Tier 1 (Investors): Check your portfolio for UK Government Bonds ASAP

09 Feb 2023, 38 mins ago

The Tier 1 (Investor) visa is a legacy visa route which gave those with £2 million to invest in the UK the flexibility to come live in the UK with their families. The Tier 1 (Investor) visa regime contains very strict rules on which investments you can rely on for immigration purposes. These are known as UK Qualifying Investments.

Generally speaking, UK Qualifying Investments are investments in either share or loan capital in active and trading UK registered companies. If your Tier 1 (Investor) portfolio contains any non-qualifying investments, then the Home Office may cancel your visa and/or refuse your next application.

For Tier 1 (Investor) applications made prior to 29 March 2019, UK Government Bonds were considered as UK Qualifying Investments. However, UK Government Bonds will no longer be considered UK Qualifying Investments from 6 April 2023 onwards for the purposes of any Tier 1 (Investor) renewal application.

On the basis of the above, if you are due to, or may have to, apply for renewal of your Tier 1 (Investor) visa on or after 6 April 2023, you will need to ensure that your portfolio is free from UK Government Bonds by no later than 5 April 2023. You should contact your portfolio manager immediately to ensure that they amend your investments.

How Gherson can assist

We are often instructed by our Tier 1 (Investor) clients to review their portfolios in line with the UK Immigration Rules.

If you would like us to take a look at your portfolio, or have any questions about your Tier 1 (Investor) visa status in general, please contact us for advice. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on TwitterFacebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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