I often get inquiries about the topic, since I got this five year UK working visa successfully in 2017. If you really want to work in the UK as an artist (or scientist), don’t give up before trying. People said to me ‘You want to work in the UK? That’s impossible! Just find someone here and get married.’ I want to say to you now, ‘it’s not impossible at all!’ I’ll tell you what you need to do to get the Exceptional Talent Visa, based on my experience. You don’t need to hire a lawyer. It’s fairly simple if you follow the instruction written on the guidance. (Italic parts are copy from the guidance on the Home Office website)
1. Read through the guidance on the website of Home Office.
https://www.gov.uk/tier-1-exceptional-talent
It’s long, but all information you need is in there.
There are two stages in the process. Stage 1 is to get an endorsement letter form Arts Council (if you are an artist), and Stage 2 is application for the visa.
2. Find out if you meet the criteria.
There are two types in this visa. Exceptional Talent and Exceptional Promise. Both are called ‘Tier1 (Exceptional Talent)’. I applied for the Exceptional Promise. And I applied to the Arts Council for the endorsement.
The criteria to get the endorsement letter from Arts Council is;
You must be able to demonstrate that you:
· are professionally engaged in producing work of outstanding quality which has been published (other than exclusively in newspapers or magazines), performed, presented, distributed or exhibited internationally;
· can show recent (within the last five years) and regular activity of being engaged professionally as a practitioner in your field; and
· can show a substantial (if applying under the Exceptional Talent criteria) or developing (if applying under the Exceptional Promise criteria) track record in at least two countries, one of which can be your country of residence.
3. Collect evidence documents, and select the best ten.
You must provide evidence to support two or more of the following (they don’t have to be all three, means, you don’t need to have award nomination!):―
· Two or more examples of recent (in the last five years) media recognition such as articles and/or reviews from national publications or broadcasting companies in at least two countries, one of which can be your country of residence. Event listings or advertisements are not acceptable. Media recognition must provide a critique of your work.
· Proof of having won or been nominated or shortlisted for international awards for excellence in the past five years, for example the Booker Prize, a Grammy Award; or domestic awards in another country, for example a Tony Award. By ‘awards’ Arts Council England mean, rather than monetary awards such as grants or bursaries, which are not applicable.
· Proof of appearances, performances, publications or exhibitions in the past five years in contexts which are internationally recognised in your field or evidence of international distribution and audiences for your work. Proof must come from at least two countries, one of which can be your country of residence.
For references, the documents I submitted were (I received an honorable award in Russia, but that was just after I had made the application, so it didn’t count.);
Evidence 1 ‘Hamlet!’ review on Leaming Spa Courier
Evidence 2 ‘Hamlet!’ invitation letter from Alexandria International Festival for Contemporary Theatre
Evidence 3 ‘Hamlet!’ invitation letter from Arghya International Theatre Festival in Kolkata
Evidence 4 ‘Hamlet!’ production booklet
Evidence 5 ‘Crazy God’ review on Plays to See International Theatre Reviews
Evidence 6 ‘Crazy God’ review on Gazeta Wyborcza with English translation
Evidence 7 ‘Crazy God’ review on Culture Pl
Evidence 8 ‘The Temptation of St. Anthony’ review on TSOTF
Evidence 9 ‘The Temptation of St. Anthony’ review on A Younger Theatre
Evidence 10 ‘The Temptation of St. Anthony’ production booklet
The documents don’t need to be ten. A friend of mine submitted only eight documents, and he got the visa successfully. Also the documents don’t need to be original. All I submitted were photocopies except one production booklet. Online article must be printed out with the URL revealed on the page. Article in foreign language must be translated by a certificated translation company.
4. Contact three people for a reference letter.
You must provide three letters of support:
· The first letter must be from a UK based arts or cultural organisation, institution or company which is well-established nationally and/or internationally and widely acknowledged as possessing expertise in its field.
· The second letter must be from another arts or cultural organisation, institution or company which is well-established nationally and/or internationally and widely acknowledged as possessing expertise in its field. This second organisation may be UK or overseas based.
· The third letter may be either from a third arts or cultural organisation, institution or company (UK or overseas based) which is well-established nationally and/or internationally and widely acknowledged as possessing expertise in its field or from an eminent individual with internationally recognised expertise in your specialist field.
Letters of support must:
· be dated
· if from an organisation, be:
· written on headed paper; and
· signed by the author who must be a senior member of the organisation such as a member of the senior management team or board, the Chief Executive, Artistic Director, Principal or Chair.
· include details of the author’s credentials (for example, a CV/resume) and how they know you (personal relationship or reputation)
· detail your achievements in your specialist field and how, in the opinion of the author, you have either:
· demonstrated that you are a world leader in your field (Exceptional Talent); or
· demonstrated that you have the potential to become a world leader in your field (Exceptional Promise).
· describe how you would benefit from living in the UK and the contribution you could make to cultural life here. They should also provide details of any of your future professional engagements in the UK that the author is aware of; and
· include full contact details of the author, including personal email address and direct telephone number, so that personal contact can be made by Arts Council England if required.
You have to keep in mind that these eminent people are busy! They don’t have time to write strong and shining letters for you. You’d better write the three different drafts by yourself. Don’t forget to ask a reliable friend to check the grammar and objectivity. Then ask the recommenders to correct your drafts and sign.
5. Fill the application form for Stage 1 online and print it out.
Print out all the pages. The payment happens when they received the posted form, since there is a section where you write your credit card number.
6. Make the package and send.
In one big envelope, enclose the application form, ten evidence documents, three enveloped reference letters, and cover letter with a list of contents written on it. It’s going to be a thick package. Don’t send it to the Arts Council! Send it to the Home Office. The address is written at the end of the application form.
7. Wait.
You can do nothing now, just wait. In my case, it took five weeks to receive the result.
8. Receive an email from the Home Office.
If you successfully get the endorsement letter, go to the Stage 2.
9. Fill the application form for Stage 2 online, and print it out.
What you need in this process differs depending on your nationality.
10. Make the package and send it.
The envelope is much thinner this time. Enclose the application form, printed endorsement letter and cover letter.
11. Wait.
It was three weeks in my case.
12. Receive an email form the Home Office.
Congratulations!
In Summary, you need ten or less evidence documents from at least two countries, three reference letters from established organisations and/or individual, and your strong will and patient. Please keep in mind that the immigration rules can be changed time to time. So please read through the guidance carefully when you make the application. Good luck!!
67 replies
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Thanks for your advice it really helps. A few questions if you don't mind me asking:
a) When it comes to what to be included within one proof evidence document, let's say if i have to proof the evidence of involvement as its a team project as I had a major contribution that should be fine to be considered it within the one main evidence?
b) Was all of your documents in vertical form? As web pages are normally horizontal and I had to screenshot several pages of a review so unsure whether a horizontal printout would be better? Did you have any web pages from your evidence and if you did, how did you present it? Did you have any cover page on each evidence for example Awards, Media Recognition?
Thanks
I have been endorsed as an exceptional promise, and now I am heading to stage 2. Can I please ask you which documents did you send with your stage 2 application? What was in the cover letter? Thanks again
To Hannah, yes, you need to pay for the NHS fee at the Stage two application.
To Shimul, don’t submit more than 10 proof documents. Recommendation letters can be two pages long. You need to print out the letters and put in envelopes. (I would ask hand written signature on the letter, but I guess e-signature would do) Enclosing the referee’s CV enhances the person’s credibility.
To Fee, tick the box ‘to work’. This is a working visa.
I have been endorsed as an Exceptional Promise and I am now applying for stage 2. I have a question about the additional information required during the application. I don't have a job yet (I am applying for a research grant but will apply for the visa before I have the results back), what should I write in the box? They give me options like "to work", "to study", "temporary residence" and "to settle"...
I am about to finish my stage 1 application for the tier 1 exceptional promise visa as a scientist for the endorsement from Royal Society.
I have written 2 page endorsement letter for the Royal Society (my designated competent body who will assess my application), do I need to shorten it into 1.5 page?
Also I got three reference letters (1 from Sweden and two from my current UK University, all my reference was sent to me by e-mail but not enveloped (but you told in your blog that it should be enveloped, or when I will send to the home office, I will put each reference letter in normal envelop and send to the home office together with cover letter and other supporting documents?)
Only one reference person has provided me his CV but not other two. Do you think this will be problem?
Also I will have more than 10 documents which would be >30 page long , even more. DO you think it would ok?
It would be great if you could let me know about these info.
Best wishes,
Shimul
Researcher @ UK based University
Your post has been so helpful. Thank you so much. I got endorsed by Arts England and am now onto stage 2. The surcharge is CRAZY expensive (£400/year x 5 years = £2000). Do I actually have to pay that upfront?
Best wishes,
Hannah
To Millie, the person can be an individual referee, which can be one of the three referees, but two of them must be heads of recognized organizations, such as theatre company and acting school.
I'm applying for art exceptional promise visa. Do I need to submit CV/Personal statement/cover letters as extra documents?
Thank you.
I am so glad to you about this page. I am opera singer and graduated from Ma Cardiff Academy . I applied this visa in 7 of July today is 14 of July and I did not get any e mail. According to website It takes 5-8 weeks. Should I write an e mail to homeoffice and just wait? What’s your recommend to me ? I am so excited.
Thanks
Best wishes
Hi Tam, I'm not sure if the signatures on the letters can be scanned ones. The guidance doesn't say anything about it. Should be ok in this digital world, but in my case, I asked the person who I couldn't see in person, to post me the actual signed letter. Just to avoid slightest reason to be rejected..
sanjeev jimmy wadhwa
www.sanjeevjimmy.com
sanjeevjimmy@yahoo.com
+919888182234
My question is:
The recorded video by the organiser is not officially posted online probably because of copyright issues (but there are spectators in the arena who posted some videos on YouTube), I was able to acquire it from the organisers. I just needed some advice if you think that the video can be a "proof of evidence" that I was performing in the show? As there wasn't any form of performance booklet of who are the performers. Other than that, I have a letter of invitation which I believe I could use it as one of the evidence too.
Also, I've played on that same event in 2017 and 2018 (as it is an annual thing), should I submit it as 2 evidence or put it together as 1?
Thank you very much in advance for the advice! Any help will be much appreciated!
I am actually preparing to apply for the endorsement by the arts council and would love to speak to you in a bit more detail if you could over skype potentially. Let me know if you can! Thank you anyway for this post, it's very helpful in it's own.
Gabriela Lotaif
www.gabrielalotaif.com
gabriela@gabrielalotaif.com
To Trista, I didn't submit my CV nor personal statement. I wrote all about my achievements in the recommendation letters, of course from the recommenders' point of view.
To Trista and Jimmy, one evidence document can be more than one page, as long as it's one article. For example, one of my documents, production booklet was more than 10 pages, and some of the reviews were two or three pages. I stapled the papers together to make it clear it's one article.
To Jimmy, media recognition evidence is not separate from but within the 10 documents. I'm afraid I can't answer your first question. I think it depends on how much recognised your achievements are. Please read the criteria carefully.
To Mathew, fingers crossed!
Thank you so much for your brief descriptions about this visa. i am having experience of more than 17 years in dance in 4 5 countries. i recieved honorary doctorate in Performing arts and other awards too. i published my book which is available through out world with the name of i dream with my feet. what you think should i apply on exceptional talent or exceptional promise?.
my 2nd question is Can we Add more pages in 1 evidence like if one evidence required 10 pages so art council will concider that or not.
Media recognition Also includes in 10 evidence or its apart from 10 documents. your reply will be highly appreciate.
Thank you.
regards..
jimmy
Thank you so much for sharing.
It is clear information, but there are few things I'm not quite sure about
- Did you submit your personal statement and CV? or just wrote everything you had achieved in your recommendation letter?
- Does the evidence have page limit? For example, one evidence need to be on one sheet of A4?
Thank you so much again for your sharing.
For the endorsement letters, did you have your references address the letters to Arts Council England or the UK Home Office (in the Dear _____ section of the letter). Thank you!
Max
If you follow the instruction accurately, any format is fine. Contents of the letters matter a lot!
Many thanks for your reply. We have looked into the news website url where my wife`s dance performance was mentioned, I am hoping a clear printout of the webpage can be submitted as a supporting doc.
We are in the final phase of assembling the docs but struggling a bit to get right format for the recommendation letter. Will you be able to please share a letter template (masking any personal details you feel don`t sharing) as a help to structure the correct context.
Much appreciate !
Thanks,
Daz
Dear Natsumi Kuroda, how are you today? hope everything going well?
I need your kind help on my tier1 exceptional talent in fashion application process.
First of all, I've applied on 20 November 2018 and shipped my packet to sheffield office on same day.
On 28th of November I've received email
"Thank you for your application for Endorsement for Tier 1 Exceptional Talent.
Your application has been referred to Arts Council England. Please allow 25 working days for their consideration.
We will contact you when a decision has been made".
Today is 24th December, till have not get any decision about my application.
Is it normal or have to worry?
'Any evidence submitted must be paper based. Evidence cannot include other objects, digital
versatile discs (DVDs) or compact discs (CDs), digital files or documents that only show web links.
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Policy Guidance version 11/2018 - Page 29 of 51
(If you wish to use the content of a webpage as one of your ten permitted supporting documents,
you must provide a printed copy of the page which clearly shows the uniform resource locator (URL)
for the page.)'
Thanks for providing such in detail info related to process that would be really helpful. My wife is planning to apply tier 1 in dance category and has few evidences in the form of video clip coverage on UK and Belarus news channels. Since the proof are being sent as post would you know how digital evidences can be submitted.
Thanks
Daz
Dear Natsumi Kuroda, how are you? hope everything going well? I've submitted my application on 20th November and sent my documents through DHL, they will receive my documents on 25th November at ending of the day.
If there any more guidance for next steps then It would be appreciated if you let me know.
Thanks a lot for your kind help. I've got already so much help from you, so they are sufficient now. I've bought templates from one who are holder of exceptional visa. Just preparing my application, I will let you know my result whenever it comes.
Dear Natsumi Kuroda, I am requesting you to get your 3 recommendation letter template without your personal details and personal statement if pay your kindness for my application please?
As I am not much experienced in immigration procedures I hope you will pay your kindness to me.
My email address is: stylist.bangladesh@gmail.com
Dear Natsumi Kuroda Thank you so much for your quickest and very helpful guidance even though it is better then any immigration consult. I have two invitation letter from Florida Fashion Designers Expo and Another Fashion Week from USA which is sent to me on 2011 and also I have a lot of clients in USA, France, Germany, Canada. I will bring two ref from my current Miss Universe Director and my company CEO and another one I will bring from above mentioned clients from France, Germany or Canada. I hope it will works?
Only needs translate services for my other language evidence.
I am so much happy for your kind help.
Thanks a lot.
Dear Natsumi Kuroda Thanks a lot for your kind help on my issues. Same problem again arise to me, If I apply for Exceptional Promise then till I need third person from UK? Don't mind I read on their condition this "If applying under Exceptional Talent criteria, at least one of these letters must be from a UK organization". So I thought it is only for Exceptional Talent to have an person must in UK.
I hope you can suggest me. Also I have Norway TV Broadcasting on their website, News Papers and on Miss Universe Official sites. There are a lot of images attires my designed Norwegian companies clothing and apparels all Miss Universe Finalist. I've took screenshot by opening them on google translate so it it acceptable? I am very sorry to disturbing you.
I am an 17 years experienced fashion designer and going to apply for Tier1 Exceptional Talent Fashion Designer Visa. However, I did almost 40,000 clothing and apparel designs for world's so many company and individuals. I love in Bangladesh and since 2013 I am working as a overseas fashion designer for an Norwegian sports clothing brand and my designed costumes were attires 3 times in Miss Universe in an European country. They also invited me to attain to Miss Universe Final round because my designs were attires in 3 times on final round. But I haven't been there for some reason.
My company also sponsored me to take me in Norway by in my home country embassy haven't issue my visa.
My designed clothing and apparels are very popular in Norway and some other countries and my company has some press coverage but all are my designed on there.
So what 3 letter I have to arrange? how my company CEO can provide me reference letter? already they provided me for my other EU visa application so is it okey? and also Miss Universe Director has invited me to attain Miss Universe final round. So If my company CEO provide me one letter and Miss Universe Director's invitation are count as two letter? But I can't provide any reference from UK base because I don't have anyone. So what should I do? those two reference is enough exempt uk reference if I apply for promising? I have my home country English news coverage too and also I have a lot of designed catwalk images.
I hope you will help me by providing me an good answer on my above mentioned points and also I hope you will provide me an example reference letter to be signed my company CEO and Miss Universe Director.
Regards,
Erica
To Maria, it's fine to submit photo copy even it's a foreign document. However, you should attach an English translation by an authorized translation company. I attached the original translated document sent by the translation company. (You can find the translation company easily online). Regarding the writer of the recommendation letter, your course leader can be one 'individual' of the three letters. However, two of the letters must be from institutions. You should ask head of your school (director or dean) to write as from an institution. Contents you must include in the letters are clearly instructed in the guidance. Regarding cover letter, I made a general cover letter with list of contents on it. Don't forget the list of contents. Someone forgot it and it took half a year to finally get the visa.