Team Blitz India
LONDON: The United Kingdom has emerged as a lucrative destination for Indian entrepreneurs and businesspeople seeking to expand their global footprint and establish a presence in the country.
The self-sponsorship route looks like an appealing way for these enterprising individuals to set up their own businesses in the UK, obtain a Skilled Worker Visa, and ultimately become UK citizens.
Moreover, this visa provides the added advantage of enabling entrepreneurs to manage their business without the constant concern of visa revocation and can also lead to the opportunity of permanent residency for them.
Immigration changes Recent changes in the UK immigration system have made it harder for investors and entrepreneurs to gain access through traditional visa routes, such as the closure of the Investor Visa and the Entrepreneur Visa.
However, a new and innovative process called ‘self-sponsorship’ offers a legitimate and attractive alternative for enterprising individuals.
Self-sponsorship involves establishing a UK-limited company and then sponsoring oneself through that company to obtain a Skilled Worker visa.
This legal process complies with immigration rules and has been successfully adopted by self-employed business owners in countries like the USA and India.
A London-based immigration law firm, AY&J Solicitors, known for its expertise in pioneering this innovative process, has helped several clients gain legal entry to the UK using the self-sponsorship Shining example A shining example of a successful Indian entrepreneur leveraging the selfsponsorship route is KavitaSeeram, an Indian citizen and Director of SK Seasons Ltd.
She migrated to the UK and sought the assistance of a law firm to help her navigate the intricate process of sponsoring herself for her own business and settling in the UK.
By setting up a limited company in the UK, obtaining a sponsorship license for the company, and then sponsoring herself, Kavita was finally able to establish her presence.
The self-sponsorship route offers a new way for genuine business owners who do not qualify for regular UK visas to gain access to the British SME market and even possible citizenship.
For entrepreneurs who do not meet the rigid criteria of the Innovator Visa, self-sponsorship presents a viable alternative.