Alternative To UK Investor Visas – Sole Representative Visa

UK has been offering profit-making opportunities to overseas businesses to invest and earn in the UK. A route through the UK investor visas have been cost-effective and brings equal opportunities for overseas and UK nationals to do a profitable business.

UK investor visas are one ample opportunity for overseas investors to invest a high amount in the UK without worrying about endorsements.

What is a UK investor visa?

The UK investor visa allows an overseas investor to invest £2,000,000 or more in the UK.

This visa allows the individual investor to work and study in the UK without any endorsement.

The eligibility criteria include:

1. Aged over 18
2. Able to prove the money belongs to you or your partner, wife, husband
3. Funds should be deposited in a UK regulated bank.
4. The funds to be easily dispensed
5. Funds should be held in an authorised financial custody.
6. You may have your money in the UK or overseas during the time of application.

Read more: Want to Have Business in Abroad? Consider These Countries to Get Easy Work Visa

What can you do with a UK investor visa?

The UK investor visas allow the visa holder to:

1. Study or work
2. Apply for the settlement after 5 years if the investment is £2 million
3. For the settlement after 3 years if the investment is £5 million
4. For the settlement after 2 years if the investment is £10 million

The UK investor visa restricts you to:

1. Access or gain public funds
2. Work professionally in sports or as a sportsperson
3. You won’t be able to work as a dentist or a doctor unless you earn a primary degree at a bachelors level or above in medicine or dentistry from a reputed institution in the UK that holds student sponsor licensor.
4. You worked as a doctor or dentist the last time you visited the UK
5. No such terms and conditions are a part of your previous visa.

Fee charges

1. The UK investor visa seeker must pay a fee of £1,623 for visa application form
2. An additional health surcharge also needs to be paid.
3. A mandatory booking and attending biometric process in the nearby regulated office to be done, and a fee of £19.20 to be paid

Sole Representative Visa

A Sole representative visa application lets an individual, preferably a senior employee or a senior HR manager, come to the UK to set up a branch or a subsidiary of an existing overseas business.

Sole representative could be a member of the news or broadcasting agency.

A sole representative’s role is to make operational decisions on behalf of the business and expand its presence in the UK.

The Sole Representative visa has overtaken the UK investor visa in a much beneficial way of letting an employer expand its presence in the UK by setting up a branch.

This visa allows the visa holder to stay for up to 3 years.

Eligibility

1. Any senior member of the business who can establish the company in the UK
2.  A sole representative is a person of relevant skills who is knowledgeable enough to know the UK market’s pros and cons and can run the business based on that.
3. Sole representative can hire overseas workers for business purposes and can sponsor skilled workers.
4. A sole representative should own  less than 50% shares of  the business.
5. Passes CEFR level A1 English proficiency test in both speaking and listening.

How can I apply for a sole representative visa?

To apply for a sole rep visa, the following steps to be taken

1. An application form to be submitted online with documents evidence its trading in the UK to the Home office.
2. A letter, giving details of company background.
3. The business may need to show some additional documents if asked by the Home Office to assess compliance requirements.
4. The company must fulfil all information shared in the letter and documents at the time of the mock audit.

It is also important to note that the application process could be daunting and needs expert advice at each step. The company may hire the best immigration lawyer UK who has the expertise to guide at every stage of the application process. The immigration lawyer helps to file all the documents correctly, and the chances of getting the visa increases.