Today, a new study has revealed that international graduate entrepreneurs would not choose the UK to start their business as a result of the “impossible visa restrictions”. The new report titled Made in the UK: Unlocking the Door to International Entrepreneurs found that countries such as the US and Australia are attracting international Entrepreneurs over the UK.
International Students’ Officer: Research which shows that many International Students feel unwelcome in the UK
The report was done in partnership with the Entrepreneurs Network thinktank and found that opportunities for graduate employment in have become more limited. This is due to the closure of the post-study work visa in 2012. The study found:
- 42% of 16,000 international graduates in the UK wanted to start their own businesses. Only 33% of this figure wanted to start their business in the UK.
- 1/3 of student believed that UK Immigration Rules are stricter than other country.
- Only 2% of graduate students who said they wanted to start their own business actually applied for UK Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa. An estimated 2/3 claimed they did not consider going through this visa route due to the UK immigration policy.
Shreya Paudel, international students’ officer at the NUS expressed her disappointment in the findings of the study:
“It’s once again saddening to see more research which shows that many international students feel unwelcome in the UK as a result of the government’s hostile and overzealous policies. The should be celebrating international graduates with entrepreneurial spirit who want to contribute to this country. Instead, many graduates are put off from starting businesses here because of impossible visa restrictions that place them in Catch-22 situations.”
This study has been released as it has emerged that net migration to the UK rose to 260,000 in the year to June – an increase of 78,000 on the previous year. No where near the UK Government’s target which David Cameron announced plans to reduce migration to the “tens of thousands” by May 2015. Philip Salter, director of The Entrepreneurs Network has explained that the current
Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa Route
You can apply for a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa if you:
- Are a graduate who has been officially endorsed as having a genuine and credible business idea
- Are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
Additionally there are a number of other Home Office requirements for this visa route. Your eligibility requirements for this visa depends on who is endorsing you such as endorsement by a UK higher education institution (HEI) or endorsement by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). You can stay in the UK for 1 year on a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa and extend this visa for up to another year. If your business is considered successful you may be able switch to Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa.
Successful Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa Applications & Appeals
Our team of experienced and professionally qualified solicitors and barristers will be able to guide you through the process of making a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa application step by step and limit the possibility of failure by complying with the strict letter of the law.
We also undertake a great deal of appeal work before the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and have a successful track record of successful results for our clients. We have the experience and the knowledge required to take your case forward successfully. If you have had a entrepreneur visa refused, contact us to discuss your case so that we can provide you with a case assessment.