Victoria Egorenko began her career as a systems analyst and, over a decade, grew into a technical leader working across fintech, e-commerce, and machine learning. As an experienced tech professional, she once decided to give back to the industry by launching a community dedicated to career growth. At the time, she had no idea that this initiative would one day help her secure a UK Global Talent Visa — a milestone that would open a new chapter in her life.
Now based in the UK, Victoria sits down with us to reflect on her career journey, her work in building community, and the life-changing experience of receiving the Global Talent Visa.
Can you remember the moment you found out you'd received the UK Global Talent visa? How did you react?
Victoria Egorenko: It was summertime, and I got the email during a workday. At first, I couldn’t believe it — I read it over and over to make sure I’d understood it correctly. Of course, I immediately started sharing the news with my loved ones. It was an incredible moment! But honestly, the most thrilling part wasn’t the endorsement itself — it was when I actually received my passport with the visa.
Could you share what emotions you felt when you got the passport?
Victoria Egorenko: I had been waiting for it impatiently, checking the mail every day. I finally got the message that my passport was ready during a work meeting. I stopped everything and rushed to the visa center. When I held the passport in my hands, that’s when it truly hit me. I was overwhelmed with emotion — I couldn’t focus on work anymore and immediately shared the news with my colleagues.
Then I walked out of the visa center, sat down at the first café I saw, opened my laptop, and booked tickets to London right away — just a few days out! That was the moment everything became real.
Could you share how your career journey in the tech industry began?
Victoria Egorenko: I graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute with a degree in Automated Information Processing and Control Systems. This gave me a solid foundation in programming, systems design, and project management. After graduation, I worked as a systems analyst, technical product owner, and engineering manager across various industries — from large enterprise companies to startups, in fintech, e-commerce, and machine learning.
Did you consider the Global Talent visa while developing your career?
Victoria Egorenko: At some point, I began supporting other professionals in their growth. I started mentoring and even founded a club for systems analysts, where I shared my experience and supported colleagues. Over time, I built a strong professional personal brand, which eventually became the foundation of my Global Talent application.
But at the time, I wasn’t doing it with a visa in mind. I did it wholeheartedly, simply because I genuinely enjoyed it. It was only later, while putting my application together, that I realized how valuable that work had been.
Why did you choose the UK as a place to live and work?
Victoria Egorenko: I had always dreamed of entering the international market and working in an English-speaking environment. London seemed almost out of reach at first, but when I learned about the Global Talent visa, I realized it was a real opportunity. I evaluated my case, saw that I met the criteria, and decided to give it a try.
What made the Global Talent visa more appealing to you compared to other relocation programs and visas?
Victoria Egorenko: For me, the main advantage of the Global Talent visa was its flexibility. It allows you to freely choose your career path — you can work at a startup, a large company, or even launch your own project. That independence and the ability to explore different work formats were really important to me. Other visa programs have their own strengths too, and they can be a great fit depending on someone’s situation and goals. But the Global Talent visa aligned perfectly with my professional plans, which is why I chose it.
How did you discover Immigram, and why did you choose to work with them?
Victoria Egorenko: I first heard about Immigram through a social media post by a woman who had successfully obtained her visa with their support. Her story was filled with warmth and positive emotions, and she spoke especially highly of her experience working with Nastya Mirolubova. I had been following Nastya’s work for some time and already had a lot of trust in what she was doing — that became one of the key reasons I chose to work with Immigram.
What was the process of working on your case like? Were there any unexpected challenges or difficulties in preparing the documents?
Victoria Egorenko: The preparation process was quite demanding, as it involved compiling a substantial amount of evidence to support my professional background. The most time-consuming part was revisiting my entire career journey and contacting the appropriate individuals for recommendation letters. There were no unexpected challenges, but the process took longer than I had anticipated — primarily because I wanted to ensure everything was done to the highest standard.
How did Immigram support you during the preparation of your application? What was your overall impression of working with them?
Victoria Egorenko: Immigram supported me at every stage — from compiling the list of required documents to final edits. They advised me on what would best strengthen my case, what could be omitted, and helped refine the wording throughout the documents. Their support was invaluable — I truly felt they were guiding me through the entire process, step by step.
What are your future plans in the UK?
Victoria Egorenko: In the coming months, I plan to apply for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain), and eventually for citizenship. Professionally, I aim to continue growing in the software development field. At the same time, I want to support analysts and product owners/product managers in recognizing that they too can apply for this visa. Many still believe that the Global Talent route is only for developers — but that’s not the case, and I’d love to help dispel that myth.
