Tier 1 (Investor) Visa – Let OTS Solicitors Assist You With Your Investor Visa Application

What is the number one city in the world for high net worth inhabitants?

If you are worth $US30 million or more, the top city to buy property, educate your children and invest your wealth in 2015 is London, according to the Knight Frank Wealth Report 2015.

Ranked the second most economically powerful city in the world, London offers high net worth individual’s exceptional opportunities in investment opportunities, housing, private education, and cultural and leisure activities.

The Importance of Professional Advice

Liaising with clients from the Middle East, Russia, China and other non-European Union states provides us with a unique perspective on the concerns and needs of high net worth investors wishing to relocate to the United Kingdom.

One of the most pressing concerns investors have is navigating the sometimes perilous route surrounding the acquisition of a Tier 1 (investor) Visa to enter and reside in the UK. If expert, professional advice is not garnered from the outset, things going wrong can cause major disruption to an investors’ professional and personal life.

Obtaining a Tier One (investor) Visa

To be eligible for a Tier One (investor) Visa an applicant must meet the following requirements:

• have at least £2 million in funds to invest in the UK;
• be over 18 years;

• be able to prove that the money belongs to either you or your husband, wife, unmarried or same-sex partner; and
• have opened a UK bank account

The funds must be held in a regulated financial institution and be disposable in the UK. Evidence of the funds must also be shown three months prior to the Investor Visa being granted.

Investment Opportunities

Under a Tier 1 (investor) Visa, an applicant is free to invest in UK gilts, UK bonds and UK equities. Investment in property and property development are prohibited. This must be done within 90 days, and a statement of transactions will need to be provided to the Home Office.

At this stage it is imperative that savvy investors engage the services of a reputable wealth management company who will not only strategically place investments, but conduct a thorough due diligence to ensure the investments are not only sound, but meet all the criteria imposed under an Investor Visa. A quality investment broker also provides their clients with the confidence that the value of their investment portfolio does not drop below the initial investment level, which may threaten the validity of the Investor Visa.

Remaining in the UK

A Tier One (investor) Visa provides successful applicants with generous benefits. For example, there are no language requirements to be met, individuals are free to purchase property, access the healthcare system and enrol children in school.

If a minimum of £2 million is invested, an investor may reside in the UK for a maximum of three years, four months. An extension of up to two years may be granted after this period, and then Indefinite Leave to Remain can be applied for. The more money invested, the sooner Indefinite Leave to Remain can be obtained. If £5 million is invested, Indefinite Leave to Remain can be granted after three years, an investment of £10 million will gain an applicant the right after merely two years.

An experienced legal professional will advise you on the different options available to you and your family under an Investor Visa, and ensure mistakes that can cause unnecessary disruption and upheaval (such as you and your family being required to leave the country in order to reapply for a revoked Visa) are avoided. By engaging a wealth manager who is experienced in placing investments for Investor Visa holders, you will also avoid common investment mistakes such as investing in incorrect bonds or equities and/or not meeting the ‘top up’ requirements, which can result in the revocation of the Investor Visa.

Our Services

OTS Solicitors is a leading London law firm, focusing on Immigration, Employment, corporate and litigation law. Our hallmark is our timely, client-focused service, our ability to think outside the box, and to collaborate as a team, thus providing our clients with practical legal advice that is second-to-none.

Our multi-lingual team work closely with high net worth individuals from all over the globe, providing invaluable legal expertise in the area of Investor Visa applications.

Based in the City of London, our practice consists of:

Mr Paul Gulbenkian – A former Immigration Tribunal Judge, Paul is recognised as one of the UK’s leading Immigration specialists. He has enormous experience in the field of business immigration law and is a founding member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA) and President of the European Immigration Lawyers Group.

Teni Shahiean – Teni has a wealth of knowledge and experience of immigration law and employment work. She is ranked by the Legal 500 as a recommended immigration solicitor and has been highly accredited by the Law Society for her immigration knowledge and advice through the Law Society Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme.

Oshin Shahiean – Oshin specialises in Immigration law and has been awarded supervisory status by the Law Society. He acts for a variety of clients, advising on complex judicial review matters and private clients requiring assistance with points based system applications, Human Rights appeals and Asylum.

Dr Lusine Navasardyan – Since joining us in 2015, Lusine has built a solid reputation in the city of London as a specialist in Immigration and corporate law. She has extensive knowledge and an in-depth understanding of the challenges SMEs face and her services are tailored to meet the needs of these clients. She has advised and guided many start-ups, her advice proving to be an invaluable asset in each of their success stories. Her expertise includes advising on company structure, contracts, compliance, due diligence and business immigration.

Nataliya Bondarets – Nataliya specialises in Immigration and advises and assists students, workers, entrepreneurs, investors and businesses to successfully satisfy Immigration criteria and obtain all necessary immigration documents under current Point-Based System.

business immigration Barrister we work with

Navtej Singh Ahluwali - Navi one the UK’s leading experts on the Home Office’s Points Based System (PBS) and has been described by Chambers UK as the “first port of call” for specialist Immigration solicitors. He regularly advises the UK’s top business immigration law firms and trains other lawyers in the field on the frequent legal developments under the PBS and in European Union free movement law.

David Jones - David is a highly experienced Immigration barrister who has been praised for his “fantastic advocacy skills and charming manner” as well as his “ability to tackle challenging and complex legal arguments” (Chambers UK). David combines legal excellence with business awareness, making his legal advice highly practical and sensitive to clients’ needs.

Mark Symes - Rated as “dynamic and brilliant” by Chambers UK, Mark Symes is one of the UK’s best known Immigration lawyers. Presently practising as a barrister, he has also worked as a solicitor, and sits as a fee paid Immigration Judge in the highest Immigration court in the UK, the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber. Mark is a specialist in complex cases, at every legal stage, be it on application, appeal or judicial review.

Anthony Vaughan - Anthony is instructed by top business immigration law firms, and is described by one of the UK’s leading Immigration Queen’s Counsel as “incredibly bright” with “excellent strategic judgement” whose legal drafting is “highly persuasive and meticulous”. He has been involved in a range of Immigration cases that have affected the law for the benefit of migrants and has contributed to European Union free movement law chapters of two leading Immigration legal textbooks.

Our Partners Include:

We work closely with other professional advisors such as wealth management companies and international investment professionals to ensure our clients receive the most in-depth and comprehensive advice available when engaging us on a Tier 1 (investor) Visa matter.

We have also teamed up with a leading global relocation expert, Paul Williams of Elysian Partners, who would deal with everything that you need, from transportation of your valuables, to real estate and property, and enrolment of your children at the best schools in the UK.

Paul Williams is a Co-founder of Elysian Partners, Paul has over 30 years’ experience in the financial sector. As a Partner and Co-founder of Elysian Partners, he works with high-net-worth Immigration clients who wish to replicate and establish their present high standard of living when they move to the UK.

We have teamed up with a leading private equity professional, John Dupont of MD Capital Partners who have successfully raised amounts of equity for investors and entrepreneurs.

John DupontAfter spending seven years working for Zurich Financial Services and five years with the Manx Trist Management Group, he co-founded MacKinnon Dupont LLP in 2010. In 2012, MD Capital Partners was established. Based in Mayfair, London, MD Capital Partners is a boutique private equity firm, which since its inception has successfully raised significant amounts of equity, primarily for pre-launch, or early stage businesses that require between £1 million and £20 million.

To find out more about how we can assist you or your client take advantage of the many opportunities and benefits provided via a UK Tier One (investor) Visa, call our City office on 0207 936 9960 to make an appointment with one of our Immigration specialists.