Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

Q. I applied for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa from outside the UK and my application has been refused wrongly by the Entry Clearance Officer. How can I challenge the refusal of my Tier 1 Entrepreneur application?

Answer: You can challenge the refusal of your entry clearance application by filing a request for Administrative Review within 28 days of the date of the receipt of refusal letter. The administrative review request will be determined by the Entry Clearance Manager (ECM) within 28 days of the date of the receipt of your request.If refusal is maintained by the Entry Clearance Manager and you disagree with the decision made by the Entry Clearance Manager, you can then challenge the refusal letter by way of Judicial Review in High Court.

Q. I applied for Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa from inside the UK and my application has been refused by the Home Office, UKBA. I am of the view that the refusal of my application is unlawful. How can I challenge the refusal of my application?

Answer: You can challenge the refusal of your application by way of an appeal to the First Tier Tribunal if your leave to remain already expired at the time of decision made by the Home Office on your application. If you still have valid leave to remain, you will not get a right of appeal to appeal to the First Tribunal and the refusal can only be challenged by way of Judicial Review in High Court.

Q. How many points do I need to score in order to succeed in my application for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa?

Answer: For your application to be successful, you must score a total of 95 points and meet all the other requirements of the Immigration Rules.

Q. How much funds should I have access to for the application to succeed?

Answer: You will score 75 points if you have access to at least £200,000.Answer:

Alternatively, you will score 75 points if you have access to at least £50,000 from:

• 1 or more venture capital firms regulated by the Financial Services Authority;
• UK entrepreneurial seed funding competitions listed as endorsed on the UK Trade & Investment website; and/or
• 1 or more UK government departments, which have made the funds available for the specific purpose of establishing or expanding a UK business.

In all cases, the funds must be:

• held in 1 or more regulated financial institutions; and
• disposable (free for you to spend) in the UK

Q. For how long will I get my UK visa if I my application for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is successful?

Answer: If your application for UK visa as a Tier 1 Entrepreneur is successful, you will be issued with a UK visa for 3 years and 4 months. An application for extension of stay can be submitted before the expiry of the visa.

Q. From where can I download the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Application Form to apply for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa from inside the UK?

Answer: You can download the Tier 1 Entrepreneur application Form from the UKBA Website.

Q: What is the processing time (waiting time) for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa applications?

Answer:

An in-country application for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa submitted by post is decided according to the Home Office guidelines for processing of Tier 1 Entrepreneur applications

An out of country Tier 1 Entrepreneur application submitted to the British Embassy / High Commission is decided by the Home Office UKBA according to the Home Office Guide to the Visa Processing Times

Q: What is the date of my application if I am applying for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa from outside the UK?

Answer: The date of your application is the date when your application fee is paid to the Home Office, UKBA. This will be the date shown on your payment receipt, which depends on how you paid for your visa application - for example, at a visa application centre or online.