Tier 1

Question 1

If you wish to invest in the UK by setting up or taking over a business or by becoming a part-owner of a UK business, which category can you use?

Answer 1

You can come to the UK under the Entrepreneur sub-category of Tier 1.

Question 2

What are the first set of requirements for an individual to fall under this category?

Answer 2

You must be actively involved in the running of the business.

You must score at least 95 points under the Tier 1 points-based system.

Question 3

1. 25 points

Answer 3

(i) having access to at least £200,000 of disposable capital.

Question 4

2. 25 points

Answer 4

(ii) Having at least £50,000 from:
(a) one or more registered venture capital firms or
(b) one or more UK entrepreneurial seed funding competitions
(c) one or more UK government departments

Question 5

3. 25 points

Answer 5

(iii)
(a) Having a live application for leave to remain in the UK
(b) Having a tier 1 (Post study work) visa
(c) Being engaged in business activity

Question 6

4. 25 points

Answer 6

(iv) Having access to at least £50,000 and also a Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur) visa.

Question 7

5. 25 points

Answer 7

(v) The funds are held in a regulated financial institution.

Question 8

6. 10 points

Answer 8

(vi) You can speak English to the required standard.

Question 9

7. 10 points

Answer 9

(vii) You have sufficient funds to support yourself in the UK.

Question 10

Name the different categories under Tier 1

Answer 10

• Investors – Investment required: £1,000,000 minimum
• Exceptional Talent
• Graduate Entrepreneur
• Post-Study Work – (CLOSED)

Question 11

Investors - Investment required: £1,000,000 minimum

Answer 11

If you are a wealthy individual and wish to live in the UK, you should consider the Tier 1 (Investor) visa.

In order to qualify, you must score 75 points under the Tier 1 points-based system

You will score 75 points for one of the following:

• If you have at least £1,000,000 of disposable funds that you can invest in the UK, or
• If you have £2,000,000 or more in personal assets and a loan of over £1,000,000 which you can invest in the UK.
• Investors are exempt from both the English language requirement and the requirement to provide further proof of the ability to support themselves and any dependants.

Question 12

1. Exceptional Talent

Answer 12

The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa allows you to live and work in the UK if you have an exceptional talent in the arts or sciences.

In order to qualify, you must score 75 points under the Tier 1 points-based system.

Question 13

2. Exceptional Talent

Answer 13

You will score 75 points if you gain the endorsement of a ‘Designated Competent Body’ which will need to certify either that you are internationally recognised as a world leader in your field or that you are someone with the potential to be so.

Question 14

3. Exceptional Talent - How many Designated Competent Bodies are there?

Answer 14

There are only four Designated Competent Bodies.

They are national societies for the arts and sciences.

It is extremely difficult to qualify for a visa in this category.

Question 15

4. Exceptional Talent - How many visas can be issued under this subcategory?

Answer 15

Only 1, 000 Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visas can be issued in any one year.

You do not need a job offer or a sponsor in order to be successful and are free to seek employment anywhere in the UK.

You must score 75 points under the Tier 1 points-based system for their application to be successful.

Question 16

Graduate Entrepreneur

Answer 16

The Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur category enables graduates who have been identified by a UK university as possessing world class entrepreneurial skills to apply to stay in the UK after graduation.

In order to qualify, you must score 95 points under the Tier 1 points-based system

Question 17

Post-Study Work

Answer 17

This scheme was officially closed on 6 April 2012.

The Tier 1 Post-Study Work sub-category had been created to allow foreign students who have studied in the UK (under the Tier 4 student visa system) to live and work in the UK following graduation for two years without the need for a sponsor.