What Are The Requirements Once You Have Obtained The Tier 1 Investor Visa?

If you are looking to invest in the UK, it is important to seek legal advice to understand the migration options open to you, to ensure your case is effectively represented to the authorities and to avoid any delays with your application.

A Tier 1 Investor visa allows you to invest £2,000,000 or more in UK government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active and the trading UK registered companies.

Investor visa holders are permitted (but not obliged) to work, study or engage in business activities in the UK.

The Requirements

1. Full investment of £2 million must be made in qualified investments (share or loan capital in active and trading UK companies, or UK government bonds);
2. Tier 1 (Investor) migrants who wish to purchase new qualifying investments may do so if they sell part of their existing UK portfolios. In such an instance, if the value of their current portfolio were to fall short of the required £2 million, they would then need to replace any shortfall in funds with their new qualifying investment.

Please note that transitional arrangements are being applied so that Tier 1 (Investor) migrants who started this application before the changes on 6th November 2014 were introduced will not be subjected to these changes when they apply for extensions or for indefinite leave to remain.

Extension application

Requirements for Tier 1 Investor visa extension application under the rules after 6th November 2014

• You must show that you have invested not less than £2 million in the UK by way of UK Government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active and the trading UK registered companies;
• You must show that the above-stated investment was made within 3 months of your entry to the UK or within 3 months of the date of the grant of entry clearance or leave to remain as a Tier 1 (Investor) Migrant;
• You must show that you have maintained your investment to the specified level throughout your leave

You must score at least 75 points for the above-mentioned attributes (Appendix A of the Immigration Rules). Please note, you will not be awarded any points if the money were invested into the business which is engaged in property development or property management.

If you satisfy all of the above-stated requirements you will be given a further 2 year's extension after which you might be in the position to apply for a settlement.

For £10m and £5m investments you do not need to apply for an extension, you can apply directly for settlement in 2 years and 3 years respectively.

Requirements for Tier 1 (Investor) extension application under the rules prior to 6th November 2014

• You must show that you have money of your own, under your own control, in the UK amounting to not less than £1 million;

OR

• You must show that you have personal assets which, taking into account any liabilities to which they are subject, have a value of not less than £2 million and have money under your control and disposable in the UK amounting to not less than £1 million, which has been loaned to you by the UK regulated financial institution.

AND

• You must show that you have invested not less than £750,000 of your capital in the UK by way of UK Government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active and the trading UK registered companies other than those principally engaged in property investment; and have invested the remaining balance of £1 million in the UK by the purchase of assets or by maintaining the money on deposit in the UK regulated financial institution.

AND

• Have made the investment referred to above: i) within 3 months of your entry into the UK if you were granted entry clearance as a Tier 1 (Investor) Migrant and there is evidence to establish your date of arrival to the UK, ii) within 3 months of the date of the grant of entry clearance or leave to remain as a Tier 1 (Investor) Migrant,

OR

iii) where the investment was made prior to the first grant of leave as a Tier 1 (Investor), no earlier than 12 months before the date of the application which led to the first grant of leave as a Tier 1 (Investor) Migrant,

In each case you must show that the level of investment has been maintained for the whole of the remaining period of that leave; unless your last grant was as an Investor (under the Rules in force before 30 June 2008).

As this is a points-based system category, you will need to meet 75 points to qualify. If you satisfy all of the above-stated requirements you will be given a further 2 year's extension after which you might be in the position to apply for a settlement.

For £10m and £5m investments you do not need to apply for an extension, you can apply directly for settlement in 2 years and 3 years respectively.

Why Tier 1 (Investor) visa?

• No English language requirement for you and your dependents
• No maintenance requirement;
• You can bring dependents with you, namely, your spouse or partner and children under 18;
• Limited work and study restrictions for you and your dependents;
• You are allowed to remain outside of the UK for a maximum of 180 days in any calendar year;
• The quickest way to get a British passport.

For further information on how we can assist you on your Tier 2 investor visa, or should you have any immediate queries in the meantime, please call one of our specialist UK immigration solicitors on 02037442797 or e-mail us at info@reissedwards.com