The UK Home Office has announced that it will place new restrictions on the entrepreneur visa in view of scams involving individuals and organised criminal groups.
In an announcement published on gov.uk, the UK government’s central information portal, the Home Office said the move is in response to reports of individuals and organised criminals targeting the entrepreneur visa option.
The entrepreneur visa is intended to allow migrants to set up businesses in the UK.
“Evidence from tax records shows that when student visas expire, people seek entrepreneur status under the pretext of setting up a business while they actually work on low skilled jobs,” the announcement said.
With the new clampdown students will only be able to switch visa status using funds from a government-approved source.
In addition, those who have not yet started business will not be able to switch from student to entrepreneur visa.
“We will take firm action to protect our immigration system,” Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said, according to the announcement.
“This government is building an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants and tough on those who abuse the system and flout the law,” he said.
The UK is home to one of the largest Bangladeshi diasporas.
According to one government census, over 500,000 people in Britain are of Bangladeshi origin.
Source: Bd news24