Is it really possible to know the success rate of the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa?
A quick glance at the Tech Nation website says they’ve received 2,100+ applications and only endorsed 1,100+ from 2017 to the date of this post.
So that means maybe half of the people who apply actually get endorsed? I personally think the number of endorsements is less than 50% and that’s because the endorsement process is now much “harder” than it was and with each year, there’s a refreshed rule.
Not necessarily harder per se because the documents needed to show your skills and achievements are still the same from when this visa route was created till date, only that some minor touch ups here and there has been included and of course with people getting more exposed to this visa, they will be much more strict in their endorsement review process.
Tech Nation for example (the body that endorses Tech Applicants) receives approximately half of all Tier 1 visa applications, this gives you an idea of the demand for tech skills in the UK.
I get A LOT of emails and messages from people around the world who have either read my blog or watched my video on the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa route and its always a mixture of 2 types of people – the person who is skilled and I can tell from their CV or documents that they stand a chance of being endorsed and the second person who just from the questions they ask, I can somewhat tell that they do not fully understand what it takes to apply or even stand a chance of getting endorsed.
So, does the success rate even matter?
To me, I think the answer is NO!
One of the most frequently asked questions I get from people is –“is there a particular month of the year that is the best time to apply?” and my answer is always the same “No, there’s no special month to apply, you can apply anytime of the year, there will always be more applications than endorsements, so there’s likely spaces available all year round”
So, the success rate doesn’t really matter.
What prospective applicants should focus on are things they can control and not things outside of their control.
Example of things you can control are:
- The strength of the documents you choose to put forward for your application.
- Your understanding of what the examiners at Tech Nation want to see in prospective applicants and giving them that or even more.
- Your attention to detail and following Tech Nation’s instructions on how documents should be outlined and presented.
- The strength of your referee’s letters and their reputation.
If you can get the above things right, you will not need to be concerned about the success rate of the endorsement because the power will be in your hands.
I believe the people at Tech Nation are fair, pay attention to details and know applicants that deserve to be endorsed.
Unlike some complaints and articles I’ve read (from unsuccessful applicants), I don’t believe that the people at Tech Nation care about a person as an “individual” and act biased towards certain people, I believe that they treat everyone as “applicants” and they access your application based on your attention to details, strength of your documents and your overall presentation. No one at Tech Nation is out to get you.
So, as an advice from a successful applicant – focus on the things you can control. The success rate doesn’t mean much.
The success rate can 99% and if your documents and application case is not what they are looking for, you will not be endorsed.
Rounding Up.
Sincerely speaking, I think that as more people get exposed to this visa and the applications for the endorsement sky-rockets, the endorsement process will become tougher and more strict. I will be lying to myself if I don’t think it was much easier to get endorsed in 2014 when the visa route was introduced than it is in 2019.
Heck, I still think it was much easier to get endorsed in 2017 (when I got endorsed) than it is in 2019.
Note that even though I use the word “easier”, it doesn’t necessarily mean it was a walk in the park but you get the gist.
So, to round this up – do not worry about the success rate of the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa – instead worry and spend more time on your application documents, letters and evidences.
If you give them what they want, they will give you what you want.
All the best.
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