Share Certificates

[Wodwik]

One requirement of the 163 Business Visa is a statement of assets & liabilities. Some of my assets are shares on the JSE. The JSE is a 'dematerialised' stock markets (as are most these days, including the ASX). This means you don't get issued an actual certificate when buying shares, instead it's all electronic. As proof of ownership, the Oz immigration requires a 'stock certificate'. I don't want to 're-materialise' my shares into actual certificates (it costs a bit and takes a few weeks, plus they could get stolen) and don't want to convert shares to cash until I'm ready to run. Has anyone else found a way around this, or knows whether the immi dept accepts a Statement from my broker?

[woodag]

I would expect them to accept a statement from your broker given that the ASX went "electronic" some years before JSE (I don't think it is even possible to 're-materialise' ASX shares into actual certificates).

[Springbok]

I would expect them to accept a statement from your broker...

i agree - your monthly statement from your stockbroker, which shows your holdings, is the physical proof of your ownership of the shares. Just like your monthly bank statement is physical proof of your funds in the bank.

[Wodwik]

Thanks kind people, after all the stockbroker is a recognised financial services provider governed by the FSB (like the banks). I just want to be sure so the application doesn't get delayed on a technicality.