Global Talent visa in Digital Technology – 2nd in a series of articles

Tom RedfernCategories: business, business immigration, corporate, immigration

We continue our series of articles about Tech Nation endorsement.

This article is devoted to the second optional criterion related to proof of recognition for work beyond the applicant’s occupation that contributes to the advancement of the field.

You can show this by providing evidence that you have done something outside your normal job that helps develop the digital technology sector. This must be voluntary work, meaning unpaid and not done on behalf of your company or to promote its products. Examples include mentoring, giving advice, organising groups or events, helping with policy work, teaching at a university, or running clubs or societies that support the field. Please note that taking courses or studying yourself does not count as evidence.

The Tech Nation guidance gives us several examples of possible evidence:

  • Evidence of contributions to an Open Source project
  • Your GitHub profile demonstrating active participation in a collaborative project
  • Your Stack Overflow profile showing significant contribution to discussions around code
  • All contributions (for example to an Open-Source project, GitHub, or Stack Overflow profile etc.) must demonstrate a consistent and ongoing track record of contributions to the sector
  • Talks or conference speaking that have had a significant viewership of at least 100 attendees (not registrations). As a speaker you must be speaking on the main stage and the invitation to speak must not have been paid for by your organisation as part of any sponsorship
  • An op-ed or news article that exemplifies thought leadership, evidence of mentorship
  • Evidence of mentorship must be for an activity outside the applicant’s organisation or normal course of work duties and excludes mentorship of other commercial organisations as part of a commercial arrangement. Mentorship should be on behalf of a structured programme with selection criteria and is inclusive of non-profit charities and social mentorship programmes.

Below is a list of media resources that are usually highly valued by Tech Nation, along with article types that can strengthen your endorsement application:

Please also remember that not every conference strengthens your profile.  What matters is the number and quality of your activities which should support your endorsement application narrative. For example, a data scientist presenting at a marketing event will not boost your application. You need to show a contribution to digital technology sector,  not just your presence. The Global Talent would like to see how you create value for the sector.
Applicant’s public profile is simply one way to show how you contribute, not the goal by itself.

In our next article, we will review the third optional criterion for endorsement under the Exceptional Talent category in the digital technology sector (“significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions to the field as a founder, senior executive, board member or employee of a product-led digital technology company”).

Yulia Gutkovich  email: ygutkovich@redfernlegal.com