To apply for the Tier 1 Investor, it would depend where you are and what status you have in the United Kingdom. As explained earlier, some categories would not allow you to switch over. Those eligible (please read the eligibility section) to switch into the Tier 1 Investor category, should apply one month prior your leave expires.

If you make an application through the post, then the date of postage is used as the date of application. The date of an application made by post is decided by the postmark. The payment handling service attaches the original envelope with all postal applications. If the envelope in which the application was posted is missing, or if the postmark is illegible, the date of postage is taken as at least one day before its receipt. The day of receipt is normally the date the payment handling service processed the fee. If there is any uncertainty, you will be given the benefit of the doubt by the Home Office.

You can also use a courier to make the application, the Home Office will use the date it is received at the payment handling service is used as the date of application. The payment handling service attaches the original envelope with all postal applications. The payment handling service includes the date of delivery for all applications by courier.

You can also apply on a same day service; ICS Legal can carry out this within one day. Please read the same day service section for further information. ICS Legal will submit your application in the morning and get a decision on the evening.

The application process when applying from outside the United Kingdom is different. The date of the application is the date that the fee associated with the application is paid. This means the date shown on your payment receipt, which depends on how you paid for your visa application, for example, at British Diplomatic Post, visa application centre or online.