HPI Visa – the gateway for the top US graduates?

When the UK’s immigration system was overhauled to attract “the brightest and the best”, the High Performing Individual (HPI) visa was born out of the UK’s Innovation Strategy, creating an exciting avenue for top graduates from across the globe to move, live and work in the UK, without a need for sponsorship.

In light of the recent changes to some of the UK work and study routes, mainly concerning the higher financial thresholds and limitation on dependents, the HPI visa remains an ever-attractive option, with the ability to bring family members as dependents, in addition to having no work restrictions.

To qualify under the HPI visa, applicants must have graduated from the list of the top universities around the world, determined by the Home Office, and have graduated in the preceding five years. This list is named the ‘Global Universities List’, and the university must have been recognised as such on the date the qualification was awarded.

The current Global Universities List relates to qualifications awarded between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025. Of the 42 universities included, just under half are located in the US.

Graduates are able to move to the UK or extend their existing leave for two or three years, depending on the qualification awarded (two years for an award equivalent to a UK bachelor or masters degree and three years for PhD or post-doctoral graduates). Despite not being an avenue to secure Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR),  candidates are able, prior to the expiry of their visa, to switch into a category that leads to settlement after five continuous years in the UK.

This is particularly useful for those US graduates from top universities who are welcomed into the array of financial and IT hubs across the UK that are seeking international talent to join and contribute to their prestigious reputation. Locations such as London, Manchester, and Edinburgh host some of the largest financial institutions in the world. Given the high-performing nature of the candidates on the HPI visa, it is common for candidates to work in any of the highly regarded sectors across the UK throughout the duration of their visa, before switching to work or study visas to finalise their five-year residency.

Candidates must be 18 years old on the date of application and meet the English language, finance, and relationship (if they are bringing dependents) requirements to attain the required 70 points to qualify for the HPI visa.

If HPI visa candidates are US nationals or studied at US universities, they will automatically meet the English language requirement due to coming from a majority English-speaking country and/or having their awarded degree taught in English. For international candidates not from majority English-speaking countries, they must demonstrate they can speak and understand English by passing the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages (CEFR) test and be awarded a minimum B1 rating. This requirement does not present a challenge for most HPI visa applicants, given the level of education they have already attained.

In addition, they must satisfy the financial maintenance requirement by providing their bank statements to demonstrate they have held a minimum of £1,270 for 28 days or more, on the date of submission. This requirement will only apply to candidates seeking entry clearance, and not those switching from another visa category who have resided in the UK for 12 months or more at the date of submission.

The Global Universities List presents US elite graduates with a unique opportunity to move to the UK without the need for sponsorship, making the HPI visa one of the most flexible and attractive routes to the UK. Despite the US dominating the list, the UK is seeking to retain and welcome graduates from any of the prestigious universities listed, in the hope that their integration into the workforce helps to strengthen the UK’s position as an international player across key industries.

If you are a US national from one of the qualifying universities or an international candidate, please reach out to our team who would be happy to assist with further advice.

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