UK Business Visa - UK Residency
Tier 1– Entrepreneur UK Business Visa
The Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is a UK business visa for foreign nationals who want to come to the UK with a large investment and start their own UK business or assume control of a UK business without requiring a sponsor. However, just as with the tier 1 general visa, the individual must reach a specified points limit for this UK business visa. The individual must know English and the language requirement fulfils 10 points of the PBS (Points Based System).
It is essential that the UK business visa applicant who is immigrating to the UK can financially support him/herself and also support any dependents who may accompany them.
Similar to the English language requirement, this particular criterion has a pass mark of 10 which goes towards qualification on the PBS. The amount of maintenance funds required for the main candidate is £2800. For their dependents, it is 2/3 of this sum.
Tier 1– Investor UK Business Visa
The investor UK business visa is made for individuals who plan to make an investment in the UK. Although this is similar to the entrepreneur category, the amount expected for investment is more substantial and there are no requirements in what type of business activities the applicant may engage in. For this business visa, English language proficiency is not deemed necessary as it is a mandatory requirement, although the business visa applicant MUST be able to financially support themselves and any dependents. Applicants investing sufficient funds in a business do not need to meet the requirement of a maintenance test.
Tier 2 - Work Permit UK Business Visa
A work permit is a UK business visa that is specifically designed for medium to highly skilled workers coming to the UK and requires the candidate to already have an offer of employment from a UK company. When applying for the tier 2 visa, the process is handled by the sponsoring company that must apply on behalf of the individual they are interested in employing. However, similar to all tiers of the new points based system, applicants must meet the relevant points requirement. In the case of the tier 2 visa, this would be a 50 point minimum pass mark.
Tier 2 work permits lead to long term UK residency. Although it is not a permanent UK residency visa, candidates who serve 5 years in the UK can apply for Indefinite Leave to remain. After 5 years, the applicant can also apply for naturalization.
Tier 2 - Intra Company Transfers UK Business Visa
Tier 2 Intra Company Transfers allow non UK citizens to work.
Visa Applicants must be employed by the overseas office of the company they are coming to work for in the UK, for at least 6months beforehand, and they must be able to show that they have full knowledge and can do the job they are here for.
UK Citizenship
UK Citizenship allows the applicant to have full rights within the UK, a British passport, without the need for a visa application.
Eligibility for Visa Applicants for UK Citizenship
To be eligible for UK citizenship, applicants must be living in the UK for at least 3 to 5 years prior. The applicant must:
1. Have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for 1 year or more before making the application for naturalization.
2. Have not spent more than 450 days outside the UK in the last 5years and no more than 90 days in the last year
3. Be over 18 years of age when making the application
4. Continue to reside in the UK once they become naturalized
5. Be able to speak an adequate level of English
6. Be married / unmarried for at least 2 years
An application for UK naturalization needs to have the following:
All passports that were held before entering the UK
A complete breakdown of all the days that the applicant has travelled outside of Britain in the last 3 years, this MUST include all the names of the countries, the actual dates, and the reason why the applicant had travelled to these destinations, with relevant documental evidences.
An applicant must also have 2 references. (These must be UK citizens, over the age of 25, non related to the applicant in any way, i.e. not family)
To apply for UK Citizenship in the case where the applicant has been in Britain for 3 + years prior, they must:
1. Have held (ILR) and be married to a United Kingdom citizen
2. Have not spent more than 270 days outside the United Kingdom in the last 3 years and no more than 90 days should have been taken in the last year.
3. Be over 18 years of age when making the application
4. Continue to reside in the UK once they become naturalized
5. Be able to speak English at a good level
In the case for applicants who have been in the UK for 5 years prior, applications for the British Naturalization service after 3 years must include:
1. A valid UK passport of spouse
2. A Valid Marriage certificate
Benefits of UK Naturalization
UK naturalization offers permanent residence in Britain. This means the applicant has no restrictions; they no longer need a work permit.
Alternative routes to UK Naturalization
Having British Born Parents
Applicants who have a British born father CAN apply for UK natu on.
Right of Abode
Applicants who have a British born mother before 1 January 1983 are eligible for British nationality through registration. Any applicant who holds the right of abode and have been in Britain for over five years may register or apply for naturalization.
Note to all applicants:
Many countries allow the applicants to keep their current citizenship after they have become naturalized in the UK. This can also be known as dual citizenship. It is important to note that some countries do not recognize dual citizenship so if this is the case, applicants MUST forfeit their current passport and citizenship.
Capital Visas can assist you
We have assisted many individuals in moving to the UK on a variety of visas. Our immigration consultants and caseworkers have a wide range of immigration expertise and experience to assist you to find not only the right route into the UK but the best option for yourself from amongst the variety of work permits and UK visas available.
Capital Visas being a leading specialist in UK immigration can assist you in every aspect of your relocation to the UK, from advice on the initial application process to a range of services to assist you once you have arrived in the UK.