tier1 graduate entrepreneur

7/27/2019 Tier1 Graduate Entrepreneur

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Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)

of the Points Based System

Policy Guidance

TIER 1

(GRADUATE

ENTREPRENEUR)VERsIoN 04/2012

This guidance

is to be used

for applicationsmade on or after

6 April 2012


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Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Policy Guidance version 04 /2012 Page 3 of 18

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepeneur) Policy Guidance version 04/2012 page 2 of 18

roduction 3

neral Guidance for Applicants to the Points Based System 3

itional evidence for sponsored students 4

eal Rights (in-country applications) 4

e of application 4

r 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Overview ofTerms and Conditions 5

orsement 6

r 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Limit 6

r 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) - Points Scoring 7

nts scoring requirements 7

lications for Leave to Remain 7

ributes 8

lications for leave to remain 8

uments we require 8

lication (25 points available) 9

uments we require 9

glish Language Requirement 10

lish language assessment 10

ntenance (Funds) 10

ntenance requirement 10

ailing leave 13

nge of circumstances 14

nex A: Verication and other checks 15

nex B - Template 17

Introduction

1. This document provides guidance for those applying for leave to remain in the UK under the

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) of the Points Based System. Please note that it reects policy

at the time of publication and is subject to change. For the purpose of these guidance notes,

the terms we, us and our refer to the UK Border Agency. You and your refers to the person

making the application. It should be read in conjunction with the relevant paragraphs of the

Immigration Rules.

2. Applicants in all the Points Based System categories will be subject to General Grounds for

Refusal. This means that even if you qualify under the specic category of the Rules under

which you are applying to come here, there may be other reasons (such as your previous

immigration history) that may lead to the application being refused. Further information on

General Grounds for Refusal is available on our website at http://www.ukba.homeofce.gov.uk/

sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/general-grounds-refusing/

3. Please be advised that you should not make plans to travel outside of the Common Travel Area

whilst your application is under consideration. Where you request your passport back from us

in order to travel prior to a decision being reached on your application, your application will betreated as being withdrawn in accordance with Paragraph 34J of the Immigration Rules.

4.Please be advised that notication of our decision and any documents that you have submitted

in support of your application will usually be returned by Royal Mail Recorded Delivery. If you

require your documents to be returned by Royal Mail Special Delivery you must provide a pre-

paid Special Delivery envelope of a sufcient size to return all your documentation when you

submit your application.

General Guidance for Applicants to the Points Based System

Documents we require

5. You must ensure you provide all of the necessary supporting documents at the time you send

us the application. We will only accept the documents specied in this guidance.

6. If you do not provide the specied documents, we will contact you to ask for them only when

you have submitted:

A sequence of documents, and some of the documents in the sequence have been omitted

(for example, if one bank statement from a series is missing);

A document in the wrong format;

A document that is a copy and not an original document.

We will contact you or your representative in writing, and the evidence must be received by the

UK Border Agency processing centres within 7 working days. If you do not send in the correct

documents we may refuse the application. We will not ask for further information where none

of the information has been submitted (for example your endorsement is missing); or where we

do not anticipate that a correction of minor errors or omissions will lead to an approval because

the application will fail for other reasons.

7. Any documentary evidence that you provide must be the original (not a copy) unless we say

otherwise.

8. Where a document is not in English or Welsh, the original must be accompanied by a fully

certied translation by a professional translator. This translation must include details of

the translators credentials and conrmation that it is an accurate translation of the original

document. It must also be dated and include the original signature of the translator.
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9.We only need evidence that is directly relevant to the application, as set out in this guidance. We

will not consider unrelated evidence when calculating the points score.

Additional evidence for sponsored students

10. For the purposes of this section of the guidance, sponsored means wholly supported by

an award that covers both fees and living costs.

11. If you have had permission to be in the United Kingdom in one of the following categories,

within the last 12 months, may have been sponsored in your studies by a Government or an

international scholarship agency:

Student; or

Tier 4; or

Student nurse; or

Student re-sitting an examination; or

Student writing up a thesis; or Postgraduate doctor or dentist.

12. If you are currently sponsored by a Government or an international scholarship agency,

or such sponsorship ended during the 12 months prior to this application being made, you

must provide us with the sponsors unconditional consent in writing conrming that you have

permission to remain in the United Kingdom. If the sponsor does not give unconditional

consent or gives permission for a limited time, we will refuse the application.

13. The evidence must be original, on the ofcial letter-headed paper or stationery of the

organisation and have the ofcial stamp of that organisation. It must have been issued by an

authorised ofcial of that organisation.

14. If you have received private sponsorship during your studies (for example from an

employer or relative), we do not require the sponsors consent.

15. For more advice on sponsored students, see the chapter on Restrictions for some

Students with Ofcial Financial Sponsorship in the Tier 4 Policy guidance, which you can

nd on our website at: http://www.ukba.homeofce.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/

Tier4migrantguidance1.pdf

Appeal Rights (in-country applications)

16. If we refuse an application for leave to remain and you think that a mistake has been made,

you may be able to appeal against our decision. Details on how and if you can appeal against

our decision will be included with your reasons for refusal letter.

Date of application

17. The date of application will be taken to be the following:

Where the application form is sent by post, the date of posting; or

Where the application form is sent by courier, the date on which it is delivered to theUK Border Agency of the Home Ofce;

Considering your application

18.We aim to consider applications quickly. However, we must be condent that applications

meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules, and that the information you provide is a true

reection of your background.

19. If we have doubts about an application or the documents sent with your application, we may

carry out verication checks and/or other checks. Please see Annex A for further information.

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Overview of Terms and Conditions

20. The following table explains some of the key features of Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur).

Full details of the requirements are at paragraph 245F to 245FB of the Immigration Rules.

Description ofcategory:

This route is for graduates who have been identied by UK Higher

Education Institutions as having developed world class innovative ideas

or entrepreneurial skills, to extend their stay in the UK after graduation to

establish one or more businesses in the UK.

For the purpose of the Immigration Rules business means anenterprise as a:

sole trader;

partnership; or

company registered in the UK.

Length of grant ofleave:

Initial application

Extensionapplication

One year

One year

Maximum of 2 years total grant of leave allowed under Tier 1 (GraduateEntrepreneur)
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Switching into theTier 1 (GraduateEntrepreneur)category:

Switching into the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) category will only bepermitted where the applicant has or has last been granted leave as a:

i) Tier 4 Migrant;

ii) Student;

iii) Student Nurse;

iv) Student Re-sitting an Examination

v) Student Writing up a Thesis

vi) Postgraduate Doctor or Dentist; or

vii) Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Migrant.

Applicants must not have previously been granted entry clearance,leave to enter or leave to remain as a Tier 1 (Post Study Work) migrant,a Participant in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme, or aParticipant in the International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor,the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme)

Applicantsmust meetthe followingconditions:

Leave to Remain under this route will be subject to the followingconditions:

a) no recourse to public funds (which means the migrant will not beable to claim most benets paid by the state);

b) registration with the police, if this is required by paragraph 326 ofthe Immigration Rules,

c) no employment except:

1. working for the business(es) the applicant has established;and

2. other employment of no more than 20 hours per week

d) no employment as a Doctor or Dentist in training or as aprofessional sportsperson (including as a sports coach).

21. If you wish to extend your leave in the same category you should make your application before

your current permission to stay expires. We encourage applications to be made at least a

month before leave runs out. You must not previously have been granted leave of 2 years in

total as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) migrant. After 2 years leave in the Tier 1 (GraduateEntrepreneur) category you may be eligible to apply as a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur).

Endorsement

22. You need to request an endorsement directly from a UK Higher Education Institution who has

been approved by the UK Border Agency for the purposes of Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)

category prior to making an application. Details of the approved UK Higher Education

Institutions can be found on the UK Border Agency website at: http://www.ukba.homeofce.gov.

uk/sitecontent/documents/workingintheuk/t1-ge-institutions.pdf

Please note: the process of issuing an endorsement letter is not managed by the UK Border

Agency. Any queries about endorsements or requests for a letter should be directed to your

UK Higher Education institution.

23. You must use the original endorsement letter as part of your leave to remain application within

3 months from the date of issue.

24. The endorsement must not have been used in support of a previous Tier 1 (Graduate

Entrepreneur) application.

25. When issued with an endorsement, you will be under the supervision of the institution that

endorsed you while you are in this category.

26. Points will only be awarded for an endorsement if the endorsement has not been withdrawn by

the relevant UK Higher Education Institution and if that UK Higher Education Institution has not

lost its status as an endorsing institution.

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Limit27. There is a limit of 1,000 Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) approvals for each of the periods 6

April 2012 to 5 April 2013; and 6 April 2013 to 5 April 2014.

28. The limit of 1,000 places is divided equally between participating institutions up to a maximum

of 10 endorsements per institution, to qualifying institutions who conrm that:

a) they wish to take part; and

b) that they have established processes and competence for identifying, nurturing and

developing entrepreneurs among their undergraduate and postgraduate population.

29. The Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) limit will not apply to extension applications where the

applicant has, or last had, leave to remain as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur).

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) - Points Scoring

Points scoring requirements

30. In order to obtain leave to remain as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) you must score:

75 points for attributes (Appendix A of the Immigration Rules found on our website

at: http://www.ukba.homeofce.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/

appendixa/ ).

10 points for English language (Appendix B of the Immigration Rules found onour website at:http://www.ukba.homeofce.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/appendixb/ ).

10 points for Maintenance (Appendix C of the Immigration Rules found on our websiteat: http://www.ukba.homeofce.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/appendixc /).

31. Where you meet the requirements by scoring enough points, and meet all other requirements

of the Immigration Rules, you will be eligible for permission to stay under Tier 1 (Graduate

Entrepreneur).

Applications for Leave to Remain

32. Points available under Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) are in the table below. This table applies

to all applicants seeking leave to remain in this category.
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Attributes: pass mark = 75 Points Points available

You have been endorsed by a UK Higher Education Institution

Please see the relevant section below for more details.

25

The UK Higher Education Institution has awarded a United Kingdomrecognised bachelors or postgraduate degree; or

Your previous grant of leave is a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) and youhave an endorsement for an extension application from the same institution.


25

The endorsement conrms the UK Higher Education Institution has

assessed you and your business idea.


25

English Language: pass mark = 10

If you meet the pass-mark of 75 points for attributes (above) you will satisfythe English language requirement.

10

Maintenance (pass mark = 10)

For leave to remain in the United Kingdom you must have the speciedfunds


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Attributes

Applications for leave to remain

Points scoring assessment

33.For the application to be approved, you must score 75 points for your attributes.

Endorsed by a UK Higher Education Institution (25 points available)

34. You must be endorsed by a UK Higher Education Institution that is approved by the UK

Border Agency for the purposes of endorsing your application under the Tier 1 (Graduate

Entrepreneur) category. Details of the approved UK Higher Education Institutions can be

found on the UK Border Agency website at:http://www.ukba.homeofce.gov.uk/sitecontent/

documents/workingintheuk/t1-ge-institutions.pdf

35.The UK Higher Education Institution must have established processes and competence for

identifying, nurturing and developing entrepreneurs among its undergraduate and postgraduate

population.


36.Paragraph 245 AA (and 54 of Appendix A) of the Immigration Rules state that we will only

award points when you provide the specied evidence that you meet the requirements for this

category.

37. You must provide an original endorsement from a UK Higher Education Institution.

38. The endorsement from the UK Higher Education Institution must show the following:

Endorsement reference number;

Date of issue (including a statement on how long the letter is valid for);

Your name;

Your date of birth, nationality and passport number;

Details of any dependants (those already here or those you intend to bring over to the UK);

Name of the endorsing UK Higher Education Institution;

Name and contact details of the authorising ofcial of the endorsing UK Higher Education

Institution;

Your qualication name, level and date of award (not required for an extension

application);

Intended business sector / business intention of the migrant; What had led the UK Higher Education Institution to endorse the application;

Additional information required for extension applications: Conrmation that the UK

Higher Education Institution is satised that you have made satisfactory progress and on

the balance of probabilities will qualify for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa within the next 12

months.

A suggested template is included at Annex B of this guidance for reference.

Qualication (25 points available)

39.To be awarded the points for this requirement the endorsement from the UK Higher Education

Institution must conrm that within 12 months immediately before the date of the endorsement

that it has awarded you a UK recognised Bachelor degree, Masters degree or PHD.

40.The date of award is taken as the date on which you were rst notied, in writing, by the

awarding institution, that the qualication had been awarded.

United Kingdom recognised degree at Bachelor level or postgraduate level

41.For a qualication to be considered as United Kingdom recognised degree at Bachelors,

Masters or PhD level, it must have been awarded by a United Kingdom recognised body.

42. A United Kingdom recognised body is an institution which has been granted degree awarding

powers by a Royal Charter, an Act of Parliament or the Privy Council. All United Kingdom

universities and some higher education colleges are United Kingdom recognised bodies.

43. Further information on the United Kingdom recognised bodies can be found on the website

of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/

recognisedukdegrees/.

Qualications that are not acceptable

44.Qualications that cannot be used for the award of points include:

Foundation degrees;

Honorary degrees;
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Qualications awarded in the United Kingdom by overseas awarding bodies;

Qualications undertaken solely at an overseas campus of United Kingdom institutions;

Professional and vocational qualications; and

Postgraduate certicates and diplomas.

45. Points will not be awarded for a qualication which is of equivalent level to, but not actually a

Bachelor degree, Masters degree or PHD. For example a vocational qualication at bachelor

degree level but which is not itself a degree.


46.The UK Higher Education Institution endorsement should conrm that they have awarded

you in the 12 months immediately before the date of endorsement a UK recognised Bachelor

degree, Masters degree or PHD (please see paragraph 38 above for further information on the

details required in the endorsement). No further evidence is required

Already have leave as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) (25 points)

47. Alternatively you may claim the points if you are making an extension application and your

endorsement is from the same UK Higher Education Institution as in the application which led

to that previous grant of leave. The specied evidence required is an endorsement from a

UK Higher Education Institution (please see paragraph 38 above for further information

on the details required in the endorsement). No further evidence is required.

48.We will only award points for either having a relevant qualication or having current leave as a

Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) and being endorsed by the same institution.

49.We will only give one extension in this category. The maximum time available is 2 years in

total as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur).

The endorsement conrms the UK Higher Education Institution has assessed

the applicant and their business idea (25 points available)

50.To be awarded the points for this requirement the endorsement from the UK Higher Education

Institution must conrm that the institution has assessed you and considers that:

a) you have a genuine, credible and innovatite business idea;

b) you will spend the majority of your working time on developing business ventures.

Alternatively you may claim the points if you are applying for an extension application, and the

endorsement conrms that you have made satisfactory progress in developing your business

since that leave was granted and will, on the balance of probabilities, qualify for leave to remain as

a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) migrant within the next 12 months.


51.We will use the endorsement from a UK Higher Education Institution for this evidence (please

see paragraph 38 above for further information on the details required in the endorsement). No

further evidence is required.

English Language Requirement

English language assessment

52. If you successfully achieve 75 points in the attributes section you will satisfy the English

language requirement. This is because you will have shown in the attributes section that you

have obtained a degree level qualication taught in English.

Maintenance (Funds)

Maintenance requirement

53.One of the requirements of Tier 1 is that you must be able to support yourself for the entire

duration of your stay in the United Kingdom without use of public funds (benets provided by

the state). An applicant who is unable to support himself/herself could face nancial hardship

because he/she will not have access to most state benets.

54. In order to qualify for leave to remain under Tier 1(Graduate Entrepreneur) you must show

that you have enough money to support yourself. The maintenance requirements are detailed

below:

For applications received before 14 June 2012, applicants in the United Kingdom seeking

further leave to remain must have at least 800 of personal savings which must have been

held for a consecutive 90 day period prior to the date of application.

For applications received on or after 14 June 2012, applicants in the United Kingdom

seeking further leave to remain must have at least 900 of personal savings which must

have been held for a consecutive 90 day period prior to the date of application.

55.The exchange rate of overseas currency will be made using the OANDA rate conversion on the

date of the application. www.oanda.com

56.You may want to check the potential costs of living in the United Kingdom. If you do not expect

to get any income from your work in the United Kingdom after the rst month, you may want to

check that you have enough money to support yourself and any dependants.

57.Any dependants wishing to join you must also provide evidence that they have access to

sufcient funds. Please refer to the Dependants guidance which can be found on our website

at: http://www.ukba.homeofce.gov.uk/workingintheuk/. Where your application is made atthe same time as applications by your partner or child, each applicant must have the total

requisite funds specied in the relevant parts of Appendices C and E of the Immigration Rules.

If each applicant does not individually meet the requirements of Appendices C and / or E, as

appropriate, all the applications (the application by the Relevant Points Based System Migrant

and applications as the partner or child of that Relevant Points Based System Migrant) will be

refused.

58.We will not consider money earned during a time that you were in breach of the United

Kingdoms immigration laws as evidence of maintenance funds.

For example: Earnings made from the United Kingdom will only be considered if you had leaveto enter or remain in the United Kingdom at the time they were earned, and in a category whichpermitted you to take that employment.
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59. The evidence used to support personal savings for at least a consecutive 90 day period must

be original, and issued by an authorised ofcial of that organisation.

60. Evidence must be in the form of cash funds held in an account (this includes savings accounts

and current accounts even when notice must be given). Other accounts or nancial instruments

such as shares, bonds, overdrafts, credit cards, pension funds etc, are not acceptable,

regardless of notice period.

61. If you wish to rely on a joint account as evidence of available funds, you must be named on the

account along with one or more other named individual.

62. Where you are providing evidence of maintenance from a single account, we will always

assess the funds available to you from the closing balance given on the document provided.

63. Where two or more pieces of evidence from a single account are submitted (for example

two consecutive bank statements) we will assess the funds available to you from the closing

balance of the most recent document.

64. Where evidence from two or more accounts are submitted, we will assess the funds available

to you using:

the most recent closing balance of one account, plus

any additional money available to you on the date of that closing balance, for which youhave provided the required evidence.

We will always use the closing balance date from the account that most favours you.

65. No points will be awarded where the specied documents show that the funds are held in a

nancial institution with which the UK Border Agency is unable to make satisfactory verication

checks. A list of nancial institutions which do not satisfactorily verify nancial statements is

published on the UK Border Agency website at: www.ukba.homeofce.gov.uk/sitecontent/

documents/studying/nancial-institutions/

66.Only the following specied documents will be accepted as evidence of this requirement:

i) Personal bank or building society statements covering a consecutive 90 day period:The most recent statement must be dated no more than 31 days before the date ofapplication.

The personal bank or building society statements should clearly show:

your name;

the account number;

the date of the statement;

the nancial institutions name and logo;

any transactions during the 90 day period;

that there are enough funds present in the account (the balance must always be at

least 800 or 900 as appropriate) covering the 90 day period before the date of

application.

All statements must be on the banks stationery, unless you are submitting electronic statements.

Ad hoc bank statements printed on the banks letter-headed/stationery are admissible asevidence (this excludes mini-statements from Cash Points (ATMs)).

If you wish to submit electronic bank statements from an online account these must contain all ofthe details listed above. In addition, you will need to provide either:

a supporting letter from your bank, on company headed paper, conrming theauthenticity of the statements; or

an electronic bank statement bearing the ofcial stamp of the bank in question will beaccepted. This stamp should appear on every page of the statement.

We will not accept statements which show the balance in the account on a particular day as thesedocuments do not show that you hold enough funds for the full period needed.

ii) Building society pass book covering a consecutive 90 day period, ending no more than 31days before the date of application:

The building society pass book should clearly show:

your name;

the account number;


any transactions during the 90 day period;

that there have been enough funds present in the account (the balance must alwaysbe at least 800 or 900 as appropriate) covering the consecutive 90 day periodbefore the date of application.

iii) Letter from bank conrming funds and that they have been in the bank for a consecutive 90day period, ending no more than 31 days before the date of application:

The letter from a bank or building society should show:

your name;

the account number;

the date of the letter;


the funds held in your account;

that the funds of 800 or 900 as appropriate have been in the bank for at least aconsecutive 90 day period on and immediately before the date of the letter.

The letter must be dated no more than 31 days before the date of application.

All statements must be on the banks letterhead/ofcial stationery.

We will not accept letters which show the balance in the account on a particular day as thesedocuments do not show that you hold enough funds for the full period needed.

iv) Letter from a nancial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) or, in thecase of overseas accounts, the home regulator (ofcial regulatory body for the country in whichthe institution operates and the funds are located) conrming funds and that they have been held
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for a consecutive 90 day period, ending no more than 31 days before the date of application:

The letter from the nancial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority or homeregulator should show:

your name;

the account number;

the date of the letter;


the funds held in your account; and

that the funds of 800 or 900 as appropriate have been in the bank for at least aconsecutive 90 day period on and immediately before the date of the letter.

The letter must be dated no more than 31 days before the date of application.

All statements must be on the banks letterhead/ofcial stationery.

We will not accept letters which show the balance in the account on a particular day as thesedocuments do not show that you hold sufcient funds for the full period needed.

Curtailing leave

67. The UK Border Agency may curtail your leave to enter or remain if the UK Higher Education

Institution that endorsed the application which led to your current grant of leave:

(a) loses its status as an endorsing institution for Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Migrants,

(b) loses its Highly Trusted Status under Tier 4 of the Points-Based System (for whatever

reason),

(c) ceases to be an A-rated Sponsor under Tier 2 or Tier 5 of the Points-Based System

because its Tier 2 or Tier 5 Sponsor licence is downgraded or revoked by the UK Border

Agency, or

(d) withdraws your endorsement.

Change of circumstances

68. If during your stay under Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur), you wish to amend:

Your contact details; or Details of your criminal convictions; or Your representatives details; or Your dependants details

Then you should ll out a change of circumstances form which is available on our website: http://

www.ukba.homeofce.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier1/graduate-entrepreneur/change-

circumstances/

This form should be sent to:

UK Border AgencyChange of Circumstances FormPO Box 3468ShefeldS3 8WA

69. We will conrm that we have noted your change of circumstances in a letter. You should keep

this letter with the original documents from your application.

70. However, if your current grant of leave was made by means of a Biometric Residence Permit

(BRP), you should not use the change of circumstances form to notify us of any of the following

changes to your circumstances:

Change of name Change of date of birth Change of nationality Change of gender Change of appearance

71. In these circumstances, you must make an application for a new BRP, using the application

form BRP (RC), this can be obtained from the UK Border Agency website at http://www.ukba.

homeofce.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/196971/formicfn1020091.pdf

72. You should also use the BRP (RC) application form if you need to replace a BRP that has been

lost, damaged or stolen.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier1/graduate-entrepreneur/change-circumstances/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier1/graduate-entrepreneur/change-circumstances/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier1/graduate-entrepreneur/change-circumstances/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/196971/formicfn1020091.pdfhttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/196971/formicfn1020091.pdfhttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/196971/formicfn1020091.pdfhttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/196971/formicfn1020091.pdfhttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier1/graduate-entrepreneur/change-circumstances/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier1/graduate-entrepreneur/change-circumstances/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier1/graduate-entrepreneur/change-circumstances/


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Annex A: Verication and other checks

A1. What may be checked?

We may want to check the supporting documents you send with your application. Therefore,

you must ensure that all the evidence comes from a source that can be clearly identied and

that it can be independently conrmed as being genuine.

These checks may delay our decision on an application so we will only make them when we

have clear reasons to do so.

A2. When will verication checks be made?

Where we have reasonable doubts that a specied document is genuine we may want to verify

the document with an independent person or government agency.

What we consider to be a reasonable doubt will depend on an individual application. However,

our judgments will be based on the facts we have.

The purpose of these checks is to ensure that the document provided is genuine and

accurately reects statements made in the application. If the document is being used asevidence to score points, we also want to ensure that it entitles you to claim those points.

A3. When will other checks be made?

We will make other checks where, for example, we have doubts about an application or

the documents sent with the application but these are not serious enough for us to make a

verication check.

This may be because previous verication checks have found that some supporting evidence

is invalid and some is genuine, or where evidence provided contradicts information we already

have. In these cases, we may carry out more checks.

A4. What are the possible outcomes of checks?

There are four possible outcomes of a check: Document conrmed as genuine. If we conclude that the document is genuine, we will

consider the application as normal.

Document conrmed as false. If we conclude that the document is false, we willrefuse the application, whether or not the document is essential to the application. If adocument is conrmed as false we will normally refuse the application for more than onereason. For example, if you send us a bank statement to show that you have enoughfunds available, and we have evidence that the statement is false, we will refuse theapplication because you do not meet the funds requirement and because you have senta false document. Where we conrm that a document is false it will be retained by theUK Border Agency and is likely to jeopardise any future application.

Check inconclusive (verication checks). If we cannot verify that the document iseither genuine or false then we will ignore it as evidence for scoring points. If you havesent other specied documents as evidence for scoring the relevant points, we willconsider these as normal. If you have not sent any other documents, we will award zeropoints in that area.

Check inconclusive (other checks). If we cannot verify that the document is eithergenuine or false then we will consider the application as if the document is genuine.

Check gives us cause to have reasonable doubt about the genuineness of a specied document (other checks). If we cannot determine that the document iseither genuine or false but as a result of the checks we nd other reasons to doubt thegenuineness of a particular specied document, we may decide to make a vericationcheck.

A5. When would an application be refused without making verication checks?

We may refuse an application without making verication checks where:

We are concerned about a piece of evidence but would in any event refuse theapplication for other reasons, those reasons will form the basis of the refusal. We willnot make verication checks in these circumstances. However, we will always verifypassports if we doubt they are genuine.

There is evidence that proves a particular document is false without vericationchecks.

A6. What is the procedure for verication and other checks?

The procedures for both verication checks and other checks will vary from case-to-case, but

they may involve: checking the details or genuineness of documents with employers, the relevant

embassy or high commission, other government departments (in the United Kingdomand overseas); and

checking the accuracy and authenticity of documents with banks, universities andprofessional bodies.

We record the results of our enquiries.

If we cannot obtain an immediate answer to enquiries, we will normally wait for up to a

maximum of four weeks for the necessary information.

Our compliance team may visit your employer or educational institution (if you are a student)

before we make a decision on the application.


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Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Policy Guidance version 04/2012 Page 18 of 18

Annex B - Template

Endorsement from a UK Higher Education Institution, this should be an original document providedby the UK Higher Education Institution and not a copy.

CONFIDENTIAL

For the attention of the UK Border Agency

In regards to the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) application of Mr/Mrs/Ms [Name]

I have the consent of [name] to endorse their application. I will conrm the contents of this letter tothe Agency at their request.

Name of applicant

Applicants date of birth

Applicants nationality

Applicants passport number

Details of any dependants (those already here or those the applicant intends to bring over to theUK)

Endorsement date of issue and expiry date

Name of the endorsing UK Higher Education Institution

Address of the endorsing UK Higher Education Institution

Name and contact details of the authorising ofcial of the endorsing UK Higher EducationInstitution

Qualication awarded to the applicant by the endorsing UK Higher Education Institution [not

required for an extension application]

name,

level and

date of award;

[Name] intended business sector / business intention is [name of business sector / businessintention].

Initial application] - We have assessed [name] business idea and conrm [name] has a genuine,

credible and innovative business idea and they will spend the majority of their working time on

developing business ventures.

[Extension application] We have assessed [name] business idea and conrm [name] thatthey have made satisfactory progress in developing their business and will, on the balance ofprobability, qualify for leave to remain as a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) migrant within the next 12 months

Signature of authorised person of the UK Higher Education institution