Overview

The UK Border Agency has recently announced the introduction of its new Tier 1 'Exceptional Talent' route which makes provision for the brightest and best in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the arts to come to work in the UK. The UKBA intends to give as many as 1000 visas between 9 August 2011 and 31 March 2012.

Under the new Tier 1 scheme, visas will be issued if following an application to the UKBA a recommendation is provided by one of the national professional bodies recognised as competent bodies for this purpose by the UKBA:

● the Royal Society will be able to nominate up to 300 places;
● Arts Council England will also be able to nominate up to 300 places;
● the Royal Academy of Engineering will have up to 200 places to nominate; and
● the British Academy will be able to nominate up to 200 places.

The route is open to those who are "internationally recognised as world leaders in their field and also to those migrants who show exceptional promise and who are likely to become international world leaders in their field".

To learn more about the application process, click 'View Briefing'.