Please help - Advice on Business Visa/Sole Trader

Hi all, great website!!
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Please can you help, I have a query..
Basically this is the story...

I have just paid for half of a bar with my Indian friend in Goa. We have put in half the money each.
I am from and have UK passport. So now I need to join him to run our bar in India.

I need a business visa, but do not have a company in the UK. But I need a headed letter from a business in the UK to apply for the visa. I am currently not employed by a company here at all.

Please advise, is the best way to do this to register with the inland revenue a new company in the UK, I have an existing UTR attached to my name, can I attach this to the name of a new company in my name, register the company... and then after creating my company name and logo, writing myself a headed letter for the visa requirement. My friend has a registered entertainment company already in India, that I am partnering with. So with this we can apply for the Business visa to collaborate/have meetings/consultancy etc between the 2 business' if you understand what I'm trying to say.

Sorry, I'm a bit confused on the best thing to do. I dont want to create myself any problems by creating a company (not limited just sole trader/proprietor) in the UK. I want to do the whole process fully legitimately, but they dont make it easy!! I do not plan to work on a tourist visa as many do in Goa.

Any sound advice would be most appreciated, from people that know the process or have done it themselves, please post information that is sound and not just opinions thankyou. I really need some help asap. The season starts soon!

Kind regards everyone, and thankyou kindly!!

You have just entered a minefield!
Use the search facilities on this site and britishexpats.com

AndyD 8-)₹

Haha.. indeed Andy! Thanks :P ..

So I have just registered a new company in the UK (not a limited company) ...

Just finished the letterheads, my friend is sending his letter from India etc .. any advice please before I actually post these to apply for the business visa guys please??

I and my Indian friend both have entertainment companies and we are collaborating between the two company's, so I will explain I need the business visa for business meetings, consultant work, etc

You should be aware that you have to leave India every 180 days - assuming that you get a visa that long: I have seen a 3-month B visa.

AndyD 8-)₹

A friend recently got a 1-year business visa in the UK. It was his first B visa application.

Great thanks guys, any advice as to whether I can write myself the letter for application, I am a sole trader not LTD company, so need to know whether it is ok to write the letter on behalf of myself, is this acceptable?

.. thanks

If you're a sole trader, that seems to make sense.

If you have registered the company you are a .plc and not afaik a sole trader - don't you need a minimum of two directors (which may include the company secretary)?

AndyD 8-)₹

Hi,

Any luck there with the business visa?

I too am in a similar boat-UK reg sole trader, need to get a business visa as setting up a tea importing business in EU and worried a bit about the letter from myself. I've written it, got it on headed paper with the rubber stamp and all and it looks great but feels...wrong somehow. Not sure if this is all going to work so would be good to know how you-or anyone-got on.

I'm actually in Nepal and have to get visa from UK so will have to Fedex passport there and then get a friend to ship it back. Could then be wasted cash if not granted visa, not to mention time.

Cheers,


Joe

How heavily stamped is your passport ? In the UK they might notice no exit stamp from nepal. Don't you think it is a risky business decision ?

... and in India they might notice you are entering from Nepal on a visa issued in UK???

AndyD 8-)₹