INITIAL Tier 1 Entrepreneur Application

[jsy01]

Hello,
Does anyone know whether I need to be a TRADING business for an INITIAL (not extension) Tier 1 Entrepreneur application? I have a registered business and a business bank account and all the other required documents, but obviously my business has not yet begun trading.
How is that even possible? I.e. how can my business start trading if it doesn't even have visa clearance in the UK?

I understand that I do not have to have invested or traded before my INITIAL application, only once the visa is granted, I must start trading soon afterwards.
Anyone with experience or knowledge on this matter would be a great help. I have a solicitor who says you do not have to have started trading, but I want more opinions...

Thanks.

[piercebody]

Hello,
Can you please update me your current status as I am in the same stage as yours.
Thanks in advance.
Regards.

[marcnath]

Hello,
Does anyone know whether I need to be a TRADING business for an INITIAL (not extension) Tier 1 Entrepreneur application? I have a registered business and a business bank account and all the other required documents, but obviously my business has not yet begun trading.
How is that even possible? I.e. how can my business start trading if it doesn't even have visa clearance in the UK?

I understand that I do not have to have invested or traded before my INITIAL application, only once the visa is granted, I must start trading soon afterwards.
Anyone with experience or knowledge on this matter would be a great help. I have a solicitor who says you do not have to have started trading, but I want more opinions...

Thanks.

You seem to have quite a few misunderstanding - not sure who is giving you advice.
1. There is no requirement to be trading. There is no requirement to have even registered the business or have a bank account - not sure why you decided to do those.
2. There is nothing to stop you from trading if you want to. A foreign owned company is allowed to do business in the UK.
3. There is no restriction to investing or trading before your initial application. In fact, the guidelines specifically allow investment made up to 12 MONTHS BEFORE application to be counted towards your investment and if needed you can make your entire investment BEFORE application so you get points for investment during your extension automatically.
4. There is no requirement to start trading SOON AFTERWARDS either. You can take your time and start anytime within the initial grant period. Of course, it is difficult to meet the employment requirement if you start trading too close to your renewal period.

[piercebody]

Thanks Marcnath.
I think jsy01 is trying to get the initial Tier 1 not the extension/renewal.
I am also in the same boat. If it is initial application if me own a company or partner with anyone will it make our case strong..?? Because in my first try they ask too many questions about establishing the company.
So if I own a company already will it prove them as if I am genuinely intend and ready to run the business..?
Please advice. Thanks.

[marcnath]

Thanks Marcnath.
I think jsy01 is trying to get the initial Tier 1 not the extension/renewal.
I am also in the same boat. If it is initial application if me own a company or partner with anyone will it make our case strong..?? Because in my first try they ask too many questions about establishing the company.
So if I own a company already will it prove them as if I am genuinely intend and ready to run the business..?
Please advice. Thanks.

It is difficult to know how exactly HO makes their decision. But I would think that if you have an existing business then it is more difficult for them to refuse your visa on a genuine entrepreneur test (assuming that it is a relevant business to your skills).
But I believe the vast majority of T1E visas are granted before the business is set up - so I don't think that is a factor in itself.

[piercebody]

Thanks for your good news. I am running my business successfully for 17 years and having a dispatch center in UK as well. In the interview I said I have a dispatch center and its boss also my friend. The CW interpreted as I have a friend who is an owner of a dispatch center in UK. so my refusal reason is I did not research and making decisions based on my friend. I have mentioned everything clearly in BP with the contract and monthly invoice. Looks like they never check my BP for this interview question.
For all your kind information how ever you make BP it looks like they are not going through it and deciding in the next day of my telephone interview. So it looks like they never double check it through my documents and BP. Hope to get the better turnaround in AR or in my next fresh application.
Thanks again.

[marcnath]

Thanks for your good news. I am running my business successfully for 17 years and having a dispatch center in UK as well. In the interview I said I have a dispatch center and its boss also my friend. The CW interpreted as I have a friend who is an owner of a dispatch center in UK. so my refusal reason is I did not research and making decisions based on my friend. I have mentioned everything clearly in BP with the contract and monthly invoice. Looks like they never check my BP for this interview question.
For all your kind information how ever you make BP it looks like they are not going through it and deciding in the next day of my telephone interview. So it looks like they never double check it through my documents and BP. Hope to get the better turnaround in AR or in my next fresh application.
Thanks again.

I would think your chances on AR should be very good.

All the best.