Need advice on what kind of Visa to get? Entrepreneur?

patjk · Post by **patjk** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:03 am

Hello,
I lived in the UK in 2009/10 during my year abroad to study for 10 months (from the US). I had a visa for this. I was also in the UK from Nov 2011 to January 2012 just visiting with friends there. My girlfriend currently lives and studies there.

I'm a USA resident, but I want to get a Visa in the UK for 1 year. I currently
run a full-time internet advertising business, which enables me to work from anywhere that has an internet connection. I'd like to move to the UK for a year or so. What kind of visa do I apply for in this case? I've read over most of the UK Borden Agency website but can't figure it out because of my unique case.

Any info. or advice is much appreciated.
Thanks!

Post by **Lucapooka** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:02 am

Nothing suits your situation. There is no boyfriend of student immigration category

Post by **Greenie** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:41 am

I am not sure what about your situation is unique. You are in a better position than anyone on this forum to know whether your qualify for any of the categories of visa on the ukba website. You can't just come here to carry out your internet based business unless you are going to invest significant amounts of money in the UK.

Regarding your girlfriend-how long have the two of you been together and have you lived together as a couple?

patjk · Post by **patjk** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:35 pm

Greenie wrote:I am not sure what about your situation is unique. You are in a better position than anyone on this forum to know whether your qualify for any of the categories of visa on the ukba website. You can't just come here to carry out your internet based business unless you are going to invest significant amounts of money in the UK.

Regarding your girlfriend-how long have the two of you been together and have you lived together as a couple?

Thanks for the reply. There is no way to live in the UK running an internet based business on a Visa? I figured an internet business wouldn't be much different than working for some physical company. The only thing is I work for myself, so any "letter showing offer" requirement for the visa and whatnot would be written by myself? Hence why I'm confused.

We've been together for nearly 3 years, and we have lived together as a couple, yes.

Post by **Greenie** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:48 pm

patjk wrote:
Greenie wrote:I am not sure what about your situation is unique. You are in a better position than anyone on this forum to know whether your qualify for any of the categories of visa on the ukba website. You can't just come here to carry out your internet based business unless you are going to invest significant amounts of money in the UK.

Regarding your girlfriend-how long have the two of you been together and have you lived together as a couple?
Thanks for the reply. There is no way to live in the UK running an internet based business on a Visa? I figured an internet business wouldn't be much different than working for some physical company. The only thing is I work for myself, so any "letter showing offer" requirement for the visa and whatnot would be written by myself? Hence why I'm confused.

We've been together for nearly 3 years, and we have lived together as a couple, yes.

there is no visa which allows you to come over and work for your own existing business unless you meet the requirements of an enterpreneur visa, in which you would generally need £200k to set up or take over a business in the UK or 50k in certain circumstances. See here

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... igibility/

Regarding your girlfriend, how long have you lived together as a couple? What course is she studying and where?

patjk · Post by **patjk** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:22 am

Greenie wrote:
patjk wrote:
Greenie wrote:I am not sure what about your situation is unique. You are in a better position than anyone on this forum to know whether your qualify for any of the categories of visa on the ukba website. You can't just come here to carry out your internet based business unless you are going to invest significant amounts of money in the UK.

Regarding your girlfriend-how long have the two of you been together and have you lived together as a couple?
Thanks for the reply. There is no way to live in the UK running an internet based business on a Visa? I figured an internet business wouldn't be much different than working for some physical company. The only thing is I work for myself, so any "letter showing offer" requirement for the visa and whatnot would be written by myself? Hence why I'm confused.

We've been together for nearly 3 years, and we have lived together as a couple, yes.

there is no visa which allows you to come over and work for your own existing business unless you meet the requirements of an enterpreneur visa, in which you would generally need £200k to set up or take over a business in the UK or 50k in certain circumstances. See here

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... igibility/

Regarding your girlfriend, how long have you lived together as a couple? What course is she studying and where?

Really? Surely they want people that have their own businesses so they can possibly hire people and create jobs.

We lived together for 6 months when I was in England, then another 2 in England last year, and 3 months in the US. She is doing graduate studies in Leeds.

Also, as for the 6 month visiting period: after staying for 6 months, you have to leave. How long do you have to be gone before you can re-enter? Thanks.

Post by **Greenie** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:00 am

Do read the link provided. No they don't want people who happen to have a business to just come here and work for that business on the off chance that they might employ people here. They have to have significant funds to invest in a UK business and to invest them.

You haven't really answered the question about what your girlfriend is studying however you haven't lived together for long enough to apply as her dependent anyway.

Visitor can generally only be in the UK for 6 months in a 12 month period. You can't just come for 6 months, leave then come back again a short time later. You also can't work here even for you own business whilst here as a visitor.

patjk · Post by **patjk** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:02 am

Greenie wrote:Do read the link provided. No they don't want people who happen to have a business to just come here and work for that business on the off chance that they might employ people here. They have to have significant funds to invest in a UK business and to invest them.

You haven't really answered the question about what your girlfriend is studying however you haven't lived together for long enough to apply as her dependent anyway.

Visitor can generally only be in the UK for 6 months in a 12 month period. You can't just come for 6 months, leave then come back again a short time later. You also can't work here even for you own business whilst here as a visitor.

Thank you for your info, much appreciated. Can visitors apply for a longer visit than 6 months?

In situations like these, what do you suggest? Surely there is a solution to this.

Post by **Greenie** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:24 am

patjk wrote:Thank you for your info, much appreciated. Can visitors apply for a longer visit than 6 months?

In situations like these, what do you suggest? Surely there is a solution to this.

No, general visitors cannot stay for more than 6 months at a time.

Unless you qualify for one of the points based categories set out on the UKBA website, there is no 'solution'.

Immigrationboards.com: Immigration, work visa and work permit discussion board

Need advice on what kind of Visa to get? Entrepreneur?

Need advice on what kind of Visa to get? Entrepreneur?