NEWS AND EVENTS
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Great Britain is a world-known tourist centre, a beautiful country with impressive history, culture and traditions, the homeland of many historical characters. London is a world’s financial and political centre, one of the world’s art, music and fashion capitals.
Advantages that have been appreciated in Great Britain are its economic stability, conservatism and growth in prosperity – for many centuries the United Kingdom has been considered one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
Within the last couple of years, the United Kingdom has adopted some new immigration systems, visa, naturalization and work permits / visa types. And contrary to a popular belief, Great Britain is the only country in Europe with a relatively flexible immigration system.
Requirements
Great Britain as any other country is interested in foreign investments. Therefore a new category of Investor was created to give the opportunity to people with independent means to invest the capital into the United Kingdom to have a favorable effect on the country’s economy. At the same time an investor and his family would have great benefits and would have the right to obtain the residence permit in Great Britain and with time to acquire the British citizenship.
In order to qualify for the Investor scheme:
1. A potential investor has money of his own under his control in the UK amounting to no less than £1 million.
2. A potential investor intends to invest for 5 years not less than £750 000 of his capital in the UK by way of UK Government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK registered companies (other than those principally engaged in property investment and excluding investment by the applicant by way of deposits with a bank, building society or other enterprise whose normal course of business includes the acceptance of deposits).
3. A potential investor intends to make the UK his main home by spending more time in the UK than somewhere else and should be able to maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants without taking employment (other than self-employment or business) or recourse to public funds.
Procedures and Timeframe
The main applicant must first submit an application at the British Diplomatic Post in the Russian Federation. Upon satisfactory review by the entry clearance officer, the UK Government will grant a permission to enter and live in the UK for 2 years to the main applicant, spouse and dependants under the age of 18.
At expiry of the 24-month entry clearance, the main applicant must apply for an extension of stay within the UK. The UK Government will grant a three-year extension of stay for the whole family if the main applicant still meets all the requirements stipulated above.
At expiry of the three-year extension period, the applicant can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. The UK Government will approve this request if the main applicant has once again satisfied the same three requirements above.
A resident has the right to apply for UK citizenship one year after being granted with the Indefinite Leave to Remain subject however to satisfying the strict residence requirements.
Dual citizenship
There are no restrictions on dual citizenship in Great Britain.
Advantages of British citizenship
Advantages of acquiring the British citizenship that is a regular conclusion of the process of immigration visas obtaining are evident.
Among them we can point out:
· Possibility of visa-free travel to more than 170 countries
· Economic stability
· Attractive tax regime for high net worth individuals
· High standards of education and reputable education system: excellent private and public schools
· Opportunities for business and career development
· Stable currency
· Secured future for the family