Bank Account - lack of proof of address

[Prisoner 24601]

Evening all - my wife is here on a BRP, 2.5 year visa, due to be renewed shortly. We are struggling with her proof of address. Does anyone know of a bank or current account that can be opened without proof of address?

All bills are in my name, mortgage is in my name. Of course, paper bills are very rare these days as well.

Thanks all.

[soad]

Full UK driver’s licence was sufficient in the past.

Could take out the broadband etc in her name? To generate some bills.

[bigandclever]

She’ll be on the council tax bill, no?

[Killer2005]

Proof of address is required to meet AML regulations so you are going to need it.

Does she have any letters from HMRC confirming tax code? Doctors letter? Driving licence? Council tax or utility bills?

[Prisoner 24601]

Killer2005 said:

Proof of address is required to meet AML regulations so you are going to need it.

Does she have any letters from HMRC confirming tax code? Doctors letter? Driving licence? Council tax or utility bills?

Thanks Killer and all respondents so far.

No job, no tax code. Doctors letter - yes, but this is not accepted proof. Council tax kicking up a bit of a fuss when i asked. Utility bills, no.

There might be 1-2 avenues that i was frustrated with in the past that i might pursue again. A lot of frustrating phone calls, emails and faff.

[bigandclever]

I’m not sure if this is helpful, or bks, but it might be worth a google. Revolut (used to?) allow accounts to be opened using ID verification only, and the address part was fulfilled by a ‘receive a card at this address and then do some more things’ process.

ETA some others, albeit from a year ago so who knows if things have changed .. https://www.finder.com/uk/opening-a-bank-account-i...

Edited by bigandclever on Monday 14th March 20:46

[anonymous-user]

Did you not have to provide all this documentation when you initially got the visa or were you living abroad together when you initially applied and hence all the documentation was from the foreign address?

[Stella Tortoise]

Shotgun licence will do it.

[Prisoner 24601]

Joey Deacon said:

Did you not have to provide all this documentation when you initially got the visa or were you living abroad together when you initially applied and hence all the documentation was from the foreign address?

Yes, the latter. Moved 'back' from the UAE as a family in 2020. Might speak to some utilities companies to see if they can do anything.

Could get a home phone line in her name?

[Vasco]

If she's been here 2+ years and still has absolutely nothing to show her address then it's not surprising that others will question her validity. That is, after all, why it was necessary to bring in checks to ensure the right people were identified.

[anonymous-user]

If you need to renew the visa soon then my advice would be to get your wifes name added to every bill possible, and request paper copies of every single bill and bank statement and store them away.

My girlfriend is on the same visa and we really struggled to get the paperwork together for the renewal. Like you, most of the bills were in my name and I had ticked the electronic copies for bank statements and everything else. Thankdully my girlfriend never got around to cancelling the paper copies of our joint bank statements and she was on the council tax and a couple of other things so we just about manged to get the documents together. You can get bank statements printed and stamped in a branch, but it is just easier to have original copies in the first place.

Annoyingly the Facebook visa groups are full of pictures of 65 year old women and their 28 year old Iranian boyfriends who have just got their visas who clearly planned the whole thing a bit better and obviously made sure they had paper copies of every bill in joint names......

We never gave it a thought as we had nothing to hide so didn't keep all this paperwork. I am a bit more clued up now and put every bill and bank statement in a big folder (plus we have bought a house and have a mortgage so I can't see it will be an issue this time}

[Geoff-agmsd]

Is your partner not on the electoral roll? if not could she be added , this of course assumes that it would be suitable as proof .

[GC8]

Prisoner 24601 said:

Thanks Killer and all respondents so far.

No job, no tax code. Doctors letter - yes, but this is not accepted proof. Council tax kicking up a bit of a fuss when i asked. Utility bills, no.

There might be 1-2 avenues that i was frustrated with in the past that i might pursue again. A lot of frustrating phone calls, emails and faff.

There are tiers of proof, which start at passport and photocard driving licence, and go all the way down to a typed small doctor's surgery registration card and similar.

It suits banks and other institutions to focus on the top tier items, whilst neglecting to tell people about (or simply incorrectly refusing to accept) the bottom tier items.

I would start by researching this on the .uk.gov website, printing it and then approaching them with what you have and digging your heels in, knowing that you are correct.

[Vasco]

GC8 said:

Prisoner 24601 said:

Thanks Killer and all respondents so far.

No job, no tax code. Doctors letter - yes, but this is not accepted proof. Council tax kicking up a bit of a fuss when i asked. Utility bills, no.

There might be 1-2 avenues that i was frustrated with in the past that i might pursue again. A lot of frustrating phone calls, emails and faff.

There are tiers of proof, which start at passport and photocard driving licence, and go all the way down to a typed small doctor's surgery registration card and similar.

It suits banks and other institutions to focus on the top tier items, whilst neglecting to tell people about (or simply incorrectly refusing to accept) the bottom tier items.

I would start by researching this on the .uk.gov website, printing it and then approaching them with what you have and digging your heels in, knowing that you are correct.

Banks etc have their own policies for what identification is acceptable. It's been perfected over very many years so as to deter those who are determined to defraud etc. They will not usually accept anything other than the 'top tier'.,

[GC8]

And that it the problem: they are in the wrong. What is acceptable is dictated by the state and not by individual banks.

[Vasco]

GC8 said:

And that it the problem: they are in the wrong. What is acceptable is dictated by the state and not by individual banks.

Banks are individual companies and set their own rules for what is acceptable. There is no law saying what ID they must accept - indeed, if there was it would be in direct contradiction of other policies laid down in law (money laundering etc).

[GC8]

It was government and BoE requirements which brought about the requirement for 'identification'; which is the very opposite if what you are suggesting. You used to be able to open accounts with the sketchiest of 'identification'. I still have a Santander account which uses my middle name and spells my surname incorrectly - taken from a BT Phone bill, which was addressed incorrectly, but all that I had when I moved into a new house (in the nineties). All tightening of identity requirements was government-led and these requirements also provided for those who did not have what you appear to regard as the 'required' documents.

Are you confusing your opinion for fact? You certainly do not appear to be trying to help the man.

[Vasco]

GC8 said:

It was government and BoE requirements which brought about the requirement for 'identification'; which is the very opposite if what you are suggesting. You used to be able to open accounts with the sketchiest of 'identification'. I still have a Santander account which uses my middle name and spells my surname incorrectly - taken from a BT Phone bill, which was addressed incorrectly, but all that I had when I moved into a new house (in the nineties). All tightening of identity requirements was government-led and these requirements also provided for those who did not have what you appear to regard as the 'required' documents.

Are you confusing your opinion for fact? You certainly do not appear to be trying to help the man.

I was simply explaining. You clearly think that you know everything so I'll leave you to it.

[Killer2005]

GC8 said:

And that it the problem: they are in the wrong. What is acceptable is dictated by the state and not by individual banks.

Nope. Different documents are accepted by different banks.

[GC8]

.Gov Site said:

Option 4 – Alternatives depending on circumstances
If you don’t have any of the official documents, banks should accept alternatives such as a benefits letter; immigration status document; or a letter from a prison governor, care-home manager, homeless shelter or place of study.

Unfortunately, FCA evidence seems to suggest some bank staff and customers aren’t aware of these options. If you face problems, ask them to check their web pages which should detail what is and what isn’t accepted.