UK government encourages exceptionally talented migrants

The UK government encourages exceptionally talented leaders in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the arts to work in the UK. The new Exceptional Talent migration route was opened in August 2011.

This Tier One visa category facilitates the entry to the UK of people who are internationally recognised, or who have the potential to be recognised, as world leaders in their respective fields. Between August 2011 and April 2013, there will be 1000 places available, of which 500 will be available from 6 April 2012 to 30 September 2012.

This route is overseen by world renowned competent bodies who advise the UK Border Agency on exceptionally talented migrants to ensure that they are in fact the brightest and the best in their field. These competent bodies are: The Royal Society – a fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists – is able to nominate up to 300 places; Arts Council England – the national development agency for the arts – is able to nominate up to 300 places; The Royal Academy of Engineering – Britain’s national academy for engineering – is  able to nominate up to 200 places and The British Academy – the national academy for humanities and social sciences – is able to nominate up to 200 places.

Migrants seeking entry under the Tier One Exceptional Talent category do not need to be sponsored by an employer, but they do need to be endorsed by the relevant competent body. The bodies set their own criteria for selecting migrants for endorsement.

The UK government has allocated a number of places to each competent body; however, it will be open to the bodies to transfer unused places to those with more demand.

Migrants admitted to the UK under the Tier One Exceptional Talent category are initially granted permission to stay for three years and four months. They will be able to extend their stay for a further two years and may be able to apply to settle in the UK after five years’ residence. Examples of recent approvals under the Tier One (exceptional talent) route include a leading pianist, a Chinese researcher who has made a remarkable contribution to the field of condensed-matter physics, a visual effects expert who has worked on many of the recent James Bond films and an Algerian chemical engineer who received a prestigious fellowship to develop new bio-fuels at a leading UK industrial research centre.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Maldives John Rankin said, “Sri Lanka and Maldives have some exceptionally talented people and potential leaders in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the arts. I encourage them to explore the opportunity to work in the UK presented by the Exceptional Talent migration route.”

The UK government has reviewed and reformed the migration routes for work, study, employment-related settlement and family, following extensive global consultation exercises.  This included a number of changes to Tier One and Tier Two of the points based system, with increased flexibility for entrepreneurs and investors and the creation of a new Exceptional Talent category.

In addition to the Exeptional Talent places available, there are up to 20,700 skilled migrant visas available under Tier Two of the points based system each year up to 2014 (when the allocation will be reviewed). There is no limit on the number of visas for entrepreneurs and investors under Tier One.