Since the £200,000 immigration policy to the United Kingdom is no longer in effect, what feasible options are available for applicants wishing to immigrate to the United Kingdom?
£2 million investment immigration
Investment immigration is undoubtedly one of the most popular programs currently available. The requirements for applicants are simple; by investing no less than £2 million, one can obtain residency status. After maintaining the investment for five years and meeting simple language requirements and examinations, one can apply for permanent residency. If the investment increases to £5 million or £10 million, one can transition to permanent residency in just 3 years or 2 years, respectively. This program is currently very popular, but the financial requirements for applicants are high, making it exclusive to high-net-worth individuals.
Start-up visa
The start-up visa, also known as the innovator visa, has lower financial requirements for applicants, with a minimum of £50,000 needed. However, there are strict requirements regarding the business plan, and applicants must first obtain endorsement from a relevant organization. A viable and ambitious business plan is necessary, and English proficiency is generally required to be around a score of 6, as language communication is very important for conducting business in the United Kingdom. Additionally, for applicants of this policy, while obtaining the visa is not difficult, transitioning to permanent residency requires meeting turnover or job creation requirements; otherwise, one cannot transition to permanent residency status.
Overseas Chief Representative visa
If an applicant can serve as a senior executive or actual manager of an office or branch established in the United Kingdom, they may choose to apply for this visa. The requirements for this visa are relatively low, as long as the applicant is a manager; however, the company must meet financial and scale requirements, which can be challenging.
Global Talent visa
The implementation details of this visa are still unknown, but overall, it is similar to the previous Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa, targeting high-tech talent.