UK High Potential Individual Visa From Ghana

Eligible University

If you want to apply for an HPI visa, you must prove that you graduated from an eligible university. Note that the university you graduated from must be eligible in the year and month you graduated. For the High Potential Individual visa, USA universities occupy the most space.

Again, you’ll need to have graduated no earlier than 5 years. It is also necessary to note that UK universities are not eligible.

Ghanaians who graduated from UK universities can apply for an alternative: the Graduate visa.

Eligible Qualification

To apply for the HPI visa, your qualification must be equivalent to a UK bachelor’s, postgraduate or doctorate. If you are applying for the visa, you must get the Ecctis to evaluate your qualification.

English Language Skills

Ghanaians who want to apply for the HPI visa must prove that they are proficient in using the English language up to B1 on the CEFR scale. There are many ways to prove you can speak, read and write in English.

You can:

• Pass a secure English language test provided by Pearson, LanguageCert, IELTS SELT Consortium or PSI Services (UK) Ltd- Skills for English (UKVI).
• Show that your degree was taught entirely in English. Again, you’ll have to contact the Ecctis to evaluate your degree and ascertain this.

Means of Subsistence Requirement

When applying for the HPI visa, you must prove to the Home Office that you have enough money to pay for your living expenses in the UK. You typically need to show you have a minimum savings of £1,270.

This money must have been in your account for a minimum of 28 consecutive days. The last day must be within 31 days of visa application. Note that the minimum savings you must show will increase if you add family members to your application.

Application Restriction

Ghanaians already on or have had a Graduate visa cannot submit applications for the HPI visa. If you have already applied for the HPI visa once, you cannot apply again. Doctorate Extension Scheme students are not eligible to apply for the HPI visa.

Valid Passport

To apply for the HPI visa, you must submit a valid ECOWAS passport for Ghanaians. This passport must not be older than 10 years. It should also have at least 1 blank page to which the visa will be attached.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

You’ll need to present a document that shows you meet this requirement. It could be your official test scores from a standardised English Language test provider. You can also submit the English Language Proficiency Statement from Ecctis to show your studies were entirely in English.

Academic Qualification Level Statement

To ensure your qualification is on the same level as a UK degree, you must submit an Academic Qualification Level Statement issued by Ecctis.

Tuberculosis Test Result

Ghanaians applying for a UK visa must prove they are tuberculosis-free. You’ll need to present a test result issued by any Home Office-approved clinics in Kumasi or Accra.

Relationship with Dependents

If you want to move to the UK with your family as your dependents, you must prove that you have a genuine relationship with them. You’ll need to present a marriage certificate to show you are married to your spouse. Then you have to present birth certificates to show you’re indeed the parent of your children.

Bank Statement

Submit a bank statement showing you have up to £1,270 as savings in your account. Note that this amount will increase if you are travelling with your family.

Receipt of Visa Payment

You must attach proof that you have paid the visa fees when applying for the HPI visa. If the Home Office does not see this proof, your application will not be processed. Remember to pay both the application fee and the healthcare surcharge.

Confirmation Page Print-out

You must also print out the confirmation page of your appointment schedule with the visa application centre. This is what admits you to the centre on your appointment day.

Step 1: Check the Validity of Your Qualification

Before applying for the HPI visa, you’ll need to pay the Ecctis to evaluate your qualifications first. If your qualification is valid, you’ll get the Academic Qualification Level Statement from them.

Again, if you do not want to write an English language proficiency test, you’ll also need to ask them to write you an English Language Proficiency Statement.

Step 2: Gather Supporting Documents

Upon receiving the two documents from the Ecctis, you can now gather other documents that can prove your eligibility for the HPI visa. Ensure your documents are up-to-date and legible.

Step 3: Apply Online

Visit the Home Office website and apply for the visa online. While applying online, you’ll have to attach your supporting documents. Ensure the details on your supporting documents and those you fill in on the website match to avoid a visa refusal.

Step 4: Pay Visa Fees

You must also pay the visa fees while applying for the HPI visa. When you pay, also attach the proof of payment to the portal.

Step 5: Schedule an Appointment

After applying online, the next thing is to schedule an appointment with the TLScontact visa application centre in Accra. Take the appointment confirmation page and your passport to your appointment. The officers there will collect your passport, fingerprints and passport photo. Note that the visa application centre may require you to pay a fee for their services.

Step 6: Wait for Your Visa

After your appointment, you can wait for the Home Office to decide on your application. Only start making travel plans to the UK when you have received mail from the UKVI confirming that your visa application has been approved.

Benefits

Ghanaians on the HPI visa are permitted to do the following:

• Work in many kinds of jobs.
• Seek employment upon arrival in the UK.
• Become self-employed.
• Work for a charity organisation. This can be a volunteer or paid position.
• Travel to Ghana or elsewhere and come back to the UK.
• Study if you don’t need a Student visa for the course.

Restrictions

If you are on an HPI visa, you are not permitted to do the following:

• Apply for governmental benefits and pension.
• Work in the professional field of sports.
• Renew your visa.
• Settle indefinitely in the UK. You cannot move from the HPI visa to permanent resident status in the UK. You have to apply for another visa that offers the route to settlement.