News Archive - February 2012

Tier 1 work permit applications to change

13 Feb 2012 | Posted by Carl Thomas

In the latest round of changes to UK immigration policy, the government has released a set of revised guidance notes for Tier 1 work permit and visa categories.

The alterations include a number of changes to the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route as well as the Tier 1 (General) immigration route.

Firstly, the application forms will both be altered to some extent. The new forms are in circulation and can be used as of now, but the earlier Tier 1 forms will be accepted up to and including March 5th 2012.

Included in the alterations to the new forms is better guidance regarding the circumstances within which the UK Border Agency (UKBA) will contact applicants regarding missing or incorrect documents.

Previously, this was vague and simply noted that applicants could be contacted if information was required. Now, the UKBA has provided details to help people get their application right the first time around, including noting that explanations will be required if a sequence of documents is submitted with one or two missing, or if a document is submitted in the wrong format, for example.

In addition, updates have been made to policy guidance. Applicants coming to the country for work will be able to access the altered documents, including the new list of governing bodies for accountants. Those applying through the entrepreneur Entrepreneur route, meanwhile, will see that the guidelines have been changed to allow applicants to use money invested in a UK businesses while they were in the country in a different immigration category.