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Hi,

I am on a Global Talent visa, endorsed by The Royal Society. I was employed by a UK university in my specialist field for 30 months. I have been UNEMPLOYED since 1 November 2025 (third month ongoing), and am searching for a new job in my specialist field. Some interviews have already happened, and I am waiting for the results.

I am going to apply for ILR using the SET(O) form:

Q1. Must I be employed at the time of submission of the ILR application?

Q1.1 If not, what option should be selected for "Are you employed or self-employed?" No "unemployed" or "other" options available.

Q2. If "employed" is the correct option, would it be correct to provide more job hunting details in this section, asking "How is your employment or self-employment in the UK related to your specialist field or the prize you have won?" (this seems the most appropriate place in the application)? Or will it be possible to add a cover letter to my application after the fee is paid?

Thanks, all!

There is no employment requirement. You should only demonstrate that you made money in your expert field

READ --> There is no specific earning requirement for ILR under Global Talent Visa route

zimba wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:08 pm

There is no employment requirement. You should only demonstrate that you made money in your expert field

READ --> There is no specific earning requirement for ILR under Global Talent Visa route

Thanks for the info! this answers my Q1. Can you/someone please provide answers for other two questions?

There is no correct or incorrect answer. You answer them based on your circumstances. These are not trick questions

zimba wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:00 pm

There is no correct or incorrect answer. You answer them based on your circumstances. These are not trick questions

My circumstances are that I am unemployed, but I need to select one option, either "employed" or "self-employed". You can understand that I can not select either, even though I fulfil the “earned money” requirement.

It would be great if someone who was in this situation could tell me what they did and whether their ILR application was successful or was refused with a reason such as “your application is refused because the information provided in the application that you are employed is not true”.

schhibra wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 20, 2026 11:30 am

zimba wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:00 pm

There is no correct or incorrect answer. You answer them based on your circumstances. These are not trick questions

My circumstances are that I am unemployed, but I need to select one option, either "employed" or "self-employed". You can understand that I can not select either, even though I fulfil the “earned money” requirement.

It would be great if someone who was in this situation could tell me what they did and whether their ILR application was successful or was refused with a reason such as “your application is refused because the information provided in the application that you are employed is not true”.

Given that there is no employment requirement under this route, the answer to this question becomes unimportant. You may choose to say self-employed and provide a cover letter but again you are NOT required to prove anything or show and evidence of employment to qualify for ILR. You will not be refused because the form did not exactly cover your status, particularly given that such status has no impact on ILR at all