New High Potential Individual Visa Scheme Introduced

The Home Office on 30^th May 2022 have opened a new visa scheme which will allow graduates from top 50 non-UK universities to apply to stay in the UK.   The scheme applies to degree holders who have graduated in the past 5 years. Graduates will be able to apply through this route regardless of nationality and without the requirement of holding a job offer. The UK government is hopeful that the newly implemented scheme will attract the best global talent from around the world.   For universities to be eligible, they must appear in top 50 rankings of at least two of the following: Times Higher Education world university rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds world university rankings, or the Academic Ranking of World Universities. The most recent eligible universities from 2021 would include universities from: Canada, Japan, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, France, Sweden and Switzerland.   Successful applicants will be granted a two-year work visa for bachelor or masters graduates, and PhD-holders will be given three-year work visa.   The High Potential Individual will cost £715 plus the immigration health surcharge, which will allow successful visa or immigration applicants to use NHS services.   Applicants will be able to be joined by their partner and dependent children, however, maintenance funds of at least £1,270 must be proved alongside an additional £285 to cover their partner, as well as £315 for the first child and a further £200 for every additional child.   Passing a security and criminality check is mandatory for successful applicants, as well as being proficient in English to at least the B1 intermediate level.