What to expect during the Tier 1 Entrepreneur interview

The Tier 1 Genuine Entrepreneur interview is an opportunity for the Home Office to assess the applicant’s suitability for this visa in the context of meeting with the genuine entrepreneur requirement; they will be looking to establish that the applicant has the relevant skills and experience to achieve their business proposal.

Should I be worried?

No, this is also an opportunity for you, as you can truly show the Home Office you have a thorough knowledge and understanding of your business, business plan and that you are ready to answer any questions about it.

What kind of questions will I be asked during the Tier 1 Entrepreneur interview?

Although there is no checklist of the questions they will ask, the Home Office will focus their questions around:

• Your work history and experience – they will look at any relevant qualification or work experience you have, along with transferable skills that will benefit you in setting up and running the proposed business. What made you decide to set up, take over or invest in a UK business?
• Your practical knowledge of running the business in question, e.g. familiarity with relevant accreditation, knowledge and awareness of competitors and understanding of any trends or developments in the industry in question. Why is UK your preferred location? Why have you chosen this business area?
• How you intend to set up the proposed business; namely, how you will tackle setbacks, how much staff will be paid, where the business will be based, any marketing strategies you will adopt and how well you predict the business will run, both short and long term
• Your immigration history – have you been in the UK before, and why? Where are you based outside of the UK? What are your ultimate immigration goals in the UK?

 Top tip for the Tier 1 Genuine Entrepreneur interview

The most important thing you can do is to understand the content of your business plan and recall the same during your interview. Ultimately, the Home Office needs to be convinced that the proposed business venture is worth granting a visa for; therefore, a calm and confident approach will help you prepare for the interview and overall boost the likelihood of a successful application.

The assistance of professionals, both business and legal, can significantly boost your chances of a convincing application not only during the interview but throughout the application.

How can NA Law Solicitors help with the Tier 1 Entrepreneur interview?

We are a niche immigration law firm based in Brentford, West London. Our team of immigration lawyers specialise in the provision of advice to HNW clients, namely on the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa application, the genuineness test, accelerated settlement applications and the team entrepreneur visa route. We also advise on the Tier 1 Investor application and the Sole representative visa application. Please get in touch for a free 15-minute telephone consultation.