The UK’s immigration procedures are putting off overseas investors,
according to a business immigration lawyer.
At a recent seminar on global immigration at the US embassy, Chris Magrath
of Magrath & Co said current procedures hurt executives of foreign
companies as well as entrepreneurs and the self-employed and compared
unfavourably to the US.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
"An investor might plough millions of pounds into the UK, only to find
that he or she is at the back of the queue when it comes to getting an
extension to their stay in this country.
"The Home Office often takes six months or more to process extension
applications – during which time the investor is unable to leave the country.
If he does manage to retrieve his passport, his application will be suspended
until the passport is returned."
