Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa August/September 2019 | Page 54

UNITED KINGDOM
Obtaining a UK Visa
The investment route
BY ISHANI CHETTY
I
nvesting in business in the United Kingdom can pave the
way towards achieving a visa to work and live in the coun-
try. Director of Breytenbach Immigration Consultants, JP
Breytenbach, clarifies that the United Kingdom doesn’t offer
the type of citizenship by investment in property compated
to other countires. “So, unfortunately purchasing a property in
the UK will not assist a person to obtain leave to remain in the
UK or lead to British citizenship.”
Breytenbach adds that there is a viable option for potential
investors looking to temporarily relocate to the United
Kingdom. “The only investor programme available in the UK
is the Tier 1 Investor programme. However, this visa requires
you to have money of your own, under your control, held in a
regulated financial institution. It must be disposable in the UK,
amounting to no less than £2 million,” he said
Owning a property in the United Kingdom can be beneficial
under circumstances; i.e. one must be already in the country
with a permit or visa. “If someone is applying for citizenship
and has travelled excessively then ownership of property in
the UK can indicate that they have good ties to the UK, which
can help convince the Home Office to disregard the additional
absences. However, it is not something that automatically
provides any visa route or rights,” Breytenbach elaborates.
AN ‘INVESTMENT’ VISA
There are various visa routes on offer for individuals who have
invested in businesses located in the United Kingdom , such as
the Tier 1 Investor, Start-up and Innovator visa.
TIER 1 INVESTOR CATEGORY
The Tier 1 Investor route is available for high net worth, non-EU
individuals who are making a substantial financial investment
in the country. Successful candidates are allowed flexibility
in terms of the settlement – allowing them to be outside of
the UK for up to 180 days in any 12 month period without it
impacting their visa.
REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN THE VISA:
Applicants must be 18-years or older
Must have money of their own, under your control
which is held in a regulated financial institution.
It must be disposable in the UK and amount to no
less than £2-million.
Have a bank account in the UK with a regulated
bank for the purposes of investing £2-million in
the country.
Applicants do not need to meet the English
language requirements
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JULY/AUGUST 2019 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine
Applicants do not need to meet the separate
requirement for maintenance which applied to
other applicants under the points based system.
Applicants who wish to bring their families with
them into the UK must provide criminal record
certificate for any country that they lived in for
12-months or more. This information is applicable
to areas resided in within a 10-year period prior
to the application. This is only applicable to the
dependents who are 18-years and older.
Potential applicants can utilise money which is owned
either jointly or solely by their spouse/civil partner/ unmarried
or same-sex partner but they must have unrestricted rights to
transfer and dispose of these funds. Their partner must provide
permission to control the funds in the United Kingdom.
A separate application by Tier 1 Investor applicants must
be made for their spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex
partner and dependent children (under the age of 18 years) to
enter the United Kingdom. Dependents are able to work in the
UK without any restrictions.
WORKING AND LIVING UNDER THE TIER 1
INVESTOR VISA
Under the Tier 1 Investor visa you are able to live and work in
the UK for a period of three years. After the initial three year
period, candidates can apply for an extension of two years if the
UK Home Office. The UK Home Office will grant the application
if the candidate satisfies the Investor extension application.
The only restrictions is that holders of this visa cannot work
as a dentist or doctor in training along with a professional
sportsperson or sports coach, but certain exceptions apply.
Holders may study certain subjects under condition.
INDEFINITE LEAVE TO REMAIN
After a period of five years, Investor permit holders are able to
apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Breytenbach Immigration Consultants explains this in detail.
“If the applicant first applied to enter the Tier 1 (Investor) route
prior to 6 November 2014 then they are allowed to consolidate
the time spent in the UK as an Investor together with the
time spent in the UK as a Tier 1 Investor in order to meet this
qualification period.”
Tier 1 Investors can reach ILR earlier if they increase their
increase their investment amount.
There are various cases in which Tier 1 Investors can reach
ILR sooner.
VISIT www.bic-immigration.com