For people in the arts, the UK, according to the speaker in the video, is currently the easiest path to relocation among countries offering talent visas not tied to an employer. IT specialists and representatives of science and innovative business can access programs that require achievements in their field, but not outstanding ones. Below is what stands out in the British migration system and where its limitations lie.

Migration Advantages

Compared to the US and France, the UK, according to the speaker, is easier in terms of relocation, especially for people in the arts. For IT specialists, the US and the UK are roughly equal in terms of relocation difficulty.

The key difference is the procedure after a refusal. All migration processes in the UK are online, and review takes, according to the speaker, three weeks, a month at most. No appeal is required, and you can reapply even the very next day and get approved. In the situation described, the author compares this to the US, where many applicants give up after a refusal.

The flip side is that in about 10–15% of cases, a suitable candidate gets refused without a clear reason. According to the speaker, there are strategies for reapplying in such cases, and the previous application is not taken into account.

Citizenship and Timeframes

The UK, according to the speaker, almost guarantees citizenship to those who have obtained residency, provided one requirement is met: 183 days a year of residence in the country and tax resident status. According to the speaker, over six years of working with this visa, there have been almost no refusals for permanent residence and citizenship; refusals happened where a person didn’t meet the requirements.

Processing times, according to her, are about two months. In one case, citizenship was granted in three weeks, but this is more of an exception.

For comparison, Canada is cited: with a stated three years to a passport, in practice, according to the speaker, it takes at least six to seven years due to waiting for review. Documents for the UK are shorter: apostilles and criminal record certificates are not required, so there’s no need to request papers from Russia or other countries.

Earnings and Business

The average salary of IT specialists and arts professionals in the UK, according to the speaker, is higher than in European cities. There are more IT job openings in London than in all European cities combined.

For those planning their own business, the UK is named one of the best options in terms of bureaucracy, attracting investment, and opening a company and accounts. It’s separately noted that the British know how to monetize art, and income in the arts has noticeably increased for those who started working for British companies.

London's business district in evening light, people with bags walking from the subway station to office buildings

System Limitations

The main drawback is a strict set of rules. Unlike other countries, there is a list of profiles that visas fit: dancers, lawyers, doctors, and other specialists with restrictions on their field of activity. There are loopholes, and a profile can sometimes be shifted in the right direction, but candidates who don’t fit the categories at all won’t get through.

In the end, the UK’s migration system, according to the speaker, is the best but limited. For IT specialists, professionals in the arts, culture, science, and innovative entrepreneurs, it’s described as the most suitable way to relocate.