The changes, which come into force from 6 October 2021, do not represent a wholesale lowering of criteria, but they are generally an encouraging sign that the route is becoming more viable for applicants.
And for anyone who has been considering this route we recommend a careful check to understand if they open up a chance of endorsement where it wasn’t possible before.
Global Talent Visa
If you work in the realm of Science, Engineering, Humanities and Medicine
One of the ways you can qualify for fast-track endorsement is if you have held a peer-reviewed research fellowship or award, named on the list published by one of the designated endorsing bodies, in the 12 months before the date of application. This timeframe is being increased to 5 years, significantly increasing the pool of people who are eligible to apply.
There has also been a slight relaxing of the timeframe if you are seeking to qualify for fast-track endorsement because you’ve been appointed to an academic research position at a UK Higher Education Institution or designated research institute. You will be able to apply if you have at least one year remaining on your employment contract or hosting agreement, rather than two. The new rules also clarify that applicants must have responsibility for heading or leading a team or individual research or an innovation project or programme of work, or have responsibility for academic, research or innovation, leadership and development.
Should you work in the world of academia and research and wish to know more about your eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you work in the field of arts and culture
Applicants who specialize in arts and culture need to prove that they are exceptionally talented by providing evidence of media recognition and significant appearances or exhibitions. Under the old rules this was limited to recognition for their own individual work. Under the changed rules, applicants seeking to prove Exceptional Talent can rely on recognition or significance a group of which they were a named member, and applicants seeking to prove Exceptional Promise can also include evidence for a group of which they were a contributor.
If you are an artist and wish to know more about your eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you work in the digital technology field
Applicants seeking to prove Exceptional Promise need to provide evidence of very particular types of achievement or contribution.
There are four categories of achievement / contribution, and under the old rules applicants had to provide two examples for each category, but this has now been halved to one example in each area.
If you work in digital technology and wish to know more about your eligibility please do not hesitate to contact us.
Prestigious prizes as an alternative to endorsement
Most of the changes above make it easier to get endorsement from one of the Home Office-authorised endorsing bodies – which is usually the first step required before applying for the visa.
The Government has also added to the list of ‘prestigious prizes’, which are an alternative to applying for endorsement.
If you have been awarded a prestigious prize, you do not need endorsement and can proceed directly to making an application for the global talent visa.
Should you wish to know more about whether your prize qualifies as a prestigious prize, please do not hesitate to contact us.
How Gherson can assist
We at Gherson have seasoned expertise in advising clients on the Global Talent Route. If you have any queries relating to the blogs published or are interested in talking to us about your specific circumstances, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
©Gherson 2021