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I applied for a UK visa (visitor) from India to attend an academic competition in London. The organizer provided the participants with an invitation letter. For my visa application, I used my father's bank statement.

My first visa application was denied due to inconsistent bank history, the reason why it was inconsistent wasn't explained. On my second try, I attached airlines tickets (both ways), accommodation details (it had been present in the first attempt, but was conveniently ignored) and two other bank statements from my father's different accounts along with the account that was used previously. Like in the first application, I attached copies of his Income Tax details (current).

However, even after making these changes my application was again denied. On further frivolous grounds:

  1. That my studies would be ongoing when my visa expires - while accepting that my university has confirmed that I am a bona fide student they felt my studies would not extend to 6 months, which was the duration of the visa.

  2. That the new accounts presented showed deposits entering my parents' accounts that had not appeared on the Income Tax ledger. It is important to note that the said Tax details were for 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, the most current tax details going back three years had been provided. The transaction so pointed out was for December 2017, the assessment year for which would be 2017-18, which has not yet come to pass. Furthermore, the amount mentioned was for arrears, which is very common for government employees, who receive lump-sum payments.

Both my attempts have not only affected me financially (the cost of the application was around INR 8,000 and INR 9,000 approximately), it has also affected me mentally as my participation in the International Rounds was crucial for my team (who have interestingly all received a positive response, even when I had cited their application as well). I wanted to know steps if any that can be taken to:

  1. Ensure that this matter be rectified, without incurring any financial cost.
  2. Make changes for my future application.
  3. Ask for a financial statement of my dad that has not been delivered to me, which has been kept back without any statement as to the reason.

I have attached my rejection letters along with my question.

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    You're funds parking and you don't demonstrate ties to your home country and you haven't changed your life in a way that meaningfully shows your visa application is any different from the previous rejection. This isn't some paper pusher in India, this is a professional who's made an effort to see if you have made an effort, and was disappointed. – Nij Feb 9 '18 at 4:45
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    @PrateekSemwal to all intent and purpose, it looks like funds parking because the sums were not adequately explained in your application. If the funds do not appear on the tax ledger, then that needs to be explained, and other documentary evidence should be provided to show the legal source of the deposits - pay slips, business accounts with invoices etc etc etc. If the applicant does not explain it themselves, then the IO has every right to assume the funds are unexplained and therefore suspicious. – Moo Feb 9 '18 at 5:40
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    @PrateekSemwal you should also never purchase tickets prior to applying for a visa - the UK government even say it isnt required in their advice FAQ and other places: gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/… – Moo Feb 9 '18 at 5:43
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    @PrateekSemwal you provide evidence for any and all substantial deposits - pay, sold your car, sold a kidney, it doesn't matter, you need to present evidence or else your application can be denied on the grounds yours was. It doesn't matter how many of them there are, they need to be backed up with evidence that they are legitimate and legal. Every. Single. One. – Moo Feb 9 '18 at 5:52
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    @prateek No confusion. I merely ask that you format your question to make it more legible. – user67901 Feb 9 '18 at 6:21
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First I strongly recommend reading this excellent answer. Not only it explains the same issue as yours, but it also has additional points worth considering regarding reapplying.

There is also a generic answer about bank statements here. It is a long one, but very well written and contains lots of useful information, including sponsored applications.

Specific to your case is another answer on a similar topic (yes there are plenty):

On the other hand, borrowing money from family is not forbidden per se but you still need to document your own income thoroughly and account for the sudden cash deposit. The problem here is that it looks a lot like you obtained money just to make yourself look richer than you really are and increase your chances of getting a visa. Also, the consulate wants to know that you (and your family) obtained the money legally, i.e. that you are not involved in criminal activities, money laundering, etc.

Another reason - and this is why I'm writing it as an answer instead of dumping links in comments - is that you probably think of this paperwork as being similar to Indian government bureaucracy. Which, in my experience, is that you are required to bring a lot of papers, which are time consuming to get, but would mostly be ignored when your paperwork is reviewed, and many are hardly even relevant.

Based on a lot of feedback, this is not how the UK consulate works. They pay a lot of attention to the paperwork submitted and are very good in sniffing out inaccuracies. For example they explicitly mentioned the unexpected deposit which are not explained by ITR or by anything else. Explaining those issues is your responsibility.

Note that they are under no obligation to issue a visa. Again, this is different from the case where you WILL get your government paperwork anyway, they would just annoy you with more requests of useless documents. There is no "right to visa" - it is a privilege which you need to prove you'd qualify for.

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  • Thanks for the reply, in reality, it was not an unexpected sum and some inquiry into my father's finances would have explained the same. He was a high ranking officer in an O&G firm and as expected has sizeable deposits. The amount deposit in question is actually a meager part of his total deposit in that account, let alone his and my families net worth. It is frustrating because it seems as if the officer did not apply himself properly. And of course, I understand that availing a visa is not a right. But retaining applicant documents without disclosure as to the reason ? – Prateek Feb 9 '18 at 5:23
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    @PrateekSemwal unless the evidence was actually presented in document form to the immigration officer as part of the application, then its not their job to "inquire" - its their job to judge the application on its own merits, which is the evidence presented with the application. If your fathers finances were not explained with evidence as part of the application, then the immigration official is right to question it. If your fathers 2017-2018 tax related transaction appeared on bank statements then it needed to be explained, the ICO will not make any assumptions in your favour. – Moo Feb 9 '18 at 5:35
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    @PrateekSemwal part of the UK visa process is to demonstrate that not only you have adequate funding, but that the money is actually and legally yours. The applicant has to meet the same legal standards as any person living in the UK has to when it comes to demonstrating legality of finances - this isnt a test the UK just subjects foreigners to, its a test everyone in the UK must undergo if scrutinised. – Moo Feb 9 '18 at 5:37
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    @PrateekSemwal the IO is concerned about a deposit in your fathers account - therefore there has to be documentary evidence as to where that deposit came from, they don't just happen unexpectedly (and if they do, you should be reporting that to the police and your bank). So where is that evidence? The following years tax returns will not be the only evidence of that deposits source and validity, I can guarantee that, so you need to present that evidence. You didn't, and thus the deposit was assumed to be of dubious credibility. – Moo Feb 9 '18 at 5:47
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    @Prateek please read the answers I linked in my answer, and do not reapply until and unless you have a very clear and obvious case. Please pay extra attention to sponsor applications (which yours is because your family sponsors your trip) and correct those weaknesses. It is not only about money - lack of your economic ties to India has been explicitly stated in refusal, and it needs to be overcomed for a chance to succeed. – George Y. Feb 9 '18 at 6:29
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Relax. Don't be so defensive and don't shift the blame to the ECO and don't judge the legality of their actions on a mere refusal. They know their country's laws much more than an applicant does.

Once you have calmed down and come out of this state of mind simply go hire services of an immigration specialist and let them build your cause for you.

You have mentioned that your father has sizable assets so i assume having some consultancy won't be a dent on your pockets. I believe everything you're saying is true and you are a legitimate visitor but you are not being able to make a strong case for it in front of the ECO.

So stop digging yourself in further and take some help that you can easily afford.

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