How we helped Diego and Marina move to UK: visas and new accommodation

I have always strived for success in business. I live in Mexico and started out in trade. But then I switched to the fintech sector. I developed a draft service that had no direct analogues. Investors appeared, and an offer came in to move the business to the UK. But I had no free time at all to organise the move.

Diego, 38 years old

The owner business from Mexico

Clients’ names and photos have been changed

Diego is the owner of a successful business. His income allowed him to live a comfortable life in Mexico, where he was born and raised. But the entrepreneur was always attracted to the fintech sector, and a few years ago he founded a start-up with a unique financial service. The product has every chance of becoming mainstream, but it needs funding to get off the ground. The venture capital market in Mexico is underdeveloped, so Diego decided to move to the UK, a centre for financial services and technology.

Some time ago, we helped Diego obtain an innovator visa. He successfully moved, but became completely absorbed in developing his business and realised that he had no time to organise everyday matters. For the first few months, he stayed in aparthotels and temporary accommodation. The question of full relocation of the family arose: it was necessary to obtain a visa for his wife, Marina, and find a permanent apartment to live in.

Our team took on these tasks. We prepared and submitted the visa application for Marina. At the same time, we began searching for suitable flats, discussing options with the couple via video calls and taking everyone’s wishes into account. Marina, in particular, wanted to see all the interesting properties in person. So we waited for her to arrive in the UK, and in the first week she viewed all the options with us. As a result, the family chose an apartment in the Victoria area. We organised inspections, prepared the necessary documents and accompanied them to the signing of the lease agreement.

This comprehensive approach allowed us to resolve all issues: the couple now live in the flat they chose, and Diego can focus entirely on developing his start-up without being distracted by everyday difficulties.

Our client

Diego is a Mexican citizen, a talented entrepreneur and the founder of a fintech start-up. His team is developing an innovative financial service for mobile devices that could occupy a unique niche in the international market. To accelerate the development of the project and attract investment, he decided to move to the UK, one of the world’s financial technology hubs.

Diego had previously contacted Imperial & Legal, and we successfully helped him obtain an Innovator visa. After moving, he focused entirely on his business and entrusted our team with organising the next steps.

The task set for our specialists
To organise the full relocation of Diego’s family to the UK: obtain a visa for his wife, find and agree on a suitable apartment to live in (taking into account the limitations — no credit history and no British bank account), carry out checks and accompany the signing of the lease agreement so that Diego could focus on developing his start-up without being distracted by everyday issues.

Challenges faced by our specialists

1. It was necessary to obtain a visa for Diego’s spouse in a short period of time so that the family could reunite in the UK.
2. The search for accommodation was complicated by the fact that the client did not have a British bank account or credit history, and many landlords were reluctant to consider candidates from Latin America.
3. Diego was fully immersed in developing his start-up and was unable to deal with everyday matters himself.
4. Marina wanted to view all potential flats in person, so the process had to be organised so that she could do so immediately after receiving her visa.

Solution

Imperial & Legal took on the comprehensive support of our client’s family relocation. The work was carried out in several areas simultaneously:

1. Applying for a visa for the spouse
   We had previously helped Diego obtain an Innovator Founder visa, which allowed him to move to the UK and start his own business. The next step was to apply for a visa for his spouse Marina as a dependent family member (Dependent visa). We prepared a complete set of documents, including proof of financial solvency and confirmation of the authenticity of their marriage, and submitted the application as quickly as possible. This allowed Marina to join her husband quickly.
2. Searching for and selecting accommodation
   We started looking for a flat before Marina arrived. As the family did not have a British bank account or credit history, this could have complicated the rental process. Therefore, our specialists worked out the terms and conditions with agents and landlords in advance to confirm the reliability and solvency of our clients, and selected only those options that met all the criteria.
3. Agreeing on options and organising viewings
   We agreed on all potential properties with Diego and Marina via video calls. Marina wanted to view the properties in person, so we planned the viewings in advance. As soon as she received her dependent visa and arrived in the UK, we organised an intensive schedule of meetings with agents and landlords. During the first week, the couple were able to view all the properties they were interested in.
4. Final support for the transaction
   As a result, the family chose an apartment in the Victoria area. We carried out the necessary checks on the property, agreed on the terms of the lease, helped to settle the formalities with the landlord and accompanied the signing of the contract.

How we worked on the case Diego and Marina

Conclusion

Clients often turn to Imperial & Legal with requests that are really tricky to handle. But if we agree to represent a client, we’ll see it through to the end. Our solicitors will find an effective solution for your specific requirements.

If you are in the UK on an Innovator visa and want to find suitable accommodation, we are happy to inform you that this is entirely possible. We will select a property with the desired characteristics, negotiate the terms with the landlord, and oversee the drafting and signing of documents. At the client’s request, we can provide an “All Inclusive” service, including organising transfers, cleaning the flat, preparing it for occupancy, and drawing up service contracts with utility companies.