United Kingdom welcomes global talent

On 20 February 2020, the UK will kick start a new immigration category known as the Global Talent Visa. The new visa route is replacing the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa and it will be targeting individuals in the fields of Science, Engineering, Digital Technology and Humanities with the aim of benefiting key areas of the UK economy and the academia. The Tier 1 (Exceptional) Talent visa route needed replacing because it has been criticised many times as it is: restrictive in nature, difficult to execute requirements to prove talents of individuals, and had limited number of endorsing bodies.

However, the Global Talent visa route will have no cap on the number of individuals who are able to come to the UK in a year and there is a designated shortlist of bodies authorised to endorse Established and Promising Talents. It is targeted at a greater pool of applicants compared to the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa following a wider consultation with the scientific community, and will be governed by the Immigration Rules under Appendix W as it will not form part of the UK’s existing Points-Based System.

The new visa category would be managed by the Home Office designated endorsing bodies such as UK Research and Innovation Agency (UKRI) as one of the endorsing bodies, rather than the Home Office. The aim is to ensure that suitable applicants are quickly assessed and fast-tracked by those qualified to assess their credentials, rather than immigration officials. The Global Talent visa route has been designed to attract talented and promising professionals in the fields of science, mathematics and culture who want to come to the UK to work. The new route has been designed in anticipation to encourage not only talents from the scientific community such as scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and researchers to relocate to the UK enhance UK’s local talents but also for talents in the fields of Arts and culture, including Film and Television, Fashion design and Architecture.

This, indeed, is a great opportunity that UK employers must be on the lookout for and take advantage of because, it is going to be an alternative to hiring a skilled migrant under the Tier 2 (General) visa route. Migrant workers under this new route will not require sponsorship by UK employers and organisations to hire migrant workers, effectively saving costs on payment on Immigration Skills Charges, as migrant workers would be required to receive endorsement from their respective professional endorsing bodies.

Who is eligible for this category?

Bear in mind that professionals in the following fields may apply under this route: Science, Research, Digital Technology, Engineering, Medicine, Humanities, Arts and culture, Film/Television, Fashion Design and Architecture. The route is targeted at two sets of applicants. Applicants with an established professional talents who can prove they are already leaders in their respective fields; and applicants with promising talents, showing the potential to become leaders in their chosen fields. And as already mentioned, applicants do not require sponsors to come under this route, however, they must be endorsed by the respective endorsing body such as Arts Council of England.

What is allowed under this visa?

The main basis of the route is to encourage a greater range of talents to apply under the route and as such, the route offers considerable flexibility to applicants compared with other UK immigration routes. There is no minimum salary threshold to be met; no English language requirement; the route leads to UK settlement after 5 years and dependants can accompany the main applicant to the UK. The route also allows for in-country applications and switching from other UK visa categories will be allowed.

How is the Global Talent visa assessed?

Applicants wishing to apply under this route must obtain endorsement letter from one of the Home Office designated endorsing bodies relevant to their profession such as: Tech Nation, Royal Society, The British Academy, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), The Royal Academy of Engineering and Arts Council England. These endorsing bodies have the responsibility in assessing applications from applicants within their respective professional fields and evidential requirements for applications. When the relevant endorsing body is satisfied with the applicant’s current professional talent or promising talent, will then issue the applicant with an endorsement letter. This is a document that the applicant will include in the application as evidence that the applicant complies with the criteria under this route.

Who can I contact for legal advice?

If you need a U.K. immigration lawyer and need assistance with any aspect of U.K. immigration law whether from inside the U.K. or from overseas, contact Aschfords Law in Harrow, London. We have experience in offering specialist advice in respect of all U.K. immigration matters and have insight to make the process as smooth as possible. We also provide legal advice and assistance in respect to Wills & Probate, Litigation, Landlord and Tenant.

Please contact us today on +44 (0) 7582932830.