High Potential Visa
The UK Government has published plans for a new High Potential visa route for High for highly-skilled, internationally mobile innovation talent. The visa route is proposed to to open the UK borders for top talent, making the UK a place for highly talented people to live and work. High Potential Individual visas will extend the opportunity for overseas citizens to arrive in the UK without a job offer if they show high potential. This new visa catergory will be provided as an unsponsored route under the point-based system.
Current Visa Routes for those considering the High Potential visa
Global Talent Visa and Skilled Worker Visa routes are currently in place for highly talented individuals to come and work in the UK. The Global Talent visa is aimed providing a sponsor free route for both existing and emerging global leaders in academia or research, arts and culture or digital technology. Those not qualified to come through a Global Talent visa can look for the Skilled worker route.
Your eligibility for this visa
The High Potential visa is open to those who have ‘graduated from a top global university’ although the criteria for this has still to be properly defined. In the interest of attracting diverse global talent there are hopes that this will not be limited to list of top academic institutions and that government will follow up on its commitment to consider expanding eligibility criteria to include other characteristics of high potential e.g. high salary, post-graduate qualifications, age, or STEM degree.
Institutions which rank highly on QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings and Round University Rankings are likely to be accepted as top global
What Can I do on the UK High Potential Visa?
Settling in the UK
After 5 years you’ll be eligible to apply for settlement in the UK and also potentially British citizenship.
Bringing dependents and family members with you
No information has been announced about bringing dependents with you to the UK on a High Potential Individual visa. Similar visas, such as the Global Talent visa, don’t allow you to bring dependents, however the new Skilled Worker visa does permit this. We’ll have to wait and see.
Poviding global leaders with a better route to working in the UK
- No cap on applicants accepted – Unlike the Tier other work visas, there is no propsosed cap on the number of applicants accepted into the UK under this visa category.
- No job offer requirement – The proposal for this route suggests applicants are not required to already have a job or sponsor before arriving in the UK.
- Accelerated pathway to settlement – This visa type is likely to offers participants an accelerated pathway to citizenship akin to previous schemes.
Extending the UK High Potential Visa
Information published so far states that holders of the High Potential Individual visa will be able to extend it for a maximum duration of 5 years. As the UK typically issues immigration-style visas for 30-36 months at a time, it’s likely you’ll need to initially apply for the High Potential Individual visa and then extend it.
Providing you with expert immigration advice for the best chance to work as a leader in your field
With over 8 decades of experience, our Immigration Lawyers and Solicitors have developed a keen awareness of the specific criteria of the Home Office and approved endorsing bodies.
Our specialist legal team has a strong understanding of the requirements of different scientific endorsing bodies, and has worked with a wide range of clients to get their applications approved. We will work tirelessly to tailor your application to meet these demands and get your High Potential Visa granted.
We are especially interested in those who are studying at or have graduated from prestigious universities around the world. Please get in touch to find out how we specialise in this type of visa.
The Home Office is notorious for refusing visas for falling short on any aspect of their criteria, or for a perceived lack of clarity. It is, therefore, important to have the best legal advice available.
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