Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa
The application procedure for the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa has been now been split into a two stage process. Applicants who are eligible to apply will first need to obtain an endorsement from a Designated Competent Body. Following this endorsement, they will have 3 months to make their application for a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa under entry clearance or leave to remain. There will be a cap of 1,000 visas per year under this category of visa.
Applicants who are residing in the UK under Tier 2 (General & ICT) will be eligible to ‘switch’ their status to a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa without needing to leave the UK as of April 6, 2013.
Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur
The Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur category allows the UK to retain (non-European) graduates identified by UK higher education institutions as having developed world-class innovative ideas or entrepreneurial skills, to extend their stay in the UK after graduation to establish more businesses in the UK.
As of April 6, 2013, the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa category will have an increase in the cap – 2,000 visas will be available throughout the year – up from the usual 1,000. 100 places will be reserved for elite global graduate entrepreneurs, 900 places will be held for graduates in any subject, and 1,000 places will go to MBA graduates.