Everything you should know about Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa/ Global Talent Visa

[Rahul Sharma]

The Global Talent Visa is designed for promising individuals in specific sectors wishing to work in the UK to demonstrate their competence in the fields of Science, medicine, engineering, humanities, art, culture, social sciences or other academic roles. This category which actually came into effect from 20 February 2020 replaced Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa. However, it can be contemplated to be the simplified and expanded version of the predecessor.

The applicant must be endorsed as a leader (Exceptional talent) or an emerging leader or under the UK Research and Innovation funder option. The application will be reviewed by the organisation relevant to the applicant’s qualifying field known as an endorsing body. The endorsing bodies are The Royal Society (for Science and Medicine), The Royal Academy of Engineering (For Engineering), Tech Nation (for Digital Technology), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)(For Research applicants), and Art Council England (for Art and Culture).

What does the Global Talent Visa Offer?
Global Talent Visa is like an initiative to let the applicant work in the field of science, art, or digital technology as a potential leader or under (UK Research and Innovation) UKRI endorsed funder option. Other features that deserve your attention are:

Least Entry Requirements
The Global Talent Visa encourages applicants to work in the UK for upto five years without a sponsor or entry requirements. Entry Requirements include language tests and minimum salary threshold applicable on other immigration categories.

Fast-track immigration process
A faster assessment of applications can be expected as Global Talent Visa is not controlled by the government but by the UKRI. Hence a faster assessment eventually ensures a fast-track immigration process.

Flexible and open
An applicant can change roles without the consent from the Home Office. The Global Talent Visa gives freedom to enter into self-employment, and earn additional income from different sources which may differ to the field of research in which the applicant was initially endorsed. This visa highlights several other features to appeal to the brightest talent across the world.

Can be accompanied by dependents
The Global Talent Visa offers advantages to the partners and their dependents if and only if the financial requirements are met in order to get a long-term relationship with the UK.

Global Talent Visa Fees
An applicant has to pay a sum of £456 in order to get an endorsement when applying for the first time. It must also take into consideration that the amount will not be reimbursed if the visa application is denied by some means.

How do I apply for a Global Talent Visa?

Stage 1: Endorsing Stage
This is the stage where the application is sent for an endorsement to the relevant endorsing body. Assessing the applicant’s skills, abilities and achievements, the actual endorsing body advises the Home Office if the endorsement can be granted.
This is a crucial step when the Home office examines the immigration aspects of the application, for instance whether general grounds for refusal apply, verifying the supporting documents etc. The Applicant must be cognizant of switching provisions, if applied inside the UK.

Stage 2: Application Stage
The application stage starts after securing an endorsement from one of the endorsing bodies. The applicant needs to send a copy of the endorsement letter. People like to apply for the endorsement first as the visa application is most likely to get refused if the endorsement is turned down without any reimbursement.

How long is a UK Global Talent Visa Valid for?
Global Talent Visa is valid up to a maximum period of 5 years. The applicant also needs to pay the healthcare surcharge for the amount of years in proportion of time.

Extension of Global Talent Visa
Global Talent Visa can be extended from 1 to 5 years. However, the Endorsing Body that endorsed you must not withdraw its approval. The applicant also needs to earn money in the expert field during the last period of leave in the United Kingdom.

The Verdict
AY & J is an award-winning and one of the leading UK immigration law firms that provides expert legal immigration advice and services. Our qualified and experienced immigration lawyers keep a close eye on constantly changing immigration policies.