Recent developments in the procedure for extending ECAA Turkish Businessperson visas and applying for indefinite leave to remain, known as the Ankara Agreement, have sparked concern, as outlined in a new analysis by Tamer Ulay. Since the unit responsible for these cases moved from Sheffield to Liverpool in November 2025, applicants have reportedly faced prolonged processing times and increased rejections based on technicalities. While the official regulations remain unchanged, the application of these rules seems to have become more stringent, often focusing on elements such as billing processes, bank payment references, ICO registration, and website quality, rather than the core business activities.
The key focus of the Ankara Agreement should be whether the applicant has genuinely established and is managing a sustainable business in the UK. Tamer Ulay argues that small businesses often have minor administrative or technical discrepancies, which should not automatically signal that a business is not legitimate. The article calls attention to cases where individuals have consistently received extensions, paid taxes, supported their families, and maintained business operations, suggesting these should not be judged merely from a fault-finding perspective.
Moreover, the extended waiting periods for application processing are having a significant impact on applicants and their families. Delays can interfere with business planning, travel, children’s education, family life, and financial decisions. If the same reasons for refusal are frequently cited in multiple cases, this pattern could indicate a broader structural issue rather than isolated instances of application errors.
The article makes it clear that the intention is not to defend fraudulent applications or shell businesses. Instead, it advocates for the fair treatment of legitimate business owners who might face rejection due to minor technical or administrative issues. Visa-Free World advises those applying under the Ankara Agreement to meticulously prepare their documents, heed common rejection grounds, seek professional legal assistance, and adopt strategic approaches when necessary.
Visa-Free World is a platform that provides information on immigration, visas, residency, citizenship, and investment-based settlement in the UK, EU, and other regions, with a particular focus on UK immigration law and the Ankara Agreement. The article concludes by reminding readers that each case should be assessed on its own merits and that the content provided does not serve as personal legal advice.