UK Bank account for Russian Citizen

Legacy_user

I have a friend in Russia who opened a Monzo account in the UK, using a friend's home address and their Russian passport to open the account. They wanted a UK account as they do not trust Russian banks. This is not a large amount of money and is in no way illegal, just their savings of about £3000.
Is this account legal? Would they be able to use this account to show funds when applying for a visitor visa to the UK?

Thanks

[Deleted User]

robcam73 wrote: »

I have a friend in Russia who opened a Monzo account in the UK, using a friend's home address and their Russian passport to open the account. They wanted a UK account as they do not trust Russian banks. This is not a large amount of money and is in no way illegal, just their savings of about £3000.
Is this account legal? Would they be able to use this account to show funds when applying for a visitor visa to the UK?

Thanks

Sounds real dodgy, sure the home office will think so too

Silver_Queen

How did they open the account with no proof of right to reside in the UK?

eDicky

Yes, if Monzo allowed them to open the account and their requirements were fulfilled, of course, there's nothing illegal about it. Monzo don't require proof of address and there's nothing to prevent them from offering accounts to non UK residents. Surely it can be used as proof of funds for a visa application, easy to verify.

18cc

Agree with the above can't see any difference between the situation you describe and me opening a bank account in Switzerland America or indeed Russia

[Deleted User]

But surely falsely using a friends address is not meeting the requirements? They've lied about their residence, great start applying for a visa

[Deleted User]

I honestly don't think we'll here back from OP...

Tallaght

Banks could see it as classic fraud especially as the account was set up using a friends passport and address.

jonesMUFCforever

Russia or certainly part of it is a big no no - subject to restrictions which means Monzo will block the card when they find out.

eDicky

Tallaght wrote: »

Banks could see it as classic fraud especially as the account was set up using a friends passport and address.

The OP may be ambiguous but if you think about it, it's impossible to open an account in your name using someone else's passport.

Monzo only requires the address for purpose of card delivery. Plenty of innocent foreigners hold such accounts, and the providers are quick to require extra verification when necessary.

eDicky

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Russia or certainly part of it is a big no no - subject to restrictions which means Monzo will block the card when they find out.

Which parts; what are these restrictions?