Global Talent Visa Peer Review

What Is Global Talent Visa Peer Review?

To apply for the Global Talent visa, you must show that you have won an eligible award or have been endorsed by an eligible endorsing body. One of the ways to get endorsement is by applying for endorsing bodies to peer review your application. There are 2 ways to apply for endorsement. 

You can apply as:

• Exceptional talent if you can prove you are a leader in your area of expertise. 
• Exceptional promise if you can prove you are a potential leader in your expertise. 

Currently, only 3 bodies can peer review your application for endorsement. These bodies are: 

• Royal Academy of Engineering. You’ll apply to this body if your field is technology and engineering. 
• Royal Society. You’ll apply to this body if your field is medicine and science. 
• British Academy. You’ll apply to this body if your field is social science and humanities. 

Peer Review Eligibility & Documents Needed

Eligibility

To apply for endorsement by peer review from any of the endorsing bodies, you must show that you:

• Have a doctorate or adequate industrial or clinical research experience. 
• Participate actively in research in an establishment. This could be a university, business or research institute.
• Work in an eligible research area. 
• Are in the beginning of your career, if you are applying as an exceptional promise. 

Documents Needed

Below are the documents you need to apply for endorsement by peer review: 

Curriculum Vitae

This must showcase all the activities you have undertaken during your career, including your publications. The resume must be typed and up to 3 A4 pages long.

Recommendation Letter 

The letter must be from a respected resident of the UK. The person must be familiar with you and your work. They must also be a globally recognised expert in your field. Note that the letter must be about your Global Talent visa application, not a reference letter that has been used for something else. Your recommender must explain:

• How they know you.
• Why they think you are a leader or potential leader. 
• How the UK will benefit from your expertise or talent. 
• How you will benefit from your stay in the UK. 
• What you intend to do when you get your visa.

The letter has to:

• Be on an A4 paper and at least 3 pages long. This does not include your recommender’s contact and portfolio page.
• Be dated and typed.
• Be signed by the recommender or a representative of the establishment recommending you. 
• Be attached to the recommender’s CV, which should have their phone number, email address, logo, and address, of the organisation they work for.

Exceptional Talents

If you are applying as an exceptional talent, you’ll need to present another letter from a high-ranking member of a British organisation. This person does not need to be familiar with you, but they should be someone who can objectively and expertly assess your work. This letter must be written because of your Global Talent visa application. Note that this letter is different from the one your recommender will write. 

The letter must:

• Explain how you are an exceptional talent based on your work.
• Explain how you’ll contribute to research or innovation in the UK. 
• Mention the particular UK organisation to which the writer belongs.

This second letter must:

• Be written by someone else who did not write your recommendation letter.
• Be dated, typed, and signed by the writer. 
• Be on an A4 paper and at least 3 pages. This does not include the writer’s contact details and resume. 
• Be attached to the writer’s CV, email address, phone number, and the address of the organisation they work for. 
• Be written without bias based on the writer’s familiarity with you. 

For your application to be approved, you’ll need to:

• Show your work has international repute.
• Show how much funding you have secured in the last 10 years. 
• Show how your work will improve life in the UK.
• Show you are a leader or potential leader in your field.

Applying for a Peer Review

To apply for a peer review, take the following steps: 

Step 1: Check Eligibility

It is always important to check if you are eligible before applying. This will save you time and money. If unsure if you meet the criteria, call our immigration consultants at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or message us online.

Step 2: Fill Out the Application Form

Next step is to visit the website of the Home Office and fill out the application form. Ensure every detail you input is correct. You can also notify the Home Office your situation changes after applying for endorsement. 

Step 3: Attach Supporting Documents

You’ll need to attach the documents that prove you meet the eligibility criteria. The information on your supporting documents must match the one on your application form. 

Step 4: Pay Peer Review Fee

The fee for endorsement by peer review is £524. 

Step 5: Wait for a Decision

You’ll need to wait for 5 weeks for a decision to be made on your application.

Global Talent Visa Application Stages

There are 2 major stages in the Global Talent visa application:

Stage 1: Apply for Endorsement 

The first thing to do when applying for a Global Talent visa is to get an endorsement. Note that you do not need to apply for endorsement if you have won an eligible award. After applying for endorsement, the Home Office will invite the endorsing body to review your application. If you meet the criteria, they will forward your application to be peer-reviewed by industry experts. They are the ones to assess the strength of your application. The peer review assessment will include checking your career history and publication history, and your contributions to your field. The strength of your supporting documents, especially the two letters, will also count in making a decision. 

Stage 2: Visa Application

If your peer review is successful, applying for a visa is next. You’ll also apply for a visa on the Home Office website. You’ll pay £192 for the visa and £1,035 per year as a healthcare surcharge.

What To Do If You Are Not Eligible For a Peer Review

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for a peer review, you can still apply for a Global Talent visa by showing you won an eligible award. Alternatively, you can work in the UK by applying for a Skilled Worker visa.

How IAS Can Help You

For your peer review application to be approved, you must show strong evidence of your qualifications. You’ll also need to present an application package with all the relevant supporting documents. Application and documentation errors can impact your application’s outcome negatively, which would mean getting a refusal after spending time and money. You can avoid these by enlisting the assistance of an expert immigration consultant from IAS. At Immigration Advice Service, we give you the best chance of getting visa approvals by helping you submit a strong application. Our services include assessing your eligibility, preparing your documents, applying for the peer review and Global Talent visa on your behalf, and tracking your application. 

If you need to know more about what we do and how we can help your peer review application, message us online or call +44 (0)333 414 9244 today.