APPLYING FOR THE GTV. STAGE 1: ENDORSEMENT APPLICATION
To get a Global Talent Visa you need to apply for an ‘endorsement' (Stage 1), as well as for the visa itself (Stage 2)
Who endorses candidates with digital tech experience
To apply for a Global Talent Visa, you usually have to get the endorsement from an endorsing body first. Tech Nation is the official Home Office designated endorsing body authorised to assess applications from candidates with digital technology-related expertise.
Thus, if you are a founder or an employee with technical or business backgrounds, including all tech sub-sectors (fintech, cyber, games, AI, etc.), Tech Nation will be your endorsing body.
How the endorsement process works
An endorsing body (i.e. Tech Nation) assesses your skills, abilities and achievements as an Exceptional Talent (Leader) or an Exceptional Promise (Emerging Leader), and advises the Home Office whether you can be endorsed.
You must first apply for endorsement on the official Global Talent visa website and then also complete a Tech Nation application for assessment. In order for your application of endorsement to be valid you must submit your Tech Nation assessment form no later than 15 working days (an official deadline) after you submitted your Home Office application.
The Home Office will inform you if you have been endorsed by Tech Nation. If you are successful in receiving the endorsement, you can proceed to apply for the visa (Stage 2: Visa (Immigration) application).
The application for the endorsement stage takes 5-8 weeks to be processed. Immigram’s clients usually get the decision within 2-4 weeks, sometimes — as early as 3-4 days.
If you can provide evidence of being accepted onto a current or future programme at one of the recognised UK accelerator programmes listed below, then your application is considered a "Fast Track", and you may get the decision in 3 weeks.
These accelerators are currently eligible for this Fast Track:
What documents you will need for endorsement application
The endorsement application should have the following evidence:
While writing a Personal Statement, according to Tech Nation Guidelines, a candidate for the endorsement has to answer the following questions and include the following information:
Immigram Recommends:
“Although Tech Nation guidelines suggest the Personal Statement includes information concerning your plans for the UK digital technology sector and your personal reasons to move to the UK, the endorsee should approach the statement more creatively. For example, answering the question “What is your planned occupation in the UK?” is optional, and we never include the answer to “Which region or city of the UK are you planning to live in?”. We recommend showcasing specific examples and evidence of why you possess the characteristics of an Exceptional Talent or an Exceptional Promise. Obligatory points to be included in the Personal Statement — motivation for relocation and the potential benefits one can bring to the UK. Convince Tech Nation assessors why your achievements make you a perfect fit for the Global Talent visa criteria. For example, ‘I am applying for a Global Talent visa, and I pass the criterion of work outside of the immediate occupation because more than 500 people have completed my online course or because more than 100 people have attended my lecture.’” Emphasise the key projects, products or milestones you are using as your most exceptional cases and demonstrate your contributions and innovations with them. Also, make sure you included information on your outside occupations, and you are all set.”
Who can skip the Stage 1: Endorsement application
You can apply for the visa without an endorsement if you have won an eligible award. For individuals with expertise in digital technology those awards are: ACM Prize in Computing and Turing Award. Both are awarded by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
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