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• STOP PRESS -16/08/2010 - Same Day Service available for Tier 4 Student visa applications
• STOP PRESS - 29/06/2010 - Migrants marrying UK citizens must now learn English
• STOP PRESS - 29/06/2010 - Imminent reductions in the number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 visas announced today
• STOP PRESS - 07/04/2010 – Tier 4 changes for education providers and migrant students
• STOP PRESS - 07/04/2010 – New rules for skilled and highly skilled migrant workers

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)

The Tier 1 (entrepreneur) category is for those investing in the United Kingdom by setting up or taking over, and being actively involved in the running of, one or more businesses in the United Kingdom.

To qualify for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa you must:

• score 75 points for your attributes which are different depending on whether you make an initial or extension application; and
• 10 points for English language; and
• 10 points for available maintenance (funds).

Points awarded for attributes

You will score 75 points as follows:

• For an initial application you must have access to £200,000 in a FSA regulated Bank and it must be available in the UK
• For an extension application you must already have invested £200,000 in to a UK business, registered that business within three months, engaged in business activity and created at least two full time new jobs.

Fees breakdown

Our fee for managing Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa applications is:

The Home Office charges are:

TIER 1 VISA, ENTREPENEUR VISA

A tier 1 visa, entrepreneur visa allows non-UK citizens to invest in the British economy by taking over, setting up or playing a major part in the running of a UK business. The tier 1 visa, entrepreneur is a merger of the Innovators and Businesspersons schemes that were previously in place. Candidates applying for the tier 1 visa, entrepreneurs do not need to have a sponsor.

To set up a business or assist in an already-functioning business, applicants for the tier 1 visa, entrepreneur visa must further demonstrate that they possess disposable capital of more than £200,000. This amount must be held in a regulated financial institution for three months prior to the application for the tier 1 visa, entrepreneur visa.

Changes to the application process for the tier 1 visa, entrepreneur visa means that people can apply who are already in the UK and wish to operate as an entrepreneur. Those already operating as entrepreneurs can also apply for a tier 1 visa, entrepreneur visa so that they can extend their stay.

Applicants for the tier 1 visa, entrepreneur must achieve no less than 75 points on the UK’s points-based immigration system. Being in possession of the capital already mentioned will earn the applicant 25 points. A further 25 points are earned if the capital is held with a UK regulated financial institution. The remaining 25 points needed to qualify for the tier 1 visa, entrepreneur are earned if the capital is disposable within the UK.

In addition, the UK government requires applicants for the tier 1 visa, entrepreneur to show that they are able to use the English language at a certain level useful to promoting business within the country. To do this, applicants for the tier 1 visa, entrepreneur can show that they are from a country where English in the primary language spoken by the inhabitants.

Alternatively, they can have taken a test that demonstrates their ability to the C1 level outlined by the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for Language Learning. If the applicant has studied for a degree that has been taught in English then they will have earned the ten points required by the tier 1 visa, entrepreneur.

As with other tier 1 criteria, applicants for the tier 1 visa, entrepreneur must be able to show to the UK immigration authorities that they have the means to support themselves and also their dependants.