Edutecoach

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The United Kingdom’s “High Potential Individual (HPI)” visa grants a candidate permission to stay in the United Kingdom for up to 2 years. If a candidate, however, has acquired a PhD or any other doctoral qualification, the stay will last for up to a period of 3 years. The qualification achieved must be at the same level as either a UK bachelor’s degree, a UK postgraduate degree or a UK PhD or a doctorate degree, and must have been awarded by an eligible university in the last 5 years of completion. A candidate can only study with an HPI visa if the chosen course is not eligible for a student visa.

Application can be sent to Ecctis to check if the qualification achieved is considered valid or is at the right level. Ecctis, however, will not check if the university has attained the status of eligibility. Other eligibility criteria for the HPI application includes proof of submission of proficiency of English (at least B1 level) and proper evidence to showcase that one has enough personal savings to support themselves in the UK (until and unless an applicant has been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months). For application, the candidate doesn’t need to have a job offer. The requirements, however, asks to suffice, unless assessed, the payment to Ecctis for the inspection if the qualification actually is valid; proof of a valid passport; a unique person identifier number or a certificate rendered by Ecctis during the time when the qualification was scrutinized; a tuberculosis test; and a proof of relationship only if one’s partner or children is accompanying along with the main candidate.

Application for an HPI visa can be done only once and can be done from both inside or outside the UK. One will however not be able to apply for a HPI visa if one has already been granted a Graduate visa or have already come to the UK as a Doctorate Extension Scheme student.

With an HPI visa one will however be able to look for jobs, work in most jobs, be self-employed, do voluntary work, travel abroad and return to the UK or if eligibility permits even live in the UK with a partner and children. Regardless, one will not have the authority to apply for most public funds’ benefits, work as a professional sportsperson, apply to permanently settle in the UK or extend this visa.

Candidates sending application must take into account of the costs needed to apply for a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa which includes payment of £252 for Ecctis to check if the qualification is valid (including VAT), application fees of £880, healthcare surcharge i.e. usually £1,035 for each year of stay in the UK and likewise, evidence of financial support (a minimum of £1,270) when one arrives in the UK.