Office Address

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

FACT SHEETS

 

Investors and Businessmen

Investors

If you have at least £1 million to invest in the UK and want to settle in the UK and make it your home, you may be able to apply to enter the UK as an investor. 

To qualify as an investor, you must show that:

  • You have at least £1 million money of your own, under your own control, that you are bringing into the UK; OR you have at least £2 million (net of liabilities) if you intend to use a loan (which must be from financial institutions regulated by the Financial Services Authority) to finance the UK investment
  • You intend to invest at least £750,000 of your capital in UK Government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK registered companies (excluding property investment companies)
  • You intend to make the UK your main home
  • You are able to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without taking employment (other than self-employment or business) and without recourse to public funds

Entry to the UK in this category is granted for an initial 2 years, and can be extended by a further 3 years, provided all the above requirements continue to be met. After 5 years in the UK in this capacity, you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK provided that you have continued to meet the investor requirements.

Entry clearance is normally required, and a fee of £500 (in local currency) is payable to the British mission in your country of residence. It is possible to switch whilst in the UK from the work permit holder, HSMP, businessman or innovator categories.

Businessmen

Businessmen who wish to come to the UK to set up a new business or take over an existing one need to satisfy the following requirements:

  • You must have at least £200,000 of your own money, in your own name, and under your control and disposal, to invest in the business
  • You must have sufficient additional funds to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without recourse to employment (other than your work for the business) or to public funds until the business starts to provide an income
  • You will be actively involved full-time in the business
  • You will maintain a level of financial investment in the business proportional to your interest in the business
  • You will have an equal or controlling interest in the business and any partnership or directorship must not amount to a disguised form of employment
  • You will be able to bear your share of liabilities
  • There is a genuine need for your investment and services in the UK
  • You can show that your share of the profits will be sufficient to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without recourse to employment (other than your work for the business) or to public funds
  • You do not intend to supplement your business activities by taking or seeking employment in the UK (other than work for your business)
  • The new business, or in the case of an investment in an existing business, your investment, should create at least two new full-time jobs, for people already settled in the UK

The application should normally be made from outside the UK to a British overseas post, although it will be referred to the Home Office for a decision, which can increase the time taken. In some circumstances, business applications can be made in the UK, and it is possible to switch from other categories, such as HSMP, Student graduate, Innovator, Working Holidaymaker and Work Permit Holder.

If your application is successful, you will be granted permission to remain in the UK for a period of 2 years. Before the expiry of this period, you may apply for an extension for up to a further 3 years, provided that all the necessary requirements of the category continue to be met. After 5 years continuous stay in the UK in this category, an applicant can apply for indefinite leave to remain, subject to the submission of accounts for those 5 years.

Our Services

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:

  • Give you an assessment of the merits of your case and advise you on the best course of action
  • Inform you of the legal requirements which you will have to meet for your application to be successful
  • Explain how the legal requirements will be interpreted by the UK authorities, based on the internal instructions given to their caseworkers
  • Complete the application form on your behalf based on the information you give us
  • Give you detailed advice about the supporting evidence that will need to be submitted along with your application
  • 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.
  • 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.