In contrast to the Start-Up Visa, the Innovator Visa is aimed at experienced business people who seeking to establish a business in the UK. It is worth noting, however, that an individual entering the UK on a Start-Up Visa for the two-year period of grant, may wish to consider switching to the Innovator Visa Route.
To qualify for an Innovator Visa, an applicant, among other things, must:
- have an innovative, viable and scalable business;
- be at least 18 years old;
- meet the requisite level of English (B2); and
- have at least £50,000 available to invest in the business.
As set out above, similarly to the Start-Up Visa route, applicants must have an innovative, scalable and viable business. The Innovator Visa application must be supported by an endorsement letter from an endorsing body listed which confirms that the applicant’s business meets the requirements in Appendix Innovator of the Immigration Rules.
The letter must be dated no more than three months before the date of the application. The Home Office provides guidance for endorsing bodies on how they should assess whether the applicant’s business is innovative, viable and scalable.
Successful applicants will be granted an Innovator Visa for a period of three years. After the period of three years on an Innovator Visa, the applicant may apply for settlement.
Innovator Visa – Full Representation
Full representation is a comprehensive service, that allows our firm to become your legal representatives and to represent you in all matters concerning your Innovator Visa. This includes preparing the appropriate forms and liaising with UKVI on your behalf.
If you decided that full representation was the appropriate service for you, we would take detailed instructions from you, issue a client care letter and other appropriate paperwork to you, plan works according to what we consider to be your best interests, advise you of any documents or information that we may need to prepare the case efficiently and lodge your spouse or partner visa application for you. We would ensure that you are updated on any key developments on your matter and remain as your legal representatives until a decision is reached on your Innovator Visa for the UK.
We would endeavour to be on hand throughout the application process to guide you and answer any questions you might have about the process. Once the Innovator Visa has been concluded, we would send you a closing letter outlining any items that we think you may wish to know moving forwards.
Full representation may not be suitable for all clients, but our experience is that for those who have utilised this service with us, they have found it to be very helpful indeed. We would encourage readers to consider the wide range of positive reviews which are available on the internet, relating to our services.
UKVI Fee: The fee that is payable for an Innovator Visa is £1,021 if you are outside of the UK and £1,277 if you are inside the UK and extending or switching into the Innovator Visa. If your partner and/or children are also applying they will each need to pay the same fee. If you are from an ‘eligible country’ the fee for you, the applicant, will be reduced by £55. The Immigration Health Surcharge will be payable on top of this at a rate of £624 per year (plus conversion fees and those for using biometric submission centres and any additional services that an applicant opts for). The applicant and also any family members each need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Curzon Green (London based client) Fee: £1800-£2500 plus VAT; or
Curzon Green (Buckinghamshire based client) Fee: £1200-£1800 plus VAT.
(Please note that VAT may not be payable where the applicant is not resident in the UK.)
Please do not hesitate to contact our team for advice on a precise fee for representation in your matter or with any queries that you may have.
Innovator Visa – Consultancy Services:
Our charges for these consultancy services are outlined below.
Curzon Green (London based client) Fee: £250-£350 plus VAT per session which lasts up to an hour (depending on the experience of the person you book your consultation with); or
Curzon Green (Buckinghamshire based client) Fee: £200-£250 plus VAT per session which lasts up to an hour (depending on the experience of the person you book your consultation with).
Contact Us
If you are unsure as to which service might be appropriate for your matter, or have any other queries about our immigration services, we warmly invite you to contact our team of experienced practitioners. You can do this by clicking on the links below or by telephoning or emailing our offices. You can explain to the receptionists that you are seeking to speak with the immigration team.
Telephone our offices:
London: 020 3443 9576
High Wycombe: 01494 451355
Marlow: 01628 958445
Email our immigration practitioners: immigration@curzongreen.co.uk
