UK’s New Visa for Talented Graduates, Job offer not required, Check Who Can Apply

The United Kingdom has come up with a new visa programme to get the talented graduates from the world’s top universities to the country.

The programme is expected to open on May 30, the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is aimed at attracting high-skilled foreign university graduates, who will be allowed to work and stay in the U.K. for two or three years, depending on their degree level.

The new High Potential Individual route will make it as simple as possible for internationally mobile individuals who demonstrate high potential to come to the UK,” Minister for Safe and Legal Migration Kevin Foster said in a statement.

He further added that the visa process will enable those who have already demonstrated their potential through academic achievement to come to the UK without a prior job offer.

Academic Requirements:

The applicants must have a degree from a world-renowned university. The British government said it will release the list once a year on the Gov.uk website. The list will include schools that feature on the top 50 in at least two of three renowned rankings:

It will include schools that feature on the top 50 in at least two of three renowned rankings:

• Times Higher Education World University rankings
• Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University rankings
• The Academic Ranking of the World Universities

Also, you must have been awarded the degree within five years of application. The degree can be in any discipline but has to be equivalent to not less than UK bachelor’s degree.

Criteria: 

You dont need a job offer or sponsorship to qualify for the visa. The visa can be granted only once and will not be available for those who have graduate visa.

English language requirements:

If your degree wasn’t taught in English, you will need to pass at least the B1 level of an accepted English language test. If your degree was taught in English, you will need a certificate from the awarding body or a university transcript. If the degree was awarded outside the UK, you will need confirmation from Ecctis that the qualification meets the required standard of a UK bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree.

Financial requirements:

The applicants will have to show the equivalent of at least £1,270 in your bank account for a continuous 28-day period no later than 31 days prior to making the High Potential Individual visa application.

If the applicants are a resident in the UK for more than 12 months, they might not need to meet this requirement.

Cost of Visa:

The visa will cost £715.

How long can you stay in the UK on the HPI visa?

Graduates with a bachelor’s or a master’s degree will be given a two-year visa. PhD or another doctoral level graduates will get visas valid for three years. This visa can only be granted once and will not be available to those who have already had Graduate visa.

What happens after your visa expires?
You cannot directly apply for Permanent Residency. Instead, before your visa expires, you can switch to permits under the skilled worker, start up and innovator, exceptional talent, or scale up route.

What about Dependents? 

You will be able to bring your dependants, such as a partner or children under the age of 18, with you. “Partner” refers to either a spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner. However, unmarried partners must show that they have lived together for at least two years, and that their relationship is genuine, according to reports.