In a written response to a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act, the Home Office has provided information on the numbers of successful and unsuccessful applications for Tier 1 entrepreneur visas across 2011, 2012, and the first three quarters of 2013.
It may be worth noting that the convoluted “genuine entrepreneur” test was introduced into the Immigration Rules on 31 January 2013, destroying the “points based” principle of mechanical assessment and re-introducing discretion in the assessment of the genuineness of intention and ability of the applicant.
Not surprisingly, the Home Office figures show a dramatic increase in the number of refusals in the second quarter of 2013 (3810 refused applications vs 1157 approved). The number of refusals in the three months between April and June 2013 nearly three times exceeds the total number of refused applications in the preceding 27 months (1367 refused applications in total).
The Home Office has refused to comment as to the number of interviewed applicants, stating that it would be too costly to gather this information.
If you have made an unsuccessful application for entrepreneur visa, please get in touch with us. We will be interested to know the grounds for refusal and we may be able to help you.
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