Fast-track global talent visa announced

The government has announced a new fast-track ‘global talent visa’ to encourage scientists, researchers and mathematicians to come to the UK.

The global talent visa comes into play on 20 February 2020. It replaces the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) route and for the first time UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will endorse applicants from the scientific and research community. Not the Home Office.

This is seen as a positive step as it hopes to ensure that applicants are quickly assessed and fast-tracked by those qualified to asses their scientific credentials and not immigration officials.

The new global talent visa will have no cap on the number of people able to come to the UK. Although, applications for the old Tier 1 visa were previously capped at 2,000 per year and this limit was never reached.

Applicants will not need to have an offer of employment before arriving and the visa will not be linked to a specific job. Those granted a visa under the scheme will also have access to an accelerated route to settled status.

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