I would like to take this opportunity to share my recent experience regarding the Global Talent Visa (GTV) application process. I believe my insights will be particularly valuable for individuals with a similar profile, as I encountered difficulties in finding comparable experiences during my own application, which proved to be quite frustrating.
To begin with, I was accepted as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) associate. KTPs are funded by UKRI Innovate UK, and initially, I faced confusion regarding the appropriate route for application. Eventually, I opted for route 3: endorsed funder, with the endorsement provided by UKRI. The Human Resources (HR) department at the university with which I undertook the KTP assisted me by supplying three essential documents. These included 1) a statement of guarantee, specifying that the funding would be provided for a minimum duration of two years, a contract of employment lasting at least one year, and confirmation that the grant amount would exceed £30,000. Additionally, they furnished me with 2) pertinent details about the grant and 3) the associated job offer. Armed with these documents, I proceeded to apply for endorsement from UKRI, which, fortunately, only took approximately one week to obtain.
Upon acquiring the endorsement, the subsequent stage involved applying for the visa itself (it is possible to apply for both concurrently). During this step, applicants have the flexibility to choose the desired visa duration, ranging from one to five years. For this stage, the only documents required were the endorsement letter, which essentially served as an email confirmation from the first stage. Additionally, applicants must present their passport and, if applicable, their previous Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if they were residing in the UK before (as was the case for me, having held a student visa previously). Furthermore, I was requested to provide a letter of consent from my previous sponsor, which is mandatory if an individual has received full or partial funding for their studies in the past year. In my particular situation, my university in the UK had provided partial funding through a scholarship, and while I was initially advised that a letter stating my university as the sponsor instead of a government or funding institution and therefore a letter of consent would not be necessary, I decided not to take any risks. Consequently, I sought assistance from the international team at my university, who graciously drafted a letter granting me consent to transition from a student visa to a GTV. This is the case for when you apply from inside the UK, you might need more documents if you are outside the UK such as the TB test…etc. Subsequently, I submitted this document along with the other required materials. In order to expedite the process, I opted for the priority service, and to my delight, received my visa within a single day.
Furthermore, it came to my attention that some individuals had conveyed to me that switching to the GTV prior to graduation would not be possible due to new regulations. However, I can now confirm that this information was incorrect, as I successfully obtained the visa despite not having graduated at the time of the application.
I sincerely hope that the information shared here will prove beneficial to those currently facing or anticipated to face similar circumstances in the future.
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