methods that one can follow to apply in-person in any of the Public Enquiry Offices.

1. Booking Online
2. Booking by phone
3. An immigration consultant can help, but it comes out of a cost

Most of the information can be found in Booking an appointment page


Lessons Learned:

• The most common problem one may face is that he/she will not find an appointment to book online. This is a common issue, due to the demand for this service. The tip would be log in on Friday evenings or as many times as possible, if lucky there may be some slots available
• Citing the same reason that the demand for the Booking by phone is very high, one has to try the line around 9.00 AM each day to get an appointment. It might be worth to note that booking by phone number is an 0870 number and the charges may vary for different service providers
• The last resort would be to use an immigration consultant, who are able to grab some appointments(with an additional fee, on top of the application processing). Personally I would not prefer this route, unless it is critical

Photographs

One may face problems, when the photographs are not to the specifications from HO as mentioned in the link below:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/193059


Lessons Learned:

1. The photograph should be as per specifications 
2. They should not be older than a month, before the application is made
3. Should ensure that one does not attach the photographs, which were used previously(For instance initial HSMP/Tier 1)
4. Advisable to take the photographs from a local photo shop, such as Jessops, Thomson, etc.,
5. Place the photographs in a small sealed envelope, together with those of anydependants included in section F, and attach it across this space with a staple or paper clip at the right-hand side of the  page/envelope.

How can you pay?

Home office would first attempt to take the Fees for the application consideration. If the Fee payment fails for any reason, the application would not be considered.

Here are the fee payment methods and some of the lessons learned as follows:

Methods of Fee Payment:


There are 5 different options specified by home Office.

1. Cheque/Bankers Draft
2. Postal Order
3. *Credit card - Mastercard or Visa (including Electron)
4. *Debit card - Delta, Maestro** (including Solo)
5. Cash – but only for applications made at a public enquiry office; please do not send cash by post

* If you applying in person at a Public Enquiry Office and wish to pay by credit or debit card, the cardholder must be present in order for the payment to be taken.

** Maestro - We can accept any Maestro card if you are applying in person at a Public Enquiry Office but only Maestro cards issued in the UK if you are applying by post.

Lessons learned:

1. Cheque/Bankers Draft:

Considered to be a safe way, if you have a bank account.

2. UK Postal Orders:

Considered to be the safest mode of payment, but comes out with a price. One has to shell out around £10 for £250 of Postal Order. In total, for £820 one has to spend around £35.

3. Credit card:

• One has to ensure that there is enough credit in the card. 
• Good to keep the company informed about the payments that are supposed to happen, so the frauds department does not block the transaction

4. Debit card:

• Similar to credit card, but should ensure that you have enough money in your account
• Inform the bank regarding the transaction

When one has decided to use credit/debit card for fee payment, one of the safest way to ensure safe payment for multiple application at the same time, is to provide different credit/debit card details for each application. So the possibility of blocking the card is eliminated.

Objective

Learning from others mistakes is considered to be a valuable one than experiencing himself. So I thought to summarize some of the lessons that the HSMP/Tier1 guys faced, while extending their visa.