Investment Portfolios and the Appendix FM Financial Requirement
When people think about meeting the financial requirement for a partner or family visa application under Appendix FM, they often assume the evidence must come from employment income or ordinary cash savings in a standard bank account.
We are pleased to share that we have recently secured a successful outcome in a family immigration case where the financial requirement under Appendix FM was met through an investment portfolio.
This case highlights an important and often overlooked point: applicants are not limited to employment income or traditional cash savings when meeting the financial requirement.
In this matter, funds held within an investment account were relied upon as part of the application. With the correct supporting evidence, this approach was accepted in line with the Immigration Rules.
What the rules say
Appendix FM-SE makes clear that savings do not have to sit in a simple current account to be relevant. The rules state that savings may be held in:
“any form of bank/savings account (whether a current, deposit or investment account, provided by a financial institution regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for the country in which that institution is operating), provided that the account allows the savings to be accessed immediately (with or without a penalty for withdrawing funds without notice).”
That wording is significant. It means an investment account can be relied upon, so long as the account and the funds meet the requirements.
The rules also go further where funds have been transferred from investments into cash. Appendix FM-SE states that:
“Funds held as cash savings… can have been transferred from investments, stocks, shares, bonds or trust funds within the period of 6 months prior to the date of application…”
This is possible where the applicant or partner can show, among other things:
“The ownership of the funds in the form of investments, stocks, shares, bonds or trust funds; the cash value of the funds in that form… and the transfer of the funds into cash, are evidenced by a portfolio report or other relevant documentation from a financial institution regulated by the appropriate regulatory body…”
Why this matters
This is an important reminder for applicants who may have substantial resources but do not hold them in the format people typically associate with “cash savings”.
For example, some individuals hold funds in:
- investment portfolios
- wealth management accounts
- stock or bond holdings
- certain pension-based savings arrangements
These may still be relevant under Appendix FM-SE, but the evidence must be prepared carefully.
The practical point
A high portfolio value alone is not enough.
The supporting evidence should make it easy for the Home Office to understand:
- who owns the funds
- that the funds are under the applicant’s or partner’s control
- the value of the holdings
- that the institution is properly regulated
- whether the money can be accessed or withdrawn
In particular, one of the most important practical issues is accessibility. The evidence should show that the money can be withdrawn or realised, even if there may be a penalty or notice period. This is where a clear letter from the financial institution can be extremely helpful.
Please feel free to contact Sterlin Law Team if you would like our support and guidance focused on your circumstances.
