UK Immigration

With numerous job opportunities, a better living standard, and an excellent place to raise kids, the UK is a world of everything prosperous. Every year, people across the world apply for the UK Global Talent Visa. Let’s find out if you’re eligible for it. Read along.

 

What is the Global Talent Visa?

The Global Talent Visa category is a special UK immigration route. This work visa category is designed exclusively for talented and promising foreign immigrants willing to work for specific sectors in the United Kingdom. The applicants must have an origin outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

 

This visa is granted to individuals who are either a leader or a potential leader in any of the following fields:

  • Arts and Culture
  • Academia or Research
  • Digital Technology

 

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for a Global Talent Visa?

The eligibility criteria for Global Talent Visa are undoubtedly quite high, but that shouldn’t discourage the ‘talented’ applicants.

Global Talent Visa is meant for talented individuals all over the world.

 

The basic eligibility for immigration is:

  • The candidate must have more than five years of education and work experience in science, mathematics, engineering, or arts.
  • Get an endorsement letter from any of the review bodies of the UK. There are different endorsement bodies for different subjects.
  • Get three recommendation letters from your seniors.
  • Get a recommendation letter from senior and present employers.

You are eligible to apply for the visa only when you have applied for an endorsement from any one of the 6 endorsing bodies entitled by the Home Office.

 

An endorsement proves your worth as a leader or potential leader in the fields:

  • Science
  • Engineering
  • Medicine
  • Social sciences or humanities
  • Academic and research
  • Arts and Culture
  • Digital Technology
  • Cinema and Television

There are 3 endorsement options available:

  • Senior Appointment
  • Endorsed Funder
  • Peer Review

Once the endorsement is granted, then it is up to the Home Office to take the final call on the immigration decision against your application.

 

What Documents are Required by the Global Talent Visa?

Here’s a list of documents for the Global Talent Visa:

  • Passport, in original, with a minimum validity of 6 months i.e. submission of the visa application & One recent passport-size color photo  showing the full face.
  • Proof of residence: Either a copy of National ID Card or Utility Bill such as electricity, telephone, or water bill
  • Proof of profession: Certificate from the employer. In the case of students, a copy of the Identity card from the educational institution is to be attached.
  • Proof of funds: Endorsement of foreign currency equivalent to US $150/- per applicant or copy of international credit card or updated bank statement showing sufficient balance to finance travel to India.
  • Tuberculosis Test Result: Clear tuberculosis (TB) test result letter, if the applicant is from one of the countries on the Home Office’s TB testing list

How do I apply for the Global Talent Visa?

The Global Talent route is very similar to the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent/Promise Visa. The whole application process is divided into 2 main stages: 

Let’s discuss each of these stages with some details:

Step 1: Endorsement

Step 1: Global Talent Visa UK starts with the endorsement. The visa applicant has to apply for THE endorsement with the relevant ‘endorsing body.’

Step 2: During this stage, it is a must for the applicant to obtain endorsement from one of the ‘endorsing bodies.

The applicant can be endorsed as:

  • An emerging leader (exceptional promise)
  • A leader (exceptional talent)

Or

  • Under UK Research and Innovation ‘endorsed funder’ option

Step 3: The endorsing body will then examine the application to determine whether the candidate deserves an endorsement or not. Then the endorsing body is going to advise the Home Office on granting the endorsement.

Step 4: A Global Talent Visa applicant can apply for both the Endorsement (Stage 1) and the main visa (Stage 2) simultaneously, but that involves too much risk. Your visa application will be rejected immediately if your endorsement application is rejected by the Home Office. This means you may lose both the fees.

Step 5: It is always proceed for Stage 2 after successfully completing Stage:

1. Step 2: Visa Application

How much time is required to process a Global Talent Visa application?

The Global Talent Visa route has been streamlined significantly in order to reduce the time required for taking the final decision against an application.

  • It takes about 3 weeks to get a decision when you are applying within the UK for a Global Talent Visa.
  • If you are outside the UK, then you may receive a decision on your Global Talent immigration application within 8 weeks.