Richmond Chambers

The Start-up route permits individuals with an endorsement issued before 13 April 2023 from a Home Office-approved endorsing body to establish and set up a business in the UK for the first time. This Practice Note outlines the eligibility requirements for making an application under the route, including the financial and English language requirements. It also looks at the suitability and validity requirements, period and conditions of permission, dependants, and switching to the Innovator route.

This Practice Note sets out the categories of person who are exempt from UK immigration control and the circumstances in which full exemption or partial exemption applies. The note covers the following categories of exempt person: diplomats; members of foreign armed forces; crew members of aircraft, ships and Channel Tunnel trains. It also discusses the arrangements for seafarers and aircrew in specific special cases.

This Practice Note discusses the Home Office’s policy for considering human rights claims in visitor applications, including whether the case must be referred for further consideration and the circumstances in which a refused applicant is entitled to a right of appeal. It also provides information on the approach of the tribunal on these questions, with a specific focus on claims based on the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), art 8.

Immigration analysis: The Lexis®PSL Immigration team and Gillian McCall, pupil barrister at Richmond Chambers, outline the main changes set out in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC 1025. HC 1025 (the Statement) was issued on 26 February 2015.

This Practice Note includes a summary of relevant eligibility requirements for the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category, initial, extension and indefinite leave to remain stages, plus links to the relevant Immigration Rules, Home Office guidance, forms, fees and other application information. It also includes a summary table covering relevant cases. The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category closed to new entrants on 29 March 2019. After that, the only individuals who could enter this category were those who had leave in the previous 12 months in the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) category, or in the Start-up category having previously held leave in the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) category. Applications for persons in that position were closed from 5 July 2021.

This Practice Note considers the eligibility criteria for a person who has, or was last granted leave under the Tier 1 (Investor) category when applying for an extension of leave, including under the various dated regimes that are relevant. The same criteria will also apply where a person is applying for entry clearance and has had leave in the category granted within the last 12 months.

This Practice Note looks at the eligibility requirements in relation to money and investments that will be relevant for a Tier 1 (Investor) migrant applying for indefinite leave to remain, where their last leave was granted under the pre-6 November 2014 Rules and they are applying before 6 April 2022. This includes what investments will qualify (including relevant restrictions), how the qualifying investments should be maintained, and the evidence needed to show that the qualifying investments and, if relevant, any balancing funds have been maintained over the relevant specified continuous period.

This Practice Note highlights some common pitfalls associated with applications under the standard visitor immigration category that may lead to additional scrutiny of an application and/or its refusal. These often involve issues that may cast doubt on an applicant's credibility as a genuine visitor.

This Practice Note outlines the prohibited and permitted activities for those applying to enter the UK under the visitor immigration route. It includes information on prohibited activities, which focus on certain types of work and self employment and also outlines the permitted activities of tourism and leisure, volunteering, training, study, medical treatment and permitted paid engagements.