A recent assessment has raised alarms over changes in the application process for extensions and indefinite leave to remain under the ECAA Turkish Businessperson visa, also known as the Ankara Agreement. Authored by Tamer Ulay, the report highlights concerns following the relocation of the unit handling these cases from Sheffield to Liverpool in November 2025. This move has reportedly resulted in longer waiting times and more technical grounds for refusal. Although official rules remain unchanged, the article suggests they are being applied more stringently, with a suspicious tilt towards rejection. Factors such as billing procedures, bank payment references, and administrative documents are now playing a central role in some applications, overshadowing the core requirement of whether the applicant has genuinely established and is running a sustainable business.
Tamer Ulay emphasizes that the main focus of the Ankara Agreement should be whether the applicant is actively managing a business in the UK. He argues that minor administrative or technical deficiencies, often found in small businesses, should not automatically disqualify an applicant. Ulay points out that individuals who have historically received visa extensions, paid taxes, and supported their families through their businesses should not be penalized for minor shortcomings. The assessment warns against a fault-finding approach, stressing that such deficiencies are often part of real business life and should not be treated as automatic grounds for rejection.
The assessment also highlights the prolonged processing times for applications, which place considerable pressure on applicants and their families. Lengthy waiting periods reportedly disrupt business planning, travel arrangements, children’s education, and financial decisions. The report suggests that if the same grounds for refusal are consistently observed in multiple cases, it may indicate a broader, structural shift in the handling of these applications rather than isolated instances.
While the article does not condone fraudulent applications or shell businesses, it stresses that legitimate business owners should not be lumped together with unreliable applicants due to technical or administrative issues. VisaFree World, the platform publishing this content, advises Ankara Agreement applicants to meticulously prepare their documents, monitor common grounds for refusal, seek professional legal advice, and adopt strategic approaches when necessary. The piece reminds readers that each application should be assessed on its individual merits and clarifies that the content does not serve as personal legal advice.
VisaFree World provides information on immigration, visas, residency, and investment-based settlement, with a particular focus on UK immigration law and the Ankara Agreement. It serves as a resource for those interested in understanding visa refusals, administrative appeals, judicial reviews, and international settlement programs. The platform underscores the importance of ensuring compliance with intellectual property laws and disclaims liability for any unauthorized use of such materials.