An introduction based on most recent updates:

Although the UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa has been replaced by UK Innovator Visa and UK Start-up Visa, yet the already approved UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur Visas are still allowed to apply for the extension of their visa until April 5, 2023. Such kind of visa holders under the category of UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension may also apply to get settled in the UK only up to April 5, 2025. UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa primarily lasts for the time period of almost 3 years and 4 months while if the desire to extend their visa duration, they would have to apply for their visa extension for only 2 years further under the TIER-1 route. Detailed and complex protocol given by the UK Visas and Immigration has to be followed in order to fulfill the inflexible requirements essential for a successful UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension application.

Eligibility for UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur Visa Extension application:

In order to prove the eligibility for possessing a UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension, you may opt for any one of the following routes:

  • Getting registered as a director or as self-employed within the time period of 6 months after the date at which the applicant was granted permission to stay in the UK by using TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa
  • Created at least 2 full time jobs that have existed for at least 1 year each
  • Can prove you have been self-employed, a member of a partnership or working as a director of a business 3 months before you apply
  • Doing an investment worth of £200,000 in one or more UK businesses or investment of £50,000 depending on the funds level originally submitted by the applicant

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General requirements for the UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur Visa Extension:

For fulfilling the basic requirements of having extension on your UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa, firstly you have to successfully go through ‘Genuine Entrepreneur test’ according to which following criteria guidelines must be fulfilled:

  • You have established, taken over or become a director of one or more genuine businesses in the UK, and have genuinely operated that business
  • You have genuinely invested the necessary funds into one or more genuine businesses in the UK
  • You intend to continue operating one or more businesses in the UK
  • You do not intend to take employment other than working for the business or businesses that you have established, joined or taken over

Moreover, you have to score 75 points under the Home Office extension applications points table on the basis of registration, investment and job creation as explained below:

Registration:

If you have registered with HM Revenue & Customs as self-employed or alternatively registered with Companies House as a director of a UK company or member of a UK partnership, usually no more than six months from the date you were given permission to stay in the UK under a UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa, you would be able to achieve the necessary 20 points under this category. As far as further essential 15 points under this category are concerned, they could be awarded in the case of you being self-employed, or working as a director of a business or member of a UK partnership no more than the three months before the applicant has applied for the UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension.

Investment:

If you have made an investment either yourself or by one or more third-parties worth of £200,000 minimally directly into one or more UK businesses, you would be able to score necessary 20 points under this category for attaining extension on your UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa. However, the investment value could be decreased to £50,000 in case of having awarded points for this lower sum under your last grant of leave.

Job creation:

You would be able to score the remaining 20 scores required for attaining UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension in case of having established a new business that has created the equivalent of at least two new full time jobs for settled workers. Another way to achieve these 20 scores is in case of your joining or taking over an already existing business while you have sufficiently created more employments for settled workers via developing the equivalent of two new full time jobs minimally.

Processing of the UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur Visa Extension application:

You need to apply for extension of your UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa prior to the expiry date of the former visa whereas you would be permitted to stay in the UK during the time period of your visa extension processing only in the case that you have applied prior to your former visa expiry date. It is highly recommended that you should apply at least a month before the visa expiry date.

You would have to apply online for having an extension to your UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa for which you would have to first arrange an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point in order to submit your biometric information via fingerprints scan as well as a digital photograph of your face. In addition, you must provide your supporting documents as well by uploading them on online service or having them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment.

In order to extend your UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa, the required cost for its application would be £1,277 with an additional payment of £19.20 for conferring your biometric information.

Time duration required for the processing of your UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension:

The time period required for application processing of UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension is usually 8 weeks while it can be further delayed in case of certain situations including incomplete verification of your supporting documents, an impending interview or your personal circumstances like having a faulty criminal history etc.

FREQUENTLT ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Can I still apply for a UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa?

No, you cannot apply for UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa as it has been replaced by UK Innovator visa or UK start-up visa.

Can I apply for an extension to my UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa?

Yes, you can apply to extend your UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa until April 5, 2023 while you are allowed to apply for attaining a settled status in the UK until April 5, 2025.

How long it takes for extension processing of the UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa?

It usually takes 8 weeks for application processing of UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension while the response can be delayed in certain circumstances.

What are the possible reasons for having a late response on my application of UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension?

It may take longer than usual time period for application processing of UK TIER-1 Entrepreneur visa extension on the grounds of incomplete verification of your supporting documents, an impending interview or your personal circumstances like having a faulty criminal history etc.