If you were granted a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa you would have been granted a 3 year and 4-month visa to establish or take over an existing business in the United Kingdom. Whilst the route has been shut down for new applications it is still possible to apply for a Tier 1 extension. Extension applications will remain open until 5 April 2023, and settlement applications until 5 April 2025. In order to apply for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension, you must show that you have invested £200,000 into your business and you have employed 2 British or settled workers.
What is Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension?
The Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension application allows you to ask the Home Office to extend your visa for a further two years. After spending 5 years on this route you can submit an application to settle (indefinite leave to remain) on this route. However, under some circumstances, you can apply to settle after 3 years if you can show that your business has generated an income of £5 million or created 10 full-time jobs.
How to apply for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension?
In order to successfully apply for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension Applicants are required to meet the requirements under Paragraph 245DD of the Immigration Rules and meet the relevant requirements under the Appendixes A, B & C. The main requirements are that:
- You must show that you will continue to meet the genuine entrepreneur test and you have established or taken over an existing business in the UK;
- You must also submit evidence showing that you have invested £200,000 in your business;
- You are registered with HM Revenue and Customs as self-employed or registered with Companies House as a director of a UK company, or member of a UK partnership;
- You must have created at least 2 full-time jobs for British or settled workers;
- You must continue to meet the maintenance requirement; and
- You must meet the English language requirement.
The Home Office reserve the right to request for further documents or information at any stage post submission of the application where they believe it is necessary to do so. If you fail to comply with their request your application may be refused. You will normally be given 28 days to provide further documents or information.
How much does the Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension cost?
The Home Office application fee to extend your Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is £1277 plus the biometric (fingerprints & photograph) fee of £19.20. You must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge payment which is £400 per year but likely to be increased in October 2020 to £624. It is important to submit a well-prepared application, as the Home Office is non-refundable.
How long will it take to get a decision on a Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension?
The standard processing time for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension application is 8 weeks from the date of the biometric appointment. However, the decision may be delayed if the Home Office has requested further information. You can pay an additional £810 to use a 24-hour priority service, which is often preferred to the standard processing application. In some circumstances, the Home Office may wish to conduct an interview to obtain further information about the business and its operations.
I have submitted my Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension but my visa has finished
It is important for Applicants to submit their extension application before the expiry of their visa, as this will protect their status whilst the Home Office is considering their application. Applicants who submit their application before their deadline can enjoy the virtue of Section 3C leave under the Immigration Act 1971 as this will extend your leave until a decision has been made on the application.
How our immigration solicitors can help with Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension
Our immigration solicitors in London specialise in visa applications and prepare applications to the highest standard. We have an impeccable track history of submitting successful Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension applications for a range of clients. The key to submitting a successful Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension application is being aware of the relevant Immigration Rules and submitting the correct supporting documents. Our immigration solicitors in London guide Applicants through the requirements and prepare detailed legal submissions in support of the application. In addition to the legal representations, our team of solicitors also provides multiple substantial reviews of the application bundle to ensure that the correct documentary evidence is submitted. We also prepare and assist with the submission of the application.
Using our Immigration Solicitors to submit Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension
Legal representatives, such as our specialist immigration and visa law firm, are qualified to advise you on immigration law and your immigration matter. You can instruct one of our immigration and visa legal representatives to successfully assist you with a Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension application to submit a visa application. Our solicitors and Barristers will help you comply with the Home Office’s requirements and meet the Immigration Rules.
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, our solicitors and barristers will ensure all specified documents must be provided.
The UK Immigration Rules are complex and a legal representative can help ensure that your application meets the Immigration Rules.
Successfully submit Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension 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 prospects of submitting a Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension application before your application even reaches the Home Office UK Visa & Immigration department. We can assist you with the preparation and submission of a visa application and ensure that you meet all the requirements under the Immigration 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. We are minutes away from the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice, and other central London courts.
Preparation is the key to successful immigration applications. 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 to discuss a visa application.
Contact our London immigration solicitors on 02030110276 or complete our contact form.