UK Global Talent Visa
The UK Global Talent Visa has been launched on the 20th February 2020. It has been a de-facto expansion of the existing and relatively successful Tier 1(Exceptional Talent/Promise) visa category.
The UK Global Talent visa overview
There is no longer a cap on how many people can benefit from the new route. Yet it is worth remembering that the cap (max - 2000 applicants per year) for Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) has never been reached.
The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) - historical background
By way of very brief background, the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) category was designed to attract exceptionally talented individuals in the fields of science and medicine; engineering; humanities; digital technology and arts and culture. It was divided into two further sub-categories: Exceptional Talent, for those who are already leaders in their field, and Exceptional Promise, for those who have the potential to become leaders.
To be granted leave as a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) migrant, a person must first be endorsed by an endorsing body with expertise on the particular topic (for example, applicants in the field of engineering must be endorsed by the Royal Academy of Engineering, while applicants in the field of arts and culture are endorsed by Arts Council England). Once they are endorsed, they can go on to apply for leave to enter or remain within three months.
Unlike most other routes, there is no English language or financial requirement. Those who have been endorsed just need to show that they do not fall foul of the general grounds for refusal to be granted leave on this route.
The differences between the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) and the UK Global Talent
Nothing substantially changes for those applying in the fields of digital technology and arts and culture. The only differences at this stage are purely semantic:
- The Tech Nation (Tier 1 Exceptional Talent) application form is now called Tech National Global Talent application form.
- Designated competent bodies are now called endorsing bodies
- When you have to submit a CV, you are now allowed to submit a CV on three sides of A4 (as opposed to the previous two-A4 CV)
For those applying in the fields of science and medicine, engineering and humanities, the route has been expanded. Under the existing Exceptional Talent system, researchers in academic, industry or government research institutions can apply:
- Under the “normal” route, by showing that they met certain criteria such as being active researchers, having a PhD etc. Their respective endorsing bodies would then go on to consider whether to endorse them.
- Under the “accelerated” route, meaning they would be automatically endorsed if:
-They held a specific fellowship award (or held it within the 12 months directly prior to the date of application); or
-They were appointed to eligible senior academic or research positions at UK higher education institutions or research institutes.
All of these routes are still available, but there is an additional "fast-track" route. This covers academics, researchers, scientists, research engineers or other skilled research technology/methodology specialists who have a grant or award worth £30,000 or more, covering a minimum period of two years.
UK Research and Innovation has a list of approved organisations, set out in Annex 2 of Appendix W, who can act as “endorsed funders” by employing or hosting the applicants. The applicant, in turn, must be directing a “unique research or innovation project” or be making “critical contributions to research”.
Quicker route to settlement
All applicants endorsed in the fields of science and medicine, engineering and humanities can apply for settlement after three years, regardless of whether they were granted leave under the Exceptional Promise criteria or the Exceptional Talent criteria.
Digital technology, arts and culture applicants endorsed under the Exceptional Promise criteria still need to wait five years to qualify for settlement. Those endorsed in these fields under the Exceptional Talent criteria can also apply for indefinite leave to remain after three years.
Absences for research purposes do not break continuity of residence
When applying for indefinite leave to remain, applicants must usually show that they have not broken the continuity of their residence in the UK by being out of the country for more than 180 days in any 12 months. But applicants endorsed in the fields of science and medicine, engineering and humanities (and their partners, too) can discount absences “linked to their grant of leave (such as a scientist undertaking research overseas)”.
All in all, this is positive news. The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) - and its current form - the UK Global Talent visa - route remains, in all but name, intact, while researchers get more options to move to or stay in the UK. It remains to be seen whether that will be sufficient to attract overseas talent to the UK.
The above options are not exhaustive as we treat every client's case individually. Please do not hesitate to book a phone, Skype or office consultation with us for a professional immigration advice and possible further representation before the UK Border Agency or the First Tier or Upper Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) (FTT/UTT IAC).
We are here to help: www.legalcentre.org , 077 911 45 923 (Mob/Viber/WhatsApp), 0330 001 0342 and, of course, the helpful instant and same day Legal Centre Skype, Phone, Viber and WhatsApp Consultations
-They were appointed to eligible senior academic or research positions at UK higher education institutions or research institutes.
All of these routes are still available, but there is an additional "fast-track" route. This covers academics, researchers, scientists, research engineers or other skilled research technology/methodology specialists who have a grant or award worth £30,000 or more, covering a minimum period of two years.
UK Research and Innovation has a list of approved organisations, set out in Annex 2 of Appendix W, who can act as “endorsed funders” by employing or hosting the applicants. The applicant, in turn, must be directing a “unique research or innovation project” or be making “critical contributions to research”.
Quicker route to settlement
All applicants endorsed in the fields of science and medicine, engineering and humanities can apply for settlement after three years, regardless of whether they were granted leave under the Exceptional Promise criteria or the Exceptional Talent criteria.
Digital technology, arts and culture applicants endorsed under the Exceptional Promise criteria still need to wait five years to qualify for settlement. Those endorsed in these fields under the Exceptional Talent criteria can also apply for indefinite leave to remain after three years.
Absences for research purposes do not break continuity of residence
When applying for indefinite leave to remain, applicants must usually show that they have not broken the continuity of their residence in the UK by being out of the country for more than 180 days in any 12 months. But applicants endorsed in the fields of science and medicine, engineering and humanities (and their partners, too) can discount absences “linked to their grant of leave (such as a scientist undertaking research overseas)”.
All in all, this is positive news. The Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) - and its current form - the UK Global Talent visa - route remains, in all but name, intact, while researchers get more options to move to or stay in the UK. It remains to be seen whether that will be sufficient to attract overseas talent to the UK.
The above options are not exhaustive as we treat every client's case individually. Please do not hesitate to book a phone, Skype or office consultation with us for a professional immigration advice and possible further representation before the UK Border Agency or the First Tier or Upper Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) (FTT/UTT IAC).
We are here to help: www.legalcentre.org , 077 911 45 923 (Mob/Viber/WhatsApp), 0330 001 0342 and, of course, the helpful instant and same day Legal Centre Skype, Phone, Viber and WhatsApp Consultations
