Everything You Need to Know About High Potential Individual Visa

The United Kingdom has been a popular destination for people across the globe. After all, the country offers a wide array of opportunities for those looking to reside and work in the UK. And while there are numerous legal ways to move to the country, one of the best and newly introduced routes is the High Potential Individual Visa.

So, what is the High Potential Individual Visa?

The High Potential Individual Visa was launched on 30^th May 2022 to help attract high-level global graduates to achieve their career dreams in the UK, while at the same time providing UK employers and businesses easy access to a pool of global talents.

It is imperative to note that a High Potential Individual Visa is only for people who have been awarded specific university-level qualifications from an eligible international institution on the approved global universities ranking list to move to and work in the United Kingdom for up to 24 months (two years). However, if you have completed your Ph.D. or any other doctoral-level qualification, your stay in the UK may be extended by another year.

A High Potential Individual Visa route grants you the permission to find employment in most sectors, become self-employed and reside in the UK with your spouse and kids, provided you satisfy the eligibility criteria. Unlike most visas, you don’t require a job offer to be eligible for this type of visa.

So, how will a High Potential Individual Visa help you?

With this type of visa at your disposal, you can legally work in most jobs, seek employment, become self-employed, reside in the United Kingdom with your spouse and children, engage in voluntary work, and move abroad and return to the UK.

• But it’s worth noting that this type of Visa doesn’t allow you to:
• Work as a professional sportsperson.
• Make an application for most benefits, or the State Pension.
• Apply to settle permanently in the United Kingdom.
• Extend your High Potential Individual Visa.

So, this simply implies that if you are looking to move and work to the UK as a sportsperson, you’ll have to make an application for a dedicated sportsperson visa. What’s more, if you wish to permanently move to the UK, you will need to explore other legal avenues available to you.

What are the eligibility criteria for the High Potential Individual Visa?

The most prominent among the eligibility criteria for high potential individual visa is to have graduated from certain universities in the eligible global universities ranking list are suitable. What’s more, as an applicant, you must have received your bachelor’s or postgraduate degree qualification in the last five years.

Bearing in mind that the global university ranking criteria are influenced by academic ranking lists for that particular year, not every single global institution of higher learning will be eligible for all years. Besides the above requirements, your awarded university qualification should at least match the level of any of the qualifications below:

• An undergraduate UK degree.
• A postgraduate UK degree.
• A doctoral or PHD-level qualification from the UK.

You need to forward your application to Ecctis to confirm that your academic qualification is valid and are at the expected standards. To be eligible for the High Potential Individual Visa, you also need to:

Prove your ability to understand and equally communicate in English to a certain degree on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. This implies that you should be able to read, write and speak to at least level B1. But there are numerous ways through which an HPI visa applicant can meet the English language requirement. In this respect, if you are a national of a majority English-speaking state, you’ll only be needed to prove both your identity and nationality to meet the language requirement. Equally, if you have been awarded a degree taught in English, you will automatically satisfy this requirement.

Show that you can support yourself on your arrival in the UK without depending on public funds. This means being able to have cash funds of at least £1270 at the date of your application.

Who is not eligible for this type of visa?

• If you are already in a possession of a graduate visa.
• You have already submitted an application for a High Potential Individual Visa once before.
• You have already moved to the United Kingdom as a Student Doctorate Extension Scheme Student.

If you have made an application to Ecctis to verify that your awarded degree program was taught in English, you must also provide both the English Language Proficiency and Academic Qualification statements.

Also, depending on your own specific case, you may be required to provide the following documents:

• Your TB (tuberculosis) exam results from a required nation.
• Proof of your relationship with either your spouse or kids if they are also applying with you.
• Your BRP (biometric residence permit) or online verification of your immigration status, if you are changing your current visa to this particular visa.

UK HPI Visa Application Process:

As with any type of visa, you’ll be required to verify your identity. In this respect, your photograph as well as fingerprints will be taken at a visa application centre. Also, you may be needed to use the UK Immigration ID check application to scan your ID. During your initial application process, you will be told what option to choose.

If you do require an appointment, the visa application centre will have to temporarily withhold your passport and other documents as they conduct the application process. Also, you may be forced to travel to any visa application centre closest to you, which may be in another country.

However, the application process is slightly different for those already living in the UK. In this regard, you can switch to this particular visa if you already reside in the UK on another type of visa. The application process is conducted online.

Your children or spouse will have to make separate applications to change their visa status. They can choose to apply at the same time as you, or at any other time provided their current visa is still valid.

It is imperative to note that you won’t be able to change your current visa to a High Potential Individual visa if you are currently residing in the UK on any of the visas below:

• Short-term visa for students.
• A visitor visa.
• Graduate visa.
• Parent of a child student visa.
• Domestic worker on a private household visa.
• Seasonal worker visa.

Furthermore, you are not eligible for a High Potential Individual visa if you are already living in the UK on an immigration bail or because you were allowed to stay outside the immigration regulations, such as on compassionate grounds. If any of the above options apply to you, you must first move out of the UK and make an application for a High Potential Individual visa from abroad.

So, what is the cost of the HPI Visa?

The fees and costs associated with the High Potential Individual visa are outlined below:

• HPIV application fee – £715
• Ecctis qualification verification – £210 (£252 if making your application while living in the UK)
• Immigration health surcharge – £624: It is worth noting that this is a yearly fee paid each year if you are in the UK.

Additionally, to be issued with entry clearance, you will have to make sure you satisfy the financial requirement of possessing £1,270 worth of cash to sustain your stay in the UK. You will have to prove that you have the money during your initial application process unless you have been legally staying in the UK for the past year or so.

Your spouse and children will also be required to show that they can support themselves while staying in the UK should they join you.

How long does it take to process HPI UK visa?

Those making applications from outside the United Kingdom often get a decision within 21 days. On the other hand, if you are applying from within the UK, you’ll have to wait for 8 weeks before getting a response.

However, there are a few possible reasons why your application may take longer, including:

• If you are required to avail yourself of an interview.
• If your supporting documents need to be confirmed.
• If you have a criminal conviction.

What happens after submitting your application?

Following the submission and the subsequent processing of your application, you will receive a notification either via a letter or email containing the outcome of your application. In this regard, if your application is a success, you’ll be provided with:

• A vignette or a sticker that goes in your passport.
• Or the permission to see your immigration status information online.

And should you receive a vignette in your passport, you’ll also be required to collect a biometric residence passport after arriving in the United Kingdom. This should be done before the expiry of the sticker or within your first ten days of arriving in the country.

On the other hand, if your application is rejected, you will receive a notification through either an email or a letter detailing why your application was not approved. In this case, your passport will be sent back to you!

Usually, your rejection letter will tell whether you have the right to either an immigration decision appeal or an administrative review.

The bottom line:

While it is arguably the most attractive visa option available for overseas students from top-level universities to immigrate to the UK, the High Potential Individual visa application process can prove to be a daunting task. And this is why you want to hire our highly experienced immigration attorneys to help you navigate through the entire process.

An immigration lawyer will guide you from start to finish to ensure your application for this high potential individual visa is a success! Don’t hesitate any longer! Contact Total Law Immigration Lawyers today and let them work with you to help you move to the UK through the High Potential Individual Visa!