Got my visa today

[checklist]

Dear All,

I received my visa approval letter today, switched over from PSW, applying from within the UK, £50,000 already invested.

Application sent: 20th May
Acknowledgement letter: 22nd May
Biometrics taken: 28th May
Approval letter dated: 1st June


Below are the list of documents i sent as part of my application:

- latest NI bill from HMRC (i had not included the welcome letter)
- current business bank statement showing NI payment
- British gas bill (proof of business address, I do not have a separate business address, i am self employed and live and work in a live-work space, my gas bill is a business account)
- Cirriculum Vitae
- Advertising Material (print out of company website, catalogues of my design work, with my name and address everything they require, clearly printed)
- 3 articles in magazine featuring my design work, print and online journals (i provided magazine cut outs, and for the online journals i printed it from the website)
- registration with a trade body
- business advisory services with East London Small Business Centre
- 2 invoices with contracts to demonstrate trading (my clients are international, so i included their names, addresses, websites, land line number, email etc...i do not have their signatures as they are invoices i send online, but i attached business bank statements to show proof of payment)
- original contract with my sales agents / representative
- original contract for a grant from the design council from my home country to participate in a design trade fair.
- printout of an online shop currently selling my products.
- unaudited accounts and chartered accountants' covering letter and certificate
- maintenance funds: Original letter from bank in my home country, regulated by appropriate home regulator, confirming funds and that they have been in the bank for at least a consecutive 90 day period


I also included a simple covering letter explaining what each document was for and separating it into the different point categories. i googled for a sample covering letter and amended it to suit my application.

In the introduction of the covering letter i explained what my business is, how long i have been in business, and how i operate (whole-sales through a sales agent, through private commissions etc).

i realized they go through tonnes of businesses and every case is different and unique, so it's best to give them a clear synopsis of the documents they are going to read through.


I hope this helps, and good luck

[Christianoronaldo]

Congratulations

What was your job title?
Did you have any business website. If so, what is your website address?

[checklist]

Hi, my job title is fashion designer / owner.

my website has the bare minimum of information, just has my name and address and contact details, but i had much more detailed supporting documents so that helps.

[Smartpen]

Congrats.... All the best for your business.

[Christianoronaldo]

Checklist

- business advisory services with East London Small Business Centre

What services you had from them and what documentation relating to above you sent in your application.

Regards

[checklist]

ive been going to a business advisor at ELSBC specialising in my field, i submitted a letter from ELSBC that states the support i've been getting from them, in there states "...your company has received support from the Access to New Markets for the Fashion Sector ERDF 08-018 project part-financed by the European Union's European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)."

If you look at page 28 of the application form:

G18. Following the introduction of the genuine Entrepreneur test in January 2013, it may help when considering your application if you provide the information listed below with your application:
• Your curriculum Vitae listing any relevent qualifications you may have;
• Your business plan;
• Your market research (which may include information on competition in the area your business will operate in);
• Evidence of business advisory services you have used.

they're trying to catch ungenuine entrepeneur applications, so i thought it best to include as many contracts and letters from different sources that is specific to my application to make it a strong and convincing one.

[my_friend]

Dear All,

I received my visa approval letter today, switched over from PSW, applying from within the UK, £50,000 already invested.

Application sent: 20th May
Acknowledgement letter: 22nd May
Biometrics taken: 28th May
Approval letter dated: 1st June


Below are the list of documents i sent as part of my application:

- latest NI bill from HMRC (i had not included the welcome letter)
- current business bank statement showing NI payment
- British gas bill (proof of business address, I do not have a separate business address, i am self employed and live and work in a live-work space, my gas bill is a business account)
- Cirriculum Vitae
- Advertising Material (print out of company website, catalogues of my design work, with my name and address everything they require, clearly printed)
- 3 articles in magazine featuring my design work, print and online journals (i provided magazine cut outs, and for the online journals i printed it from the website)
- registration with a trade body
- business advisory services with East London Small Business Centre
- 2 invoices with contracts to demonstrate trading (my clients are international, so i included their names, addresses, websites, land line number, email etc...i do not have their signatures as they are invoices i send online, but i attached business bank statements to show proof of payment)
- original contract with my sales agents / representative
- original contract for a grant from the design council from my home country to participate in a design trade fair.
- printout of an online shop currently selling my products.
- unaudited accounts and chartered accountants' covering letter and certificate
- maintenance funds: Original letter from bank in my home country, regulated by appropriate home regulator, confirming funds and that they have been in the bank for at least a consecutive 90 day period


I also included a simple covering letter explaining what each document was for and separating it into the different point categories. i googled for a sample covering letter and amended it to suit my application.

In the introduction of the covering letter i explained what my business is, how long i have been in business, and how i operate (whole-sales through a sales agent, through private commissions etc).

i realized they go through tonnes of businesses and every case is different and unique, so it's best to give them a clear synopsis of the documents they are going to read through.


I hope this helps, and good luck

please can you explain what u included as part of ur investment...and what documents did u provide as a proof...thanks

[checklist]

unaudited accounts and chartered accountant's covering letter and certificate

I had some investment in my business savings account and also all payments from clients went into my savings account. I transferred money into my business current account in small amounts through the year to run my business, and the investment total is shown through my bank transfers.

My accountant who has helped with a number of Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) applications says you could have part capital investment and part money you earned and pumped back into your business to make up the £50,000. He has done that with another client as well whose application was successful and got it back within 4 weeks.

[tier1in2014]

Congs That was quick service for you by UKBA . We applied in may bio done on 23rd may still waiting .

[checklist]

yeah i was really surprised as well, i know some people who wait really long and it's really difficult to manage a business and worry about your visa application at the same time.

Hope you get yours back soon, wish you all the best

[sky_rise]

congratulations! very well done!

yeah i was really surprised as well, i know some people who wait really long and it's really difficult to manage a business and worry about your visa application at the same time.

Hope you get yours back soon, wish you all the best

[checklist]

Thank you (:

congratulations! very well done!

yeah i was really surprised as well, i know some people who wait really long and it's really difficult to manage a business and worry about your visa application at the same time.

Hope you get yours back soon, wish you all the best

[Entrepreneur9]

Hi checklist,

Congratulations for the visa !! And thank you for sharing the details with all of us here!! This would be very helpful for those applicants applying in the near future.

I am really impressed with the way your accountant has helped you during the application process. Is there anyway I can get his contact details so I can be his regular client. I would be applying for my visa soon and I need someone like him who can point me in the right direction. You can pm me or share the info here, thanks in advance

And all the very best for your future !

unaudited accounts and chartered accountant's covering letter and certificate

I had some investment in my business savings account and also all payments from clients went into my savings account. I transferred money into my business current account in small amounts through the year to run my business, and the investment total is shown through my bank transfers.

My accountant who has helped with a number of Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) applications says you could have part capital investment and part money you earned and pumped back into your business to make up the £50,000. He has done that with another client as well whose application was successful and got it back within 4 weeks.

[checklist]

Hi checklist,

Congratulations for the visa !! And thank you for sharing the details with all of us here!! This would be very helpful for those applicants applying in the near future.

I am really impressed with the way your accountant has helped you during the application process. Is there anyway I can get his contact details so I can be his regular client. I would be applying for my visa soon and I need someone like him who can point me in the right direction. You can pm me or share the info here, thanks in advance

And all the very best for your future !

unaudited accounts and chartered accountant's covering letter and certificate

I had some investment in my business savings account and also all payments from clients went into my savings account. I transferred money into my business current account in small amounts through the year to run my business, and the investment total is shown through my bank transfers.

My accountant who has helped with a number of Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) applications says you could have part capital investment and part money you earned and pumped back into your business to make up the £50,000. He has done that with another client as well whose application was successful and got it back within 4 weeks.

Hey there,

Yes i would highly recommend my accountant, his name is Adamu, and this is his profile on peopleperhour.com

http://www.peopleperhour.com/freelancer ... ant/370683

I shopped around quite a bit, i must have gone to see 8 accountants all over London, his rates are WAY lower than other chartered accountants i went to as he just started his own accountancy business as well. His service is very personal, he talked me through the process (while he was working on my accounts), and taught me a lot.

hope that helps.

[dpr1979]

congratulations checklist and thank you for your detailed feedback about the same, it shows a lot of homework and understanding and helps in inspiring others like me to go that extra mile to achieve perfection.
keep rocking
Cheers
D

[checklist]

That's great, just remember to go through the guidelines and application form in detail (the new application form as information on additional evidence you should include to strengthen your application).

make it fool proof. supply evidence to support existing evidence, that erases any doubts,
for e.g.
- other than invoices and contracts, include bank statements to show proof of payments into your business bank account (payment terms, bank account sort code all matching)
- in my case, i supplied a contract with my sales agent to prove that i have a wholesale distributing channel, and i also supplied a contract for a grant with the design council in my country to prove that i am getting support for my business to show through my sales agent at a design trade fair as well.

wish you all the best, and remember to enjoy working on your business (:

congratulations checklist and thank you for your detailed feedback about the same, it shows a lot of homework and understanding and helps in inspiring others like me to go that extra mile to achieve perfection.
keep rocking
Cheers
D

[rehan01]

Congratulation and thanks for sharing accountant details

Regards

[Iro_2013]

Dear Checklist,

Thank you for such valuable information!

Have you spent on business purposes all 50k which you initially invested?

Thank's in advance