Statement of Changes in the Immigration Rules

Tier 1 (Investor)

1. These changes will only to apply to new applicants to the Tier 1 (Investor) route from 06/11/2014 onwards;
2. The investment threshold of £1 million is being raised to £2 million;
3. A change is being made to require the full investment sum to be invested in prescribed forms of investments (share or loan capital in active and trading UK companies, or UK Government bonds), rather than 75% of the sum as at present).;
4. If the investment falls then there is no longer a requirement to top it up in the next quarter;
5. Investment funds can no longer be sourced from a loan;
6. Entry Clearance Officers and UK Visas & Immigration caseworkers are being empowered to refuse a Tier 1 (Investor) application if they have reasonable grounds to believe that:
   • the applicant is not in control of the investment funds;
   • the funds were obtained unlawfully (or by means which would be unlawful if they happened in the UK); or
   • the character, conduct or associations of a party providing the funds mean that approving the application is not conducive to the public good.

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)

1. These changes apply will only to new applicants to the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route from 06/11/2014 onwards.
2. For applications made inside the UK, the funds to be invested into the business must also be in the UK;
3. Applicants for ILR under the accelerated route must show that they have invested the funds;