With the Tier 2 Restricted Certificate of Sponsorship (RCoS) limit having been reached every month since December, Carter Thomas associate Nick Gore believes that a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) immigration application may be a workable alternative in many cases.
Applying under Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) is designed for highly skilled individuals who show exceptional promise or exceptional talent in the fields of science, humanities, engineering, the arts and digital technology. The route was also recently expanded to include those operating leading designer fashion businesses.
Applicants must first meet the requirements and receive an endorsement from their endorsing body, which includes such organisation’s as the Royal Society and Tech Nation.
The requirements to be met vary, but generally applicants should demonstrate that they have made significant and innovative contributions to their field and have a proven track record. In addition, winning a significant award or fellowship, being published in a significant journal, and entrepreneurial experience can be beneficial to the application.
All applicants must submit a recommendation letter from an expert in the field who has personal experience working with them. In some cases, this expert must be based in the UK. This letter is often the most important document to submit and applicants should choose the author of this letter with care.
Some individuals who qualify under the ‘accelerated route’ do not need to meet these requirements. To qualify, applicants should demonstrate they hold a specified fellowship, academic position or research position. This should be of particular note to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as many posts at HEIs meet this requirement automatically.
Benefits of Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)
Successful Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) applicants can apply for leave to remain for up to five years. Those who met the exceptional promise criteria can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years. Those who qualified under the exceptional talent criteria can apply for ILR after three years.
Applicants can move jobs without notification to the Home Office and would not have to be sponsored by an organisation. This means Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) applicants are not included in the Tier 2 RCoS limits, which have been exceeded since December 2017.
It should also be noted that the number of endorsements to be issued by endorsing bodies has increased from 1000 to 2000 per year and in previous years this route has been under-subscribed.
Conclusion
We are experienced in preparing successful Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) immigration applications for individuals spanning a range of industries and sectors, including digital technology and science. We currently maintain a 100% success record.
If you would like to discuss the requirements to be met in order to obtain an endorsement under Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent), or need assistance with any other aspect of this application, please contact us.
