You can apply for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa from inside the UK UK, subject to meeting immigration status requirement, if you have been awareded a a qualification by an eligible university in the last 5 years. A High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is usually granted for 2 years; however, if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, the HPI visa will be gratned for 3 years. An application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa from inside the UK is made in accordance with requirements as set out in Appendix High Potential Individual of the Immigration Rules.
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Our specialist team of work visa solicitors in London can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis concerning your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa UK. Ask a question to our specialist team of work visa solicitors for free immigration advice online or book an appointment online for a detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our immigration solicitors concerning your application for switchinginto High Potential Individual (HPI) visa UK.
Requirements For Switching Into High Potential Individual Visa UK
A person applying for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa from inside the UK should meet the following requirements as set out in the Immigration Rules:
Valid Application
You must submit a valid application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa from inside the UK in accordance with requirements for a valid application as set out in Appendix High Potential Individual of the Immigration Rules.
Age Requirement
The applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date of application.
Written Consent From Government Or Agency
If the applicant has in the last 12 months before the date of application received an award from a Government or international scholarship agency covering both fees and living costs for study in the UK, they must provide written consent to the application from that Government or agency.
Immigration Status Requirement
An applicant who is applying for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa from inside the UK must be in the UK on the date of application and must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
- as a Visitor; or
- as a Short-term Student; or
- as a Parent of a Child Student; or
- as a Seasonal Worker; or
- as a Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
- outside the Immigration Rules.
Previous Grants
The applicant must not have been previously granted permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme, as a Graduate or as a High Potential Individual.
Points Requirement For A High Potential Individual
The applicant must be awarded a total of 70 points based on the table below.
| Requirement | Relevant rules | Points available |
|---|---|---|
| Global Universities List degree requirement | HPI 5.1 to 5.4 | 50 |
| English Language requirement at level B1 | HPI 6.1 to 6.3 | 10 |
| Financial requirement | HPI 7.1 to 7.4 | 10 |
Global Universities List Degree Requirement
The applicant must, in the 5 years immediately before the date of the application, have been awarded an overseas degree level academic qualification which Ecctis confirms meets, or exceeds, the recognised standard of a UK bachelor’s or UK postgraduate degree. The institution at which the applicant was awarded the degree in question must appear on the Global Universities List in respect of the date the applicant was awarded the degree.
The date the applicant was awarded the degree will be the date as confirmed by Ecctis. If the above given degree reuirements requirements are met, the applicant will be awarded 50 points.
English language requirement for High Potential Individual
Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) of at least level B1. The applicant must show they meet the English language requirement as specified in Appendix English Language. If the requirements for English language are met, the applicant will be awarded 10 points for meeting the English language requirement.
Financial Requirement For High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa
If the applicant is applying for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa from inside the UK and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.
An applicant who is applying for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa from inside the UK and has has been in the UK for less than 12 months at the date of application must have funds of at least £1,270. The applicant must show that they have held the required level of funds for a 28-day period and must show funds as specified in Appendix Finance.
If the above given financial requirements are met, the applicant will be awarded 10 points for meeting the Financial requirement.
Suitability Requirements
The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.
If applying for permission to stay the applicant must not be:
- in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
- on immigration bail.
Period and Conditions Of Grant
The applicant will be granted leave to remain as a High Potential Individual (HPI) migrant as set out in the table below based on the qualification relied on to meet the Global Universities List degree requirement.
| Type of Degree Qualification | Period granted from date of decision | |
|---|---|---|
| PhD or other doctoral level qualification | 3 years | |
| All other degree qualifications | 2 years |
The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:
- no access to public funds; and
- work (including self-employment and voluntary work) is permitted, apart from work as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach); and
- study is permitted, except study with an education provider which is a Student sponsor, and which would meet the approved qualification and level of study requirements of the Student route which are set out in Appendix Student; and
- study is subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.
Priority or Super Priority Service For Switching Into High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa
As specialist work visa solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Priority or Super Priority Service for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa whereby decision on your High Potential Individual (HPI) visa application will be made within 24 hours if you submit your application through Super Priority Service or within 5 working days if you submit your application through Priority Service.
Our work visa solicitors can prepare and submit your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa faster and get you a decision on your application faster through Priority or Super Priority Service. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your High Potential Individual (HPI) visa application for months (sometimes years).
One-Off Service For Submission Of Your Application Through Priority / Super Priority Service
Our specialist team of fast-track immigration solicitors can provide a one-off service to submit your completed UK visa and immigration application through Priority / Super Priority Service so that you get a decision on your UK visa and immigration application faster. We will submit your application through Priority / Super Priority Service on the basis of no submission no fee which means if we fail to submit your application through Priority / Super Priority Service within 48 hours of fees being paid to us, we will issue the full refund of the fees paid to us, without any deductions.
We will act for you under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), under which we will issue a full refund of the fees paid to us, without any deductions if we fail to submit your application through Priority / Super Priority Service within 48 hours of payment being made to us.
If we successfully submit your application through Priority / Super Priority Service within 48 hours of payment being made to us, we will charge a fixed fee of £250 + VAT (£300 including VAT) on the basis of a conditional fee agreement (CFA) signed between you and us.
How Can We Help?
Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis in relation to your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa. Our fixed fee for your immigration application will cover all the work of our immigration solicitors on your immigration application until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa. The casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your immigration application will entail the following:
- Advice on requirements: Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you have to meet for your immigration application to succeed.
- Advised on documents: Our immigration lawyers will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa;
- Assessment of documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to make sure that all the documents you provide in support of your application are in accordance with the requirement of the immigration rules.
- Completing application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant application form for your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa.
- Submitting application through Priority or Super Priority Service: Where possible, our immigration lawyers will submit your online immigration application through priority or super priority service to get faster decision on your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa.
- Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your application, our immigration lawyers will book your appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.
- Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application explaining how you meet all the legal requirements for your application to be approved by the Home Office UKVI.
- Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload online all the supporting documents to be considered in support of your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa.
- Follow up work: Our immigration lawyers will carry out all the follow up work until decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa.
Our One-Off Services For Immigration Applications
Our immigration solicitors can also provide a wide range of one-off legal services for UK visa and immigration applications. Using our one-off services can help those who do not want to use our full service for the immigration application. You can use one of the following one-off legal services offered for UK visa and immigration applications:
- One-Off Immigration Advice and Consultation
- Immigration Documents Checking Service
- Application Form Completion Services
- Submitting Application Through Priority and Super Priority Service
- Preparing Cover Letter For Immigration Application
- Uploading Supporting Documents Online
Our Fixed Fees For High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa Applications
- Our immigration solicitors will charge a fixed fee ranging from £800 to £1,500 (no VAT) for your application for switching into High Potential Individual (HPI) visa UK. The agreed fixed will depend on the complexity of the application and the volume of work involved in the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa visa application.
- Our fixed fee for the application does not cover any disbursements e.g. UKVI fee for the application and the applicant has to separately pay the Home office UKVI fees for the application.