Concerns have emerged over changes in the application process for ECAA Turkish Businessperson visa extensions and indefinite leave to remain, known as the Ankara Agreement. This follows the relocation of the unit handling these cases from Sheffield to Liverpool in November 2025. Reports indicate that applicants are now facing prolonged waiting times and increased technical grounds for refusal. While the official guidelines remain unchanged, they seem to be enforced more stringently, with a noticeable inclination towards rejection. Critical aspects such as billing procedures, bank payment references, ICO registration, website presentation, and administrative errors in commercial documents are now receiving heightened scrutiny. The core issue under the Ankara Agreement, however, should focus on whether the applicant has truly established and is actively managing a sustainable business.
Tamer Ulay, who assessed the situation, emphasized that administrative or technical shortcomings in small businesses should not automatically disqualify an applicant. He pointed out that individuals who have consistently renewed their extensions with the same business model, paid taxes, and supported their families should not be judged from a fault-finding perspective. Ulay stated, “The main issue in Ankara Agreement applications is whether the person has actually established a business in the UK and is actively running it.” The assessment warns against equating minor deficiencies with the absence of genuine business activity, as this approach could lead to outcomes that do not align with real-world business practices.
The extended processing times for applications are another significant concern, exerting considerable pressure on applicants and their families. Delays affect business planning, travel, children’s education, family life, and financial decisions. The report suggests that if these patterns of refusal are consistently observed, it may indicate a systemic shift rather than isolated incidents. It stresses that while fraudulent applications should not be shielded, legitimate business owners should not be unfairly grouped with unreliable applicants due to technical or administrative issues.
VisaFree World advises applicants seeking to utilize the Ankara Agreement to meticulously organize their documentation, be mindful of common refusal grounds, seek professional legal advice, and approach the process strategically. The platform highlights the importance of evaluating each case on its own merits, reminding readers that the information provided should not substitute for personalized legal counsel.
VisaFree World serves as an information hub, publishing content on immigration, visas, residency, citizenship, and investment-based settlement in the UK, the EU, and other regions. It particularly focuses on UK immigration law, the Ankara Agreement, visa refusals, administrative appeals, judicial review processes, and international settlement programs. The platform underscores its role in disseminating information without providing direct legal advice, maintaining that all content complies with relevant intellectual property laws.