{"id":8404,"date":"2016-11-23T17:25:55","date_gmt":"2016-11-23T17:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.investmentimmigration.com\/?p=8404"},"modified":"2019-02-12T13:45:48","modified_gmt":"2019-02-12T18:45:48","slug":"u-k-targets-chinese-students-tier-1-investor-visa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.investmentimmigration.com\/u-k-targets-chinese-students-tier-1-investor-visa\/","title":{"rendered":"U.K. Targets Chinese Students for Tier 1 Investor Visa"},"content":{"rendered":"

The U.K. is trying to attract investment from Chinese students in its Tier 1 Investment Visa<\/a> in a bid to help overcome a growing housing crisis.<\/p>\n

\"U.K.<\/p>\n

A British investment company believes it can raise \u00a31 billion from the sale of a bond and use some of the proceeds to build affordable homes.<\/p>\n

Oversea students, particularly from China, would be asked to invest at least \u00a32 million at a time, and in return be allowed to study in the U.K. before receiving permanent residence after five years.<\/p>\n

InvestUK believes there is enough demand among Chinese overseas students to make the initiative a success.<\/p>\n

Under the plan, formed in conjunction with Gaw Capital from Hong Kong, interest on the investment will be issued as bursaries to pay for the students\u2019 tuition fees.<\/p>\n

The aim of the project is to help solve a housing market struggling with under-supply, causing rising rents and homes prices, particularly in the London area.<\/p>\n

The popularity of the UK\u2019s Tier 1 Investor Visa plummeted when the threshold was raised from \u00a31 million to \u00a32 million in November 2014.<\/p>\n

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\"U.K.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Source: UK Government<\/span><\/p>\n

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Just 192 visas were awarded through the program in 2015, compared to 1,172 the previous year, a fall of 84 per cent.<\/p>\n

The downward trend has continued, with just 82 visas awarded in the first half of 2016.<\/p>\n

The threshold increase is not the only reason for the reduction in applications, according to experts.<\/p>\n

Tighter checks on the source of investment cash have also been introduced following criticism the program was being exploited by corrupt individuals.<\/p>\n

There has also been a stipulation added saying investors had to have a UK bank account before being awarded a visa. This means potential residents are exposed to due diligence performed by banks before giving a new customer an account.<\/p>\n

Economic woes in emerging markets, where many investor clients are from, also contributed to the drop in numbers, particularly the fall in the value of the Russian rouble.<\/p>\n

A plan to change tax rules for residents living outside the UK was also a factor, while the uncertainty over the UK\u2019s membership of the European Union is a further doubt.<\/p>\n

The UK\u2019s tighter checks mean the investor programs offered elsewhere, in the likes of Malta, Portugal and Cyprus, are more attractive to applicants.<\/p>\n

General Information:<\/strong> Contact us<\/a> to receive more information about this article.<\/p>\n

Interested Investors:<\/strong> Kindly complete the following form<\/a> and we will contact you to discuss your global residency and citizenship investment options.<\/p>\n

Further reading<\/strong><\/p>\n