The new “Global Talent Visa” system of the UK is a simpler way by which talented applicants who are experts in a particular field can apply and settle in the country. It is a simpler version of its predecessor, “Tier1 Talent Visa” and is made available for leaders from different categories of engineering, science, humanities, medicine, art, culture, digital technology, fashion designing, literature, film, television, and architecture.
It has two stages- endorsement and the application stage. It requires the applicant to either be exceptionally talented in his field or shall possess the potential to become an expert. The system does not even require any job offer to apply for settling in the U.K.
If the application is successful, the applicant will have all the rights to work in the country, subject to conditions for some profession like a doctor or a dentist, and will have to undergo a certain amount of training. The visa holder is also permitted to bring his/her spouse and their children below the age of 18.
The Procedure for the U.K.’s Global Talent Visa:
Stage 1:
Application for the recommendation as a leader or an emerging expert in a particular field made to the U.K Home Office:
The applicant must get an endorsement from one of the endorsing bodies, and get recommended as either an outstanding talent in his field or an outstanding promise or an endorsed funder, who falls under the Research & Innovation category of the U.K.
The appropriate permitted endorsing bodies of the U.K are the Royal Society, Royal Academy of engineering, British Academy, Arts Council England, UKRI, and tech Nation which deals with medical and natural science, engineering, humanities and social science, arts and architecture, research and digital technology applications respectively.
The endorsing body shall evaluate whether to provide an endorsement or not based on the applicant’s amount of work and his skills and achievements in a particular field. The body shall then advise the Home Office on whether or not a recommendation can be provided to the applicant.
The procedure to apply for endorsement is through an online application. The result is out usually within 8 weeks and if the application is successful, then an email is sent with a duplicate of the approval letter, which will be required for applying for a visa.
Stage 2:
Visa application:
Once the applicant receives an endorsement letter, he/she shall apply for a visa within three months. Also, the applicant can apply three months before his/her travel. Then the required documents need to be submitted to the Immigration Authority of the U.K, who will provide a decision within three weeks for the entry approval application, which is made from abroad.
The required documents are:
- Passport or any other legitimate travel recognition
- A test result for tuberculosis if applied from a place where the test is mandatory
- A duplicate of the letter of endorsement.
If the documents are not in English or Welsh, then a certified translated copy will be required.
If the application is not successful, the applicant can apply for endorsement review.
Switch to the Global Talent Visa:
While people outside the U.K can apply for the Visa, people within the country can also switch to it, if they were granted leave under
- Temporary Worker Category of the points-based system or
- Innovator/ Start-Up Category.
The applicant can choose up to a maximum of five years.
The extension of the visa:
For applying for the extension, the applicant must have earned money during the last leave grant, which will be then linked with the field, leading to his/her initial endorsement. Also, evidence needs to be provided from some independent source, which shall be verified by the U.K. Home Office and shall prove that his endorsement is not withdrawn by the specified body.