UK High Potential Individual

The UK High Potential Individual visa is an immigration route into the UK for recent graduates from top universities from around the world – and our experts can help you obtain Home Office approval for this sought-after visa.

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High Potential Individual Visa for the UK

Essentially, the UK is looking for ways to encourage economic growth within the country. This is why it is looking for fresh talent to come to the UK to work, or at least actively seek work – hence the introduction of the UK High Potential Individual visa in 2022.

This scheme is still quite new; therefore, the UK Government is still producing information on what to expect from the High Potential Individual route. But it should be open for applications after 30th May 2022.

Although the High Potential Individual visa may not immediately push you into a position where you can settle in the UK, it is a good starting point, and as a holder of this visa, you could switch to a different visa later on. That way, you could have dependents and loved ones join you after you leave home.

If you are thinking about immigrating through the High Potential Individual UK visa, it is crucial that you get some assistance from suitably professional and capable High Potential Individual visa solicitors. They can guide you through the immigration process and help ensure all your paperwork is filled out perfectly. This can help you avoid all possible mistakes and ensure your application has the strongest possible chance of success.

Cranbrook Legal can provide you with expert help and advice to get you started on your High Potential Individual visa UK application. Find out more about how we can help you with your UK High Potential Individual visa requirements by booking a consultation with our legal team.

Start your UK High Potential Individual visa application today by calling 0208 215 0053.

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How can we help you obtain a UK High Potential Individual visa?

Here at Cranbrook Legal, our High Potential Individual solicitors are determined to help you come over to the UK to find work and eventually get settled.

In the case of the High Potential Individual visa, UK governmental figures are dedicated to finding new and upcoming talent to help expand the economy and assist in the realisation of businesses’ growth ambitions. This is why the High Potential Individual visa may represent a highly attractive route if you are interested in coming over to the UK to build a strong career here.

With that said, Cranbrook Legal is determined to help you get started. Our law firm is based in the heart of London and has over 25 years’ collective experience within the immigration sector. We aim to serve the immigration needs of both individuals and businesses. Whatever your exact motivations might be for considering an application for this visa category, our experienced High Potential Individual route professionals are here to help.

The UK is known as one of the largest economies in the world. This is why it can be such a great place to start and build your career. There are so many businesses within the UK that are looking to expand their market and find the best employees. This is why a High Potential Individual visa could be a cost-effective solution for helping you find your start in your professional life.

Not only can Cranbrook Legal help you understand the paperwork behind obtaining a UK High Potential Individual visa, but we can also talk you through the fees and costs associated with the application process.

Once you have established your budget, you can speak to your solicitor about what you will need as documentation to prove that you are eligible for a UK visa. Documentation can include your passport, birth certificate, biometric information, and university qualifications. Try to take scans of all of these documents, just in case you or your immigration solicitor need them in the future.

Your immigration solicitor can help you with the application process by filling out the paperwork on your behalf. Once it is completed, it will be sent to the visas and immigration team in the UK Government. The Home Office will then let you and your lawyer know whether or not you have been successful in being approved for the UK High Potential Individual visa.

If you are successful, you will be asked to provide biometric information to complete your application. However, if you are unsuccessful, your lawyer will speak to you about what went wrong with your application. You can then decide for yourself whether you want to reapply, or whether you wish to start on a different visa application. While we will support you in whatever action you take, the ultimate choice will be yours.

Don’t forget that if you have any questions about the UK High Potential Individual visa application process, you can always ask our seasoned and capable immigration experts. Our team of specialists would be more than happy to help you get started.

What is a UK High Potential Individual visa?

Set to open to applicants in May 2022, the High Potential Individual visa UK route is a way for recent graduates to enter the UK to find work. The graduate must be from a top global university and have successfully earned their qualification by the time the visa application is sent in.

Although holding the High Potential Individual visa does not mean that the applicant can settle in the UK, it is a great way for a graduate to start their career. Once this visa is going to expire, it is a good idea to move to a different visa. Applicants can also bring over their dependents and partners.

If you are wondering whether or not you should go for the High Potential Individual visa, the best thing to do is to speak to your immigration lawyer. They can suggest alternative visas or routes that may suit your personal situation better. These could include:

Of course, there are many other types of visas for you to consider. Your solicitor can help you pick the perfect one for you, and provide you with expert advice to help you find your best fit.

What are the requirements for a UK High Potential Individual visa?

When you go down the High Potential Individual Visa route, it is important that you fulfil all the criteria for the visa. This can help you simplify the application process. The criteria that you need to fulfil for this visa includes the following:

  • You are over 18 years old
  • You can prove that you have a TB certificate
  • You have, in the last five years, received an overseas degree-level academic qualification from an institution that is classified as one of the top universities overseas or in the UK
  • You have not previously received permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, as a Graduate or a High Potential Individual
  • You can speak English to the level of CEFR Level B1, equivalent to IELTS 4.0
  • You can financially support yourself and will not rely on public funds

The most important thing that you need for this category of immigration visa is your degree. Ultimately, you will need to prove that you have been awarded a degree from overseas. This degree must have been awarded to you within five years of when you applied for your visa.

Keep in mind that your degree must be from one of the top universities from the Global Universities List. This list is usually published by the UK’s Home Office. There are three lists in particular that you should take notice of every year in regards to their university rankings. These are:

  • The Academic Ranking of World Universities
  • Times Higher Education World University Rankings
  • Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings

If you have one of these degrees, and you can provide confirmation from Ecctis that the qualification satisfies the required standard of a UK bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree, you will likely have a much easier time obtaining approval for the UK High Potential Individual visa. Ecctis can prove that you have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, as well as when the degree was awarded to you.

Should you feel unsure about whether this is the right path for you, if you want to move to the UK through an academic route, you may want to speak to your immigration solicitor about switching to the Graduate immigration route instead. You could be eligible for this visa if you are an overseas student who has graduated with a UK degree.

Your High Potential Individual Visa solicitor can advise you on which visa route is best.

What documents are required for the UK High Potential Individual visa?

Before you fill out your application for your UK High Potential Individual visa, you need make sure you have all your documentation ready to be sent to the Visas and Immigration team within the Home Office.

Not only should you have the essentials ready, including your birth certificate and passport, but you need to have a physical copy of your qualifications in hand. This way, you will be able to prove that you did study at a top university and ended up graduating.

You may also want to seek out a reference (or two!) to back up your application to show that you did well during your academic years. Try to take a scan of your degree and overall grades. This will allow you to make sure you always have them available to send off.

You may also need to bring over additional proof that you can financially support yourself. It is crucial that you provide evidence that you have over £1,270 in your bank account and that it has been there for at least 28 consecutive days, ending not more than 31 days before the date of your High Potential Individual visa. You can show your bank account details to prove that you have the right amount of funds to support yourself without needing to seek public aid.

One final document that you need to consider for your UK High Potential Individual visa is a reference to the fact that you have a strong command over the English language. You will need to demonstrate that you can read, write, speak, hear, and understand English in all of its capacities to a B1 level. This is known as being at an intermediate level.

If you are a recent graduate and intend to try living in the UK through entry clearance or as a High Potential Individual, you will need to prove that you are able to understand the English language by:

  • Having passed a professional English language exam
  • Being a national from an English-speaking country
  • Already having an English-taught degree
  • Having received GCSEs/Scottish Highers /A Levels through the UK school system
  • Having a B1 level of requirement for settlement in the UK

With that said, try and provide as much evidence as possible for your application. That way, your solicitor will be able to help make the process smoother and you can get an answer as quickly as possible.

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Where can I find the list of universities that are eligible for the High Potential Individual visa?

Every year, the UK’s Home Office provides a Global Universities List that shows the top universities around the world. This list changes annually and it displays the top 50 institutions. You must have received a degree from one of these universities in the last five years. It is also important that you show that your degree is approved by Ecctis. They can confirm when the degree was given to you and that it was from the appropriate university.

We have already mentioned the additional lists that the best universities can be found on. However, just to remind you, you should take a look at The Academic Ranking of World Universities, The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings. That way, you will be able to see where your university currently ranks, and whether or not you can use your qualification to undertake the UK High Potential Individual visa route.

Do I need to show any savings for the UK High Potential Individual visa?

Yes, when you apply for a High Potential Individual visa, UK Government requirements include the applicant being able to financially support themselves. You can typically expect to need to have a minimum of £1,270 available. This money will need to have been held by you for at least 28 consecutive days, ending not more than 31 days before the date of your visa application.

There is an exemption to the above, however; if you are applying for permission to stay and you have already been in the UK with permission for at least 12 months at the time you apply for this visa, you will have met the financial requirement, and there will be no need for you to show funds.

Your own funds will enable you to support yourself when you finally come over to the UK, without the need for you to ask for public support.If you do need financial assistance, speak to your solicitor, as they may be able to help you obtain a grant or aid from the UK Government before you come over to the UK.

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Contact our Immigration Solicitors In London on 0208 215 0053 or
via info@cranbrooklegal.com to make your enquiry.

How can I apply for a UK High Potential Individual visa?

Unfortunately, the UK High Potential Individual visa category will not be open to applications until the end of May 2022. This means it’s important that you do your research before you get started on your application. With that said, you have to understand that the Government has not yet established all of the ground rules for applying for this type of visa yet.

For now, it is best to assume that the process for applying for this visa is similar to the others. Therefore, you will need to acquire documents that prove you are eligible for the UK High Potential visa route. Eventually, this will also mean that you will be asked to provide biometric information that can match your passport.

Your solicitor will help you collect this information and will organise your application. They can even fill it out and send it to the Home Office on your behalf. You will then need to wait several weeks for it to be returned to you. That way, you can find out if you have been successful or unsuccessful, and whether or not it would be wiser to apply for a different type of visa.

How long does it take to apply for the UK High Potential Individual visa?

As the UK Government will not yet allow applications for the UK High Potential Individual visa, it is hard to estimate how long the process will take to receive a decision.

Usually, it depends on the circumstances of the applicant. For instance, if the applicant has a criminal record or dependants that need to travel with them, it may take longer to get a response than would be the case for someone who is travelling on their own, has their documents sorted out, and has had a UK High Potential Individual visa solicitor helping with their application.

There may also be times where you need emergency assistance in order to have the visa process expedited. If you are experiencing this, you will need the help of your immigration lawyer to ensure you can get the outcome that you need in order to secure your desired visa and move to the UK.

What are the costs of applying for a UK High Potential Individual visa?

The costs associated with the UK High Potential Individual visa will depend on your own personal circumstances. As the UK Government is still adjusting the scheme, the actual costs may change by the time this visa route becomes available in May.

The costs of any type of visa range from £60 to over £3,000. Your UK High Potential Individual visa application costs will likely differ depending on your own personal circumstances and whether or not you need to bring anyone over to the UK with you.

The costs of a dependent coming with you are as follows:

  • Partners: at least £285
  • First child: £315
  • Additional children: £200

For more information on the costs of this visa, speak to your solicitor when the application portal opens in May. They will be able to support you and help you create an appropriate budget.

Can I switch into another visa category without returning to my home country?

Yes! You can actually switch into the UK High Potential Individual visa from a different category without leaving the UK. Your solicitor can help you do this. Just keep in mind that you will not be able to do this if you are a visitor, have permission to stay in the UK outside of the immigration rules, are a short-term student, are a parent of a child in a UK school, or hold a domestic worker visa.

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What length of visa will I be issued if successful?

Ultimately, your UK High Potential Individual visa duration will depend on the qualification you are applying with. Once you have met the scholarly requirements of the visa, you will find the level of the qualification will determine the amount of time you are allowed to stay in the UK. If you apply with a PhD or doctoral qualification, you will be allowed to stay in the UK for around three years. Other degrees will allow you to enter the UK for around two years.

Unfortunately, you cannot extend the visa beyond this length of time. However, you can switch between visas to stay in the UK. With this visa, you will be allowed to work and study at any educational facilities in the UK. However, you will not be able to access public funds to support you during your stay.

What if my application is refused?

Here at Cranbrook Legal, we understand that it can be frustrating if your visa application is refused. However, even in this situation, you do have the option of re-applying for your desired visa.

If your visa application is refused, this may be due to a mistake having been made on your application, or you might not have had the right documentation ready to send off to the Home Office.

If this does happen to you, your solicitor will be able to help you submit another, improved application. They may even suggest a different type of visa to apply for, which could improve your chances of a successful outcome.

Cranbrook Legal is here to help with your UK High Potential Individual visa

Our team of immigration specialists is here to support you throughout your journey when it comes to obtaining a UK High Potential Individual visa. Not only are we determined to help you get the support you need when it comes to submitting your visa application, but our High Potential Individual visa solicitors can provide advice through consultations and meetings.

If you are ready to see an expert from Cranbrook Legal to talk about your candidacy for a UK High Potential Individual visa, contact our team today by calling 0208 215 0053 or visiting our consultation page. One of our team members will be quickly in contact to help with all of your questions.

UK High Potential Individual Visa FAQs

1. Do I need a degree if I am going to apply for a UK High Potential Individual visa?

When you apply for the UK High Potential Individual visa, it is expected that you will have a degree or be a recent graduate from one of the world’s best universities. The degree must be from one of the top 50 global universities and can be in any type of discipline. You will find out which universities are on this list through the UK Government’s website. Every year, a new list of such universities is compiled. 

You will also be able to apply for the UK High Potential Individual visa route from 30 May 2022 if you graduated from a top university in the five years before you started your application.

With this degree in mind, your qualification also needs to have been verified by Ecctis. This verification may incur additional fees. Keep in mind that you will not need a job offer to apply for this type of visa.

If you do not have a degree from a top university, it is very unlikely that you will be eligible for the UK High Potential visa. Instead, you may need to consider a different route.

If you apply for the UK High Potential Individual visa, it is important that you can prove you will be financially independent when you move to the UK. These financial requirements include having £1,270 for at least 28 days in your bank account before you make your application. You will not be able to rely on UK public funds.

Your solicitor will be able to advise you about your application and how your finances will impact whether or not you will be eligible. If you struggle with your finances, you may need to consider a different visa route or look into grants that can support you.

The main conditions of the UK High Potential Individual visa include:

  • Being able to speak English to a high level
  • Having the right degree to apply for this visa
  • Being able to be financially independent when you come to the UK

You will be able to apply for work on this visa, either under a company or as self-employed. Also bear in mind that you will only be granted this visa once, so if you wish to ultimately settle in the UK, you will need to go down a different route.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to settle in the UK if you apply for the UK High Potential Individual visa. This visa only lasts around 2-3 years, depending on the qualification you hold.

Yes, your partner and your children under the age of 18 will be classified as dependents. You can bring them to the UK. It is important that you can prove you can support your dependents. You will need to prove that you have specific funds in your bank that they can depend on. The funds go as follows:

  • Partners: £285
  • First child: £315
  • Any other children: £200

You and your partner will be allowed to work in the UK under a company or as self-employed through this type of visa.

As the UK High Potential Individual visa only lasts for around 2-3 years, depending on the qualifications that the applicant holds, it is very likely that you will have to switch to a different visa if you wish to remain in the UK, rather than extend the visa.

To do this, you will have to fill out a separate visa application, pay different fees, and make sure that your new visa starts before your UK High Potential Individual visa expires.

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