Office Address

Global Immigration Solutions
Hiltongrove Business Centre
Hatherley Mews
London
E17 4QP
Telephone: 08448 044 128

FACT SHEETS

 

Innovators

The Innovator category aims to attract outstanding and creative entrepreneurs to the UK, to set up businesses which would bring ‘exceptional economic benefits’ to this country. The emphasis is on attracting talent and is particularly aimed at the areas of science and technology.

The UK government has announced changes to the Innovator programme from the beginning of 2008. This guide reflects the current requirements.

The key distinguishing features of the scheme are:

  • There is no minimum investment required
  • There is no requirement to invest personal funds – funding by third parties is permitted
  • The proposed business must be seen as bringing exceptional economic benefits to the UK

Your application must show that four minimum requirements are met:

  • The creation of at least two full-time equivalent jobs within the first 12 months of trading for people who are settled in the UK
  • You must hold at least 5% of the equity share capital of the business
  • You must be able to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without recourse to other employment or public funds until the business provides an income
  • Sufficient funds must be available (or agreed in principle) to finance the business for the first six months after your arrival in the UK.

If your application meets all these requirements, it will be assessed using a points system. The application must score a minimum number of points in three different areas, and reach a minimum overall score of 100 out of 300.

Anyone wishing to come to the UK as an Innovator should normally apply at the British post in their country of usual residence; however, the Home Office may consider applications lodged in the UK, unless you are here as a visitor.

If your application is successful you will be granted permission to stay in the UK as an Innovator for 2 years initially. Towards the end of that period, it is possible to apply for an extension of permission up to a total period of 5 years. Applicants who remain in the UK in the innovator category for a period of 5 years will be eligible for indefinite leave to remain.

Our Services

Consultations and General Advice

If you want general advice about your immigration situation, you can make an appointment to meet with one of our lawyers. We will give you an assessment of the merits of your case and advise you on what we consider your best course of action to be. If our advice is that you can submit an application, you may decide to do this yourself, or to instruct us to take your case on and make the application on your behalf.

Making an initial application in the UK or abroad

The quality of an initial application can make the difference between the success and failure of that application. When you instruct us we will:

  1. Give you an assessment of the merits of your case and advise you on the best course of action
  2. Inform you of the legal requirements which you will have to meet for your application to be successful
  3. Explain how the legal requirements will be interpreted by the UK authorities, based on the internal instructions given to their caseworkers
  4. Complete the application form on your behalf based on the information you give us
  5. Give you detailed advice about the supporting evidence that will need to be submitted along with your application
  6. Submit your application form along with all evidence and with legal representations on your behalf. In the legal representations we will set out the particulars of your case and circumstances, details of the Immigration Rules under which you are asking for your application to be considered, and show how you meet the requirements of the law, or, if you do not meet the requirements, explain any compelling and compassionate circumstances and present your case in the best possible light to explain in legal terms why your application should be successful.
  7. Liaise with the appropriate authorities until a decision on your application is received

Appealing against a refusal

If your application is refused by the UK authorities you will have a right to appeal against the refusal. An appeal must be lodged within very short time limits, and the appeal form must give detailed reasons for the appeal (called ‘grounds of appeal’) if the appeal is to be valid. All appeals, even those against the refusal of entry clearance abroad, are heard by an Immigration Judge sitting at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in the UK.

We offer two levels of service:

Grounds of Appeal
We will review your papers (initial application and supporting documents, refusal letter) and will draft detailed grounds of appeal giving legal reasons as to why your application should not have been refused, for you to submit with your appeal. We may need further information, either face-to-face or over the telephone/email, from you to enable us to do this. We have no responsibility towards you other than drafting the grounds of appeal within the strict time limits given by the UK authorities.

Representation
As well as drafting grounds of appeal we will submit your appeal to the Tribunal within the given time limit, liaise with you and any witnesses you may have who will speak for you at your hearing, liaise with the UK authorities on your behalf, and represent you before the Immigration Judge when your appeal is heard, using legal arguments, case law and the government’s own immigration rules and policies to present your case in the best possible light.