Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– British government has introduces visa rules to fast-track settlement for high-value investors and entrepreneurs.
“Foreign entrepreneurs and investors have been given an extra boost today with the announcement that the UK government has introduced new visa rules that encourage the brightest and the best to locate to the UK,” a British High Commission press statement said in Dhaka on Thursday.
Under the new rules, those who come to the UK and invest large sums of money will be given the right to settle permanently in the UK faster. Those who invest £5million will be allowed to settle here after three years and those that invest £10million or more will be allowed to settle after two. This compares with the minimum five year requirement that is currently in place.
Entrepreneurs will also be able to settle in the UK more quickly if they create ten jobs or turn over £5.0 million in a three year period.
It was also announced on the day that a new visit visa will be created for prospective entrepreneurs. This will allow them to enter the UK in order to secure their funding and make arrangements for starting their business before they transfer onto a full entrepreneur visa in country.
While the standard investment threshold for an entrepreneur to qualify for a visa will remain at £200,000, the Government will also make provision for high potential businesses to come to the UK with £50,000 in funding from a reputable approved organisation – for example venture capitalists, including angel investors, or through seed competitions.
Major investors will also enjoy more flexibility as they will be allowed to have spent up to 180 days a year, rather than 90, outside of the UK before they lose their right to settlement. This addresses a major concern that investors often cite as they need to be constantly mobile.
Those investors who are already in the UK now and have invested large sums will also qualify for accelerated settlement.
Separately, the government has also published a statement of intent outlining how the new ‘exceptional talent’ route under Tier One of the Points Based System will operate from April this year.
This new innovative route for exceptionally talented migrants, which will be limited to 1,000 visas under the annual limit, will facilitate those who have already been recognized or have the potential to be recognized as a leader in the fields of science, arts and humanities.
Migrants seeking entry under the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent category will not need to be sponsored by an employer but will need to be endorsed by an accredited competent body.
It will be for each competent body, who will be announced in the near future, to select those who will qualify for endorsement.
Those admitted under the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent category will initially be granted three years and four months leave. They will be able to extend their stay for a further two years and settlement will be available after five years residence in the UK.
BBN/SI/AD-17Mar11-7:28 pm (BST)
