There is a requirement to meet the maintenance funds which is part of the immigration rules at paragraph 245ZB - 245ZH of part 6a. The Home Office wants you to show that you have enough funds available to support yourself throughout the entire length of stay. It can be accepted that you would be starting a job; however the Home Office wants to ensure that you do not face any financial difficulties during your stay in the United Kingdom.

There are various ways where the maintenance funds can be satisfied and they are as follows (Please note all supporting documents must be supplied);

• £800 in available funds that you have had in your bank account for three months before the date you apply;
• your certificate of sponsorship from an A-rated sponsor confirms that you will not claim benefits while in the United Kingdom. Your sponsor should send a letter saying they will maintain and accommodate you until the end of the first month you are here.

Automatic points for maintenance

You will automatically be awarded points for maintenance without giving evidence if:

• you have been given permission to stay in tier 2 before and are applying to extend your stay;
• you are switching from the post-study worker category of tier 1;
• a Jewish agency employee; or
• a member of the operational ground staff of overseas-owned airline; or
• a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order,
• representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation; a work permit holder.

There are various ways you can show your maintenance funds:

• cash savings in your account that have been in your account for at least three months before your application;
• cash savings in a joint account that have been in your joint account for at least three months before your application;
• cash savings in a account overseas (we convert the amount to pounds sterling using the rate which appears on the OANDA website, which you can finds on the right of this page, and the date on your bank statement), that have been in your account for at least three months before your application;
• a letter from a financial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority or home regulator confirming funds.

The balance must show that you have had at least £800 in your account at all times over the three-month period.

For the purpose of the points-based system an online bank account is one that operates over the internet only and sends your bank statements to you electronically (for example over the internet or through email).  If you wish to use electronic bank statements from an online bank account as evidence, these statements must always be accompanied by a supporting letter from that bank, on their company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statements

If you have a bank account that does not operate exclusively online but you receive your bank statements electronically and you wish to use these statements as evidence of funds for maintenance, you should provide:

• electronic bank statements printed at the bank on their official stationary; or
• electronic statements printed by the applicant and bearing the official stamp of the bank in question. This stamp should appear on every page of the statements; or
• a supporting letter from the bank, on the banks company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statements.