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Switched T1 (Entrepreneur) to T1 (Exceptional Talent) -- when can I apply for ILR?

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 5:01 pm
by nickp
Hi,

I had T1 (Entrepreneur) for 5 years (firstly granted in 2013, extended in early 2017). Had no chance to convert to ILR (changed business in the last two years and did not hire two people for a full year).

I applied for T1 ET (Tech Nation), successfully switched. When can I apply for ILR? After 3 years (default option for ET) or earlier?

Thanks in advance.

Re: Switched T1 (Entrepreneur) to T1 (Exceptional Talent) -- when can I apply for ILR?

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 5:43 pm
by marcnath
nickp wrote:
Fri Jan 25, 2019 5:01 pm
Hi,

I had T1 (Entrepreneur) for 5 years (firstly granted in 2013, extended in early 2017). Had no chance to convert to ILR (changed business in the last two years and did not hire two people for a full year).

I applied for T1 ET (Tech Nation), successfully switched. When can I apply for ILR? After 3 years (default option for ET) or earlier?

Thanks in advance.
Yes - after three years

Re: Switched T1 (Entrepreneur) to T1 (Exceptional Talent) -- when can I apply for ILR?

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 6:54 pm
by nickp
Yes - after three years
Thanks. However, I found (below on this forum) the link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration ... sed-system that says
(c) All of the following requirements must be met:
(i) The applicant must have spent a continuous period of:
(1) 3 years lawfully in the UK, if their last endorsement by a Designated Competent Body was under that body’s criteria for “exceptional talent”, as set out in Appendix L, or
(2) 5 years lawfully in the UK, if their last endorsement by a Designated Competent Body was under that body’s criteria for “exceptional promise”, as set out in Appendix L;
(ii) The applicant must have, or have last been granted, leave as a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Migrant.
(iii) The relevant continuous period in (i) must have been spent with leave either as a Tier 1 Migrant (excluding as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Migrant or Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) Migrant) or as a Tier 2 Migrant (excluding as a Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Migrant).
For me, this sounds like I have continuously spent three years in the UK under the conditions. The previous visa was T1 (Entrepreneur), not T1 (Graduate Entrepreneur). Am I wrong? Do I miss some other requirements?

Re: Switched T1 (Entrepreneur) to T1 (Exceptional Talent) -- when can I apply for ILR?

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 7:12 pm
by marcnath
nickp wrote:
Fri Jan 25, 2019 6:54 pm
Yes - after three years
Thanks. However, I found (below on this forum) the link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration ... sed-system that says
(c) All of the following requirements must be met:
(i) The applicant must have spent a continuous period of:
(1) 3 years lawfully in the UK, if their last endorsement by a Designated Competent Body was under that body’s criteria for “exceptional talent”, as set out in Appendix L, or
(2) 5 years lawfully in the UK, if their last endorsement by a Designated Competent Body was under that body’s criteria for “exceptional promise”, as set out in Appendix L;
(ii) The applicant must have, or have last been granted, leave as a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Migrant.
(iii) The relevant continuous period in (i) must have been spent with leave either as a Tier 1 Migrant (excluding as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Migrant or Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) Migrant) or as a Tier 2 Migrant (excluding as a Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Migrant).
For me, this sounds like I have continuously spent three years in the UK under the conditions. The previous visa was T1 (Entrepreneur), not T1 (Graduate Entrepreneur). Am I wrong? Do I miss some other requirements?
That is correct and that was my understanding too.

However, https://www.gov.uk/settle-in-the-uk/y/y ... alent-visa seems to say you should have 3 years in the ET visa.

The immigration rules override any other document, so you should be able to apply now provided you meet this condition:

(i) During his most recent period of leave as a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Migrant, the applicant has earned money in the UK as a result of employment or self-employment in his expert field as previously endorsed by a Designated Competent Body; and (ii) That Designated Competent Body has not withdrawn its endorsement of the applicant.

Re: Switched T1 (Entrepreneur) to T1 (Exceptional Talent) -- when can I apply for ILR?

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 7:46 pm
by nickp
marcnath wrote:
Fri Jan 25, 2019 7:12 pm
That is correct and that was my understanding too.

However, https://www.gov.uk/settle-in-the-uk/y/y ... alent-visa seems to say you should have 3 years in the ET visa.

The immigration rules override any other document, so you should be able to apply now provided you meet this condition:
I see, thanks!

Re: Switched T1 (Entrepreneur) to T1 (Exceptional Talent) -- when can I apply for ILR?

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 10:03 am
by WRWR
I think I saw a post on this forum from a person who switched from Tier 2 (General) after 3 years to Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) and applied for ILR almost immediatelly.

Caseworker was surprised because 3 years rule was new, but ILR was granted.

nickp, please let us know how it goes for you. I am in the similar position and I would highly appreciate any extra information. Thank you!