Applications for UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur visas become tougher

It has become increasingly difficult to enter the UK under the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa category.

The current rejection rate for applications is about 70%. The reason for the high rejection rate is the "Genuine Entrepreneur Test" which has made it much more difficult to meet the requirements of the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa category.

The Tier 1 entrepreneur visa application will be looked at in detail by immigration officers, who must be convinced that you will meet the investment requirements and that you are genuinely able to start a business in the UK.

In April, the Home Office made the presentation of a business plan compulsory for all applicants. In addition, applicants will now need to provide evidence of the source of funds. These requirements were introduced in a bid, they say, to drive down fraudulent applications. UK Immigration says that genuine applicants should still be able to meet the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa requirements. In reality the main reason for introducing requirement is probably to further reduce levels of immigration into the UK.

UK Government says Immigration in decline

According to British immigration minister James Brokenshire, the recent fall in the number of suc-cessful applications for the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is a direct result of the new measures.

"This government is building an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate mi-grants and tough on those who abuse the system and flout the law." said Mr Brokenshire.

"Our reforms have cut net non-EU migration to levels not seen since the 1990s and slashed overall net migration by a third," he said.