Innovator founder visa case: successful relocation of a tech entrepreneur from Argentina to the UK

I have a business in Argentina related to the high-tech sector. I had long-standing plans to enter the UK market. It is much easier to find serious investors and launch a promising project designed to last several years here. Therefore, I obtained an innovator visa in advance, but I did not have any free time to prepare for the move.

Javier, 35 years old

Businessman from Argentina

Clients’ names and photos have been changed

Our client

Javier is a businessman from Argentina. His interests lie at the intersection of high technology, materials science and energy. His company is involved in applied projects aimed at providing a stable power supply to remote areas using green technologies — small hydroelectric power stations, solar panels and wind turbines.

The company has its own successful Research and Development department. For several years now, specialists have been developing innovative materials that can be used in new-generation solar batteries. Their efficiency is expected to be significantly higher than existing solutions based on silicon, polymer sealants or cadmium telluride. When the research reached a stage requiring large investments and international partnerships, it became clear that the company needed a presence in one of the leading technology jurisdictions.

The challenge

When Javier approached Imperial & Legal, he was already considering the UK as the main location for the further development of his innovative business. Together with him, we began to develop a comprehensive strategy for entering the British market, which included both the legal and organisational aspects of relocation.

The first step was to apply for an Innovator Founder Visa, a category ideally suited to technology entrepreneurs planning to do business and conduct research in the UK. Imperial & Legal specialists took care of the entire process of preparing and submitting documents: they developed a business concept that met the requirements of British incubators and investors, prepared a complete visa dossier, worked out the legal details and ensured error-free submission. This allowed us to obtain a visa without delay and begin preparations for the move.

Work on the organisational aspects of the relocation began at the final stage of the visa process. We proposed a step-by-step plan of action:

1. Determine the children’s educational path — select a school and kindergarten appropriate for their age, language level, and academic requirements.
2. Once the educational institutions had been approved, move on to finding a property within a reasonable radius so that the family could live in comfortable conditions and minimise their daily commute.

Thus, Imperial & Legal’s main task was to provide comprehensive support for Javier’s family’s move to the UK on a turnkey basis — from legal and visa procedures to finding accommodation and organising everyday life.

Additional tasks included:
• organising the family’s relocation and the transport of personal belongings from Argentina;
• drawing up all contracts with utility and service companies;
• ensuring the connection of the internet and household amenities;
• assisting the family with adaptation and initial acclimatisation;
• agreeing on rental terms without the need for annual prepayment.

While the Imperial & Legal team dealt with all the practical issues, Javier focused on developing his business: he negotiated with British contractors, prepared the company for relocation, hired employees and finalised his commitments in Argentina.

The main goal of the project was to make the family’s move as comfortable, predictable and organised as possible, allowing the client to focus entirely on strategic business tasks.

Challenges we faced

Javier is a businessman, so he is used to planning his actions in advance. That is why he did not encounter any problems when applying for an Innovator Founder visa. The application was submitted in advance — Imperial & Legal specialists prepared a complete set of documents, worked through all the legal aspects and ensured that the application was submitted without errors, which allowed him to obtain a visa without delay. 

There were two main difficulties that we had to overcome. The first was the lack of a source of income in the UK. Because of this, property owners considered the potential tenant unreliable and asked for a year’s rent to be paid in advance. Given the high rents in the UK and a certain shortage of offers with a good price-quality ratio, this could have had a negative impact on the family’s budget.

The second difficulty was Javier’s high standards of comfort combined with his acute lack of time. He is forced to devote himself entirely to his company, often working 16-hour days, even though he loves his family dearly and wants them to live in good conditions and want for nothing.

Solution

After selecting suitable schools for the children, our specialists began searching for properties in comfortable areas located within reasonable proximity to educational institutions. As a result, a house was found that fully met the family’s expectations.

When discussing the terms of the lease, we took into account that the client did not yet have a credit history in the UK, which often causes caution among landlords. Therefore, to ensure the successful conclusion of the deal, we agreed with the agency and the owner on a six-month rent payment option — two payments per year. This format suited both parties and allowed us to quickly draw up the contract without unnecessary bureaucratic delays.

Many owners were accommodating and willing to discuss living conditions with Javier that did not require mandatory annual payments. When the client finally chose the apartment he liked, our specialists organised a visit to the property, taking care of all the legal and technical details involved in preparing for the move. We also conducted an in-depth analysis of the lease agreement and made sure that the terms were fully acceptable to Javier and his family.

Additional actions taken by our specialists

As part of our comprehensive support, we provided the client with a full range of services related to the family’s move and adaptation in the UK.

 Selection and placement of children in educational institutions:

• analysis of possible schools and kindergartens in selected areas;
• organising meetings and online introductions with the administration;
• assistance in submitting applications and preparing all necessary documents for enrolment;
• supporting the family during the final stages of the children’s enrolment.

 Selection and registration of real estate:

• search and selection of suitable properties within a reasonable radius of selected schools;
• organising online and in-person viewings;
• preparation of offers and negotiations with agents and landlords;
• passing all reference checks and confirming financial solvency;
•  review and agreement of the terms of the lease agreement;
•  remote signing of the contract, payment of the deposit and first rent payment.

Additional organisational services:

• signing contracts with utility companies and internet providers, connecting fibre optic internet;
• arranging the transport of belongings and furniture from Argentina to the UK;
• orientation tour of the area — introduction to key infrastructure facilities: school, kindergarten, bank, supermarket, shops, cafes and police station.

Conclusions

Working with a trusted and reliable service provider ensures a level of comfort that makes clients want to recommend the company to their friends, acquaintances and colleagues. Imperial & Legal builds relationships with clients in such a way that they never regret choosing us.

We value and respect your trust, which is why we take care of absolutely all issues related to visa processing, moving to the UK, finding suitable accommodation here, and opening a bank account. We work on an “all-inclusive” basis and are ready to support each client even after our obligations to them have been fully fulfilled.