Immigration

[TXGTR]

My girlfriend in the Phillipines has all her paperwork ready for coming to the UK to study at one our colleges and passed her EILTS test. I have paid her tuition fee, but there is one thing that worries me.

Apparently, filipinas coming to the UK need 'SHOW MONEY' and my girlfriend says she has had a loan from her bank that she calls 'show money' of 800,000 pesos and the stumbling block of her being able to come here, is the 'interest' they charge.

She says the bank charges 3% interest, which at the estimated rate of 68 pesos to the £, would cost more than £300. Other than to show to Immigration, why is her bank charging interest if she can't use the money in an emergency? This seems to smack of a scam if someone is paying interest for money they cannot touch.

It also suggests that banks expect people to pay interest on the vast profits the banks make and you don't even need to take out a loan.

After paying for my girlfriend's college fee, Student Visa, air fare to the British Embassy in Manila and her air fare to the UK, there is not much change out of £4,000.

Can someone please explain what this 'show money' is all about? Her Consultants are becoming rather concerned, because college courses have already started and it still takes time to make all the arrangements to get here.

 

[blueray333]

My girlfriend in the Phillipines has all her paperwork ready for coming to the UK to study at one our colleges and passed her EILTS test. I have paid her tuition fee, but there is one thing that worries me.

Apparently, filipinas coming to the UK need 'SHOW MONEY' and my girlfriend says she has had a loan from her bank that she calls 'show money' of 800,000 pesos and the stumbling block of her being able to come here, is the 'interest' they charge.

She says the bank charges 3% interest, which at the estimated rate of 68 pesos to the £, would cost more than £300. Other than to show to Immigration, why is her bank charging interest if she can't use the money in an emergency? This seems to smack of a scam if someone is paying interest for money they cannot touch.

It also suggests that banks expect people to pay interest on the vast profits the banks make and you don't even need to take out a loan.

After paying for my girlfriend's college fee, Student Visa, air fare to the British Embassy in Manila and her air fare to the UK, there is not much change out of £4,000.

Can someone please explain what this 'show money' is all about? Her Consultants are becoming rather concerned, because college courses have already started and it still takes time to make all the arrangements to get here.

I believe they just call it show money, but actually, its a bank loan. So whenever you loan from a bank, there is always a percent interest. It's a normal transaction.

 

[TXGTR]

Thank you for your reply. It sounds logical that interest would be charged on a loan, but what use is a loan when you can't touch the money? It's like someone paying interest on someone else's money. You can't spend it, but you have to pay interest on it.

Under those circumstances, there doesn't appear to be a reason for having a loan, except to show an Entry Clearance Officer you have money, even though you can't touch it and pay interest on money that's not available. To someone who has no idea what 'show money' is, I am sure they would think it was a scam. You mention 'transaction', which, to me, is the moving or paying out or into an account of money, but this appears to be a bit of a one way street. All going in, nothing coming out.

Also, what happens about the 'loan' when the account holder leaves the country? Do they close the account or does it stay open for 'interest' to be charged from time to time when that person is in another country?


Once again, thanks for your reply. If you could explain further, I would be most grateful.

 

[blueray333]

Thank you for your reply. It sounds logical that interest would be charged on a loan, but what use is a loan when you can't touch the money? It's like someone paying interest on someone else's money. You can't spend it, but you have to pay interest on it.

Under those circumstances, there doesn't appear to be a reason for having a loan, except to show an Entry Clearance Officer you have money, even though you can't touch it and pay interest on money that's not available. To someone who has no idea what 'show money' is, I am sure they would think it was a scam. You mention 'transaction', which, to me, is the moving or paying out or into an account of money, but this appears to be a bit of a one way street. All going in, nothing coming out.

Also, what happens about the 'loan' when the account holder leaves the country? Do they close the account or does it stay open for 'interest' to be charged from time to time when that person is in another country?


Once again, thanks for your reply. If you could explain further, I would be most grateful.

A person can't touch the money might be because the loan was intended for something, and should be only used for that. So, if you asked for a loan to repair your house, the bank makes sure that you use the money as intended.

If the person leaves the country, the loan will accumulate interest. Also, banks has measures like how long can you pay the loan. So if a few months past, and no payments were made, they will be investigating it.

Here is my thought. Not sure why your girlfriend is giving you so much trouble. She should find a way to join you in UK, without adding a burden to you.