We have recently posted that the Home Office intended to suspend the Golden Visa, or Tier 1 (Investor) visa category. However, the UK Government has no back-tracked and insists the route is still open to new Applicants. If you meet the requirements for the Tier 1 (Investor) visa and would like more advice on how to apply, contact our specialist business immigration team to book an initial consultation with our solicitors.
What is the UK’s Golden Visa and why was it to be suspended?
The Golden Visa, which is officially called the Tier 1 (Investor) visa, is a visa route for high net worth individuals and is considered under the Points Based System. The main requirement is for at least £2 million to be invested into the UK and in return, Applicants can benefit from accelerated settlement. Another attraction of this category is that there is no English language requirement for applicants, unlike for most other UK visa routes. The main criticism of this route, especially in recent months, has been over the legitimacy of the source of the funds. Therefore, the Home Office announced that it planned to suspend the Golden Visa route because of the crack-down on money laundering and financial crime; specifically in the aftermath of the Salisbury poisonings early this year and subsequent break-down in UK-Russian relations.
Throughout last week, there has been a great deal of confusion as to whether or not the Golden Visa route had in fact been suspended. It has now been confirmed that this visa route is still very much open to new applicants.
Why did the UK U-Turn on suspending the Golden Visa?
The plans to suspend the Golden Visa route caused a lot of backlash and confusion. This is because Caroline Nokes, Theresa May and the Home Office have constantly stated that the UK “will always be open to legitimate and genuine investors who are committed to helping our economy and businesses grow”. Yet, the suspension of the popular visa category focused on attracting high net worth individuals contradicted this. Due the amount of uncertainty for new applicants and the potential of turning away millions of pounds of investment to the UK, the Home Office has now said that from next year, independent, regulated auditors will assess Applicants’ financial and business interests and check they have had control of the funds for at least two years. Thus in the meantime, the Golden Visa route is still active.
If you are a high net worth individual looking to invest a considerable sum into the UK, then please do not hesitate to contact us and we can tell you how we can prepare a successful Golden Visa application.
Using Legal Representation to prepare a Golden Visa Application
Legal representatives, such as our specialist immigration and visa law firm, are qualified to advise you on immigration law and your immigration status. It is possible to instruct an immigration and visa legal representative to submit a UK Golden Visa application.
Caseworkers at the Home Office are trained to reject applications which are improperly prepared, for example by failing to provide the correct supporting evidence. In order to ensure your application succeeds, all necessary documents must be provided.
This can be a significant administrative task and you will need to submit the correct documentary evidence. The UK Immigration Rules are complex and a legal representative can help ensure that your UK Golden Visa application meets the Immigration Rules.
Successful Golden Visa Applications
Our team of solicitors and barristers are specialist immigration lawyers who act in your best interest. We offer a client-tailored approach from the outset. From the very first meeting, we will be able to advise you in respect of your UK Golden Visa application and the merit of your UK Golden Visa application before your application even reaches the Home Office UK Visa & Immigration department. We can assist you with the preparation and submission of your UK Golden Visa application and ensure that you meet all the requirements of the relevant rules.
We are based in the legal epicentre of London, just across the road from the Royal Courts of Justice in order to ensure we get the best results for our clients. LEXVISA is just minutes away from the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and other central London courts.
Preparation is the key to a successful UK Golden Visa application. Our UK immigration and visa solicitors are here to guide you through the complex immigration rules and requirements. If you wish to meet one of our lawyers, please call our Immigration Team so we can assess your case and arrange your legal consultation.
Contact our London immigration solicitors on 02030110276 or complete our contact form.