Britain High Potential Visa: The ‘High Potential Individual’ (HPI) visa has started in the UK. After the introduction of this facility, now students of 50 top foreign universities including India will also be able to apply for it. The meeting with ministers from the UK and India has shown a new hope that in times to come, the best and brightest graduates from around the world will be attracted to their careers.
According to a press release, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak told the media, ‘We want the businesses of tomorrow to be built here today, which is why I am asking students to take advantage of this opportunity to build their career. I call upon
Know how to get this visa?: This scheme is applicable for graduates of 50 non-United Kingdom universities such as Harvard, Duke or Cornell. “The new High Potential Personal Pathway aims to attract career-starters who have the potential to perform exceptionally well, one of the same people UK companies are seeking for mobile talent,” the government press release said. .’ Applicants to get two year working visa Applicants should have bachelor’s or master’s degree from top universities to get two year working visa. Whereas those who have completed their PhD can apply for a three-year working visa. Apart from this, skilled workers can also apply for a long-term visa for a job.
Comprehension of English up to B1 level on the CEFR scale: Visa applicants do not even need a job offer to apply. However, they must prove their ability to speak and understand English at least to level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. The UK government said, ‘The visa form is part of a series of changes to the immigration system that welcomes UK people based on the contributions they make and skills, and not where they come from.’
Know how much will the visa fee?: According to the government website, the application fee for the visa is $715 and applicants will also have to pay a ‘healthcare surcharge’ of around $624 per year.
Which universities can graduates apply for?: Graduates from a pool of 50 universities as specified by the UK government are eligible for the HPI visa. These include 20 universities in America like Harvard, Yale, New York University or Northwestern. Japan’s Kyoto University, Hong Kong University and China’s Peking and Tsinghua Universities are also included in the list.
A bid to simplify business expansion in the UK: The HPI visa comes among a number of changes to the UK to simplify the expansion of businesses in the UK after exiting the EU. Under its points-based immigration policy, where those applying for work visas to the UK are awarded points if they meet certain criteria, the UK introduced a ‘graduate route’ visa in July 2021. International students who have done graduation can take advantage of this scheme. These students can take advantage of UK universities to live and work in the country or look for work for at least two years. Applicants do not need a job offer to apply for this visa, like the HPI visa.
Global Business Mobility Route to Simplify Visa Policies: UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said, ‘UK target Our country and businesses need highly skilled and talented people. With such a change in visa policies it will ensure that the UK remains open for business and at the forefront of innovation. Patel further added, “We opened the Global Business Mobility Route on April 11 to simplify and improve multiple routes to expand businesses. The Global Business Mobility Route allows foreign businesses to set up shop in the UK and transfer their employees.