Ankara Agreement Visa: Main Reasons for Refusal

The European Community Association Agreement (ECAA), long ago stroke between European Union and Turkey, commonly referred as to the Ankara Agreement, allows Turkish nationals to enter the European Union countries, including the United Kingdom, to establish themselves as a self-employed business person or as a worker in a business in the UK.

In broad terms, the requirements a relatively straightforward, including having a genuine intention to set up a viable business, bringing sufficient funds to establish the business, being able to pay for the share of the costs of running the business and evidencing the share of the profits will be enough to support the applicant and family without your needing to have another job.

The upside of this category is that there is no minimum capital requirement and no job creation requirement, no Life in the UK Test to be passed and no English language requirement, the application is free of charge and exempt from the health surcharge. The downside is that it is not possible to make the application whilst in the UK on a tourist/visitor visa, meaning there is no switching from a visitor visa.

Nonetheless, some applicants are mislead by the relatively simple requirements, when submitting an application on their own. The main reasons for refusal in such category can be understood as follows:

1. Failure to show they are bringing money of their own to put into the business;
2. Failure to show they will be able to bear their share of the business’s liabilities;
3. Failure to show the share of the profits will be sufficient to support themselves and any dependants in the United Kingdom;
4. Failure to show they will be actively concerned in the running of the business;
5. Failure to show there is a genuine need for the proposed services and investment;
6. Failure to provide the accounts of the business for previous years;
7. Failure to show they are bringing into the country sufficient funds to establish a business;
8. Failure to show the business can realistically support the applicant and any dependants without the need to take employment;

All these issues are easily fixed with an experienced legal representation like Mann’s Solutions, where they will be properly addressed and amended, making the application likely to be successful.

Turkish nationals benefit from such route based on the UK’s membership of the EU. Once the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union is concluded, this route will close to new applicants.  There may be a transitional period up to 31 December 2020 or some other date, but at present there is no certainty about this. Take advantage of such category while it is last.

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Mann’s Solutions is international immigration law firm with offices in London, Hong Kong, Istanbul and St Petersburg and has expertise in offering UK Visas and Immigration by Investment services to high net worth individuals. Our immigration lawyers regulated by OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner).

For further information or to discuss your personal circumstances in a private consultation with our immigration lawyers in London Office, please contact us at enquiries@manns-solutions.com or call +44 207 993 63 46.