UK Immigration Update - January 2012
Published Thursday 19th January 2012, 11:12 AM
Investors and Entrepreneurs – Possible accelerated routes to settlement
- Whilst the general trend of the UK Border Agency is to restrict immigration to achieve the current coalition government’s stated target to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands, do bear in mind the changes implemented by the UK Border Agency last year, which introduced a fast track route to settlement for both Investors and Entrepreneurs.
- Tier 1 (Investors) will qualify for settlement provided they hold £5 million of their own money under their control in the UK, after 3 years, or if £10 million, after only 2 years and they have invested a specific proportion of these monies in qualifying investments during these periods.
- Similarly Tier 1 (Entrepreneurs) may qualify for accelerated settlement after 3 years, if either they have either created at least 10 new full-time posts for resident workers, for at least 12 months, or established a new UK business that has an income of at least £5 million from business activity over a three year period or if they invested in an existing business, a net increase of at least £5 million, in that business’s income from business activity, during the same period.
- Furthermore, pairs of entrepreneurs are able to apply together, without the need for increasing the level of funding, which is normally £200,000.
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