Oftentimes when some people think about music genres, they think binary. It’s either this or that. It’s either House or Trance. It’s either Techno or Psy-Trance.

But I think today’s variety of music genres is too vast and too complex for that. Music genres have evolved and diversified so much that categorising them into strict binaries requires a bit of different thinking.

When we think of music genres, we’re considering a multitude of elements that contribute to a track’s identity. Elements like rhythm, sound design, tempo, melody, and even cultural influences all play a role. It’s not just about the primary beat or the dominant instruments; it’s the intricate blend of these components that creates a unique sonic landscape.

This is why I think of genres as a spectrum, like the adjustable sliders in photo editing apps.

For example, a track might have the driving beat of Techno, the atmospheric elements of Trance, and the rhythmic structure of House, all blended together in varying proportions. Which genre should this track belong to, in this case? That’s the tricky part – it’s up to identifying the proportion of those elements on the imaginary spectrum, or sliders.

The practicality of genres as guiding stars in navigating the expansive realm of music remains undeniable. As a DJ, I still rely on genres to discover fresh tracks. Nevertheless, it’s equally crucial to acknowledge the mixture of styles within tracks that extend beyond the confines of the notion of genres that we know today.

I think recognising genres as a fluid spectrum rather than strict binaries helps to embrace the diversity and intricacies that make music a constantly evolving and endlessly fascinating art form. And this mindset certainly helps in my decision-making process behind curation.

There is a popular technique in the productivity space called time-blocking where you allocate specific blocks of time to accomplish particular tasks throughout your day. It involves scheduling blocks of time on your calendar dedicated to specific activities, which, supposedly, helps in better managing your time, staying focused, and ensuring that important tasks get done.

A random picture from the Internet illustrating time-blocking. Source: todoist.com

For me, it’s never quite clicked.

I use my calendar to add events, not tasks. Events are things that happen at a certain date and time, like meetings or appointments; there is nothing to do about them, they are just there to serve as reminders and assist in planning while considering availability.

While I do acknowledge the benefits of grouping tasks, like handling emails in bulk rather than reacting to each new arrival, I find the concept of rigidly scheduled time for tasks unappealing.

Consider this: a designated one-hour slot to address emails, as depicted above. Let’s say I efficiently manage everything in under 30 minutes. What then? Should I rush into the next block or switch gears entirely? Or take a breather? Conversely, some tasks might overrun their allotted time. In such instances, do I shuffle the blocks to compensate? Or compress subsequent blocks? None of that makes any sense to me, and this is why time-blocking as a system so easily falls apart for me.

Some tasks require deep, interrupted, focused work, and when I’m in that mode, I prefer riding that flow rather than being disrupted by arbitrary block transitions. For some tasks that require less concentrated focus, I find it comfortable to tackle them sporadically rather than allocating an entire block, there are moments in busy days when carving out a dedicated block feels unfeasible. And sometimes I feel that I’m leaning toward specific tasks over another, let’s say being in a writing mood rather than doing admin stuff, which ends up being much more productive for me.

So while time-blocking serves many, its rigid structure doesn’t align with everyone’s work style. For some, like myself, a more flexible, task-driven approach better accommodates the flow of work demands. And I think understanding one’s unique needs is one of the key elements for productivity.

2023 marks my tenth anniversary of working remotely, a journey that began long before it became a widespread practice. Prior to joining Beatport, for over a decade, I balanced a corporate marketing job while pursuing a DJ career on the side, all while embracing the remote work lifestyle. In this post, I’d like to share a few things that I have learned from this experience.

My work setup 2023

Finding a balance is tricky but crucial

One of the prevailing myths that continue to persist in the realm of remote work is the misconception that working from home equates to working less. Quite contrarily, the distinction between the home space and the workspace can blur significantly, leading to an increased tendency to overwork. When one’s office is just a few steps away from their living room, the boundaries between professional and personal time can become nebulous.

Many, including myself at first, end up working more. Way more. It’s tempting to check work emails anytime – morning, dinner, even bedtime! When I started, my usual 8-hour workday turned into 10 or even 12-hour stretches, solely because of constant online availability that appeared to necessitate further work engagement.

This is when I realised that I must find a work-life balance, otherwise it’s just not sustainable. Here are a few things that helped me:

• Heightened awareness: Recognising the imbalance was the first step. Just acknowledging my work habits and the impact they had on my personal life triggered a shift in behaviour.
• Distinct devices: Having separate gadgets for work and personal use was a game-changer. It drew a definitive line between my professional duties and personal time.
• Browser profiles: Even without separate devices, setting up distinct browser profiles made a significant difference. I’m using Arc browser, and I love that it allows customizing the appearance of each profile.
• Varied physical spaces: Changing my location within my home environment had a surprising impact. For instance, when focused on job-related tasks, I remained stationed at my desk. But when tapping into a more ‘creative zone’ for personal projects, relocating to the sofa with my laptop made a distinct psychological shift.
• Notification management: Being bombarded with work notifications round the clock wasn’t healthy. Unless there was an urgent matter, tweaking my device settings to limit notifications after hours became crucial. Fortunately, modern apps and systems provide the tools to manage notifications effectively.

Expanding further on these strategies, creating separate spaces and zones within one’s home for different tasks can substantially influence the mindset. Consider designating a specific area solely for work-related activities to reinforce the work environment mentally. Conversely, having a different space for personal pursuits can foster a more relaxed atmosphere conducive to creativity and leisure. For example, for this reason, I intentionally avoid working with my laptop in bed, as I aim to preserve this space solely for rest, both physically and mentally.

Ultimately, these adjustments aren’t just about physically segregating spaces or devices; they are about cultivating a mental distinction between work responsibilities and personal life, nurturing a healthier and more sustainable work-life balance.

Remote work is not an office work-from-home

The transition to remote work during the pandemic in 2020 was a significant shift for many companies, revealing that it wasn’t just about relocating work from office desks to home laptops. The traditional corporate structure heavily reliant on in-person meetings and constant supervision faced challenges in this new remote landscape.

For example, the tendency of some corporate environments to schedule meetings back-to-back persisted in the virtual world through platforms like Zoom. However, this simulation of the office environment didn’t quite translate effectively. The crux lies in understanding that remote work and bringing the office home aren’t synonymous; they operate on fundamentally different principles.

Remote work thrives on asynchronous communication, which means less reliance on instant, real-time in-person conversations and more emphasis on methods like emails, project management tools, and shared documents. This is why I love emails and I prefer to sync everything to the cloud. Unlike the office setting, there might be fewer instances of constant managerial oversight, fostering a culture of personal accountability and autonomy among employees.

I think remote work also requires a shift from a ‘time spent working’ mindset to a ‘results-oriented’ approach. In an office environment, the focus might be on the number of hours spent at the desk. However, in remote setups, the emphasis shifts to the quality of work delivered, enabling people to take ownership of their work, manage their time more effectively and focus on productivity over mere presence, something that I certainly noticed in me over the years.

Home distractions are real

Working remotely sometimes feels like a blessing as it allows me to spend more time with family, but it’s not without the distractions of a comfortable home environment. As a working-from-home parent, managing kids’ interruptions is certainly a familiar challenge! Proximity to the kitchen and things like YouTube in the next browser tab can hamper focus too.

I tried a few productivity techniques, from the Pomodoro technique to time-blocking (which didn’t work for me), and eventually, a simple to-do list turned one to be the most effective for me. I use Things 3 as my main task manager app, which helps streamline tasks, prioritise activities, and maintain focus by providing a clear roadmap for the day. Even when distractions occur, which sometimes inevitably happen, the task manager and the system I’ve built around it allow me to stay on top of things.

All in all, I think remote work is truly a lifestyle and a mindset. It’s important to acknowledge that it may not suit everyone, and that’s perfectly fine. Much like I can hardly imagine returning to a daily office routine after a decade of autonomy, I understand that for some individuals, the notion of spending days at home might seem daunting. Our preferences and comfort zones vary, so I encourage everyone to discover what truly works best for them.

If you have any questions about staying productive (and keeping your sanity, haha) or anything related to remote work, let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.

In today’s world of quick messages and social media, emails often get overlooked and might seem old-fashioned. But for me, email is special.

Email is not just another app or specific platform. It’s a universal method of communication across the Internet and it can work in any mailing app, like RSS works in any reader app or like websites work in any browser. For that reason alone, email is still around several decades later since its invention, and likely will be around for as long as the Internet exists.

What sets emails apart is the sanctuary they provide – no ‘seen’ status looming over your shoulder, no pressure to reply immediately. Instead, you have the power to read and respond thoughtfully, at your own pace. The ability to flag, mark, and categorise emails grants extra control and organisation, which I appreciate too. And you can revisit email threads even years later, something that is barely possible with group chat conversations.

Sure, sometimes it’s handier to chat via a messenger app or share voice memos, a practice I do a lot with my family and close friends. The only messenger app I quite like is Telegram. It has no intrusive ads, it doesn’t sell user data, and it’s all-around convenient, making WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and even iCloud Messages look pretty shoddy in comparison. Yet, even with its perks, Telegram locks users within its own system, unlike email, which is a universal protocol compatible with Gmail, Yahoo, Hey, Superhuman, or any other email services and platforms.

I’ve noticed that when I write an email, I strive for clear, structured writing. Such asynchronous communication naturally helps me to convey my thoughts while paying attention to formatting, grammar, and other details, it’s as if the ‘send’ button almost creates friction, prompting a second thought before clicking it. And clear, structured writing leads to clear, structured thinking – a valuable skill worth developing.

After splitting my website to create more room for my personal space online, I’ve set up a couple of new social accounts using my real name. I’d appreciate a follow to expand our networking opportunities!

• Telegram channel (hands down the best place to follow my updates and discuss things in the comments)
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram

As I dive into different roles, both within and beyond the music scene, I’ve decided to split my website into two separate entities:

• dsokolovskiy.com now covers everything about my persona — music, education, blog;
• daniellesden.com is dedicated exclusively to my music alter ego, where you’ll find my tunes, gigs, podcast, and more.

Don’t worry; I’ll still be posting everything here on this blog, same as always. If you stumble upon any broken links due to these changes, just give me a heads-up. I hope you like the new look of my websites!

I had the privilege of giving a short interview from the label manager’s perspective to LabelRadar, a platform for streamlining demo submissions.

I like this question:

Question: How important is an artist’s image and branding in today’s music industry?

Daniel: I wish it’d be otherwise, but branding is important. Social media are still king, even though it pains me to say that. Establishing a good online presence and building a strong fanbase is equally, if not even more important than making good music in the first place. Modern technologies lowered the entry barriers so everyone can be a music producer or a DJ now, but at the same time it created a lot of “noise” and one has to break through in order to stand out. And sometimes, music alone is not enough for that.

Read the full interview on the LabelRadar’s blog:
blog.labelradar.com/interview-daniel-sokolovskiy-joof-recordings

As you probably know, I now work as a music curator at Beatport and am responsible for three trance genres: Psy-Trance, Trance (Main Floor) and the recently added Trance (Raw / Deep / Hypnotic).

Since arguing about genres can be endless, I’ve created audio example playlists of how I define them. This comes in handy when working with colleagues, distributors, artists and labels, but can also be interesting for general listening and broadening your perspective.

I’ve collected links to such playlists for each sub-genre below. I wonder if there’s anything you think doesn’t fit the classifications? Is there anything you’ve discovered that is new to you? What is your favourite genre or subgenre?

Personally, I’m amazed once again at how diverse trance music is (and it’s just crazy that before I joined the company all these subgenres didn’t exist and everything was mixed in one pile).

Trance (Raw / Deep / Hypnotic): Raw Trance, Deep Trance, Hypnotic Trance

Trance (Main Floor):, Trance, Uplifting Trance, Tech Trance, Vocal Trance, Hard Trance, Progressive Trance

Psy-Trance: Psy-Trance, Progressive Psy, Psychedelic, Goa Trance, Dark & Forest, Full-On, Psycore & Hi-Tech

Following the launch of the new Trance genre on Beatport, I have written up a behind-the-scenes look into the definition of these Raw, Deep, and Hypnotic trance sub-genres. A massive thanks to the team and artists for their contribution and for making this article happen.

Read the full article at beatportal.com.

In March 2023, I acquired a Global Talent visa and relocated to the UK. Interestingly, this visa type isn’t widely known, so I’d like to shed light on it and share my personal experience. If you’ve been contemplating immigration, this article might offer valuable insights.

The Bank district in London

Overview

The Global Talent visa is designed for individuals within the realms of science, art, culture, and digital technology.

gov.uk/global-talent

The visa grants permission for legal residency and work in the UK for up to five years, with the option to extend, apply for permanent residency, and later, citizenship. It also permits bringing along your partner and children.

Self-processing the visa can cost approximately £3000 per individual. I went through this process independently and will elaborate on the breakdown below.

Upon completion, you receive a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card. This internal document enables activities like opening a bank account or obtaining a tax identification number.

The process took me five months, from discovering this visa type to gathering documents and acquiring the BRP. I’ll outline a detailed timeline below.

Differences from a standard Work Visa

When considering a work permit in another country, the typical option that comes to mind is a work visa. In the UK, this is termed the Skilled Worker visa.

gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

In theory, obtaining a Skilled Worker visa is easier because most of the bureaucracy rests on the employer. You can apply for a job from abroad, undergo an interview, and secure an invitation to work, along with your relocation to the UK.

However, there are nuances:

• Not every company or profession qualifies for this visa. The government website maintains a register of approved companies and a list of professions; if yours isn’t listed, you’re out of luck.
• Even if a company is on the approved register, they might not be interested in hiring a foreign worker like you. Various reasons exist for this, ranging from increased costs in hiring non-local specialists to internal restrictions. I encountered this scenario personally. Despite 12 years of experience and a stellar reputation with the company, I couldn’t secure a position in their UK office due to internal regulations. This situation led me to explore other options, and fortunately, I discovered the Global Talent visa.
• The Skilled Worker visa ties you to an employer. Switching jobs means leaving the UK and starting anew. If your company struggles and you’re laid off, you’re also required to leave. Overall, this visa provides limited or no social security, a major drawback for me as a family person.
• You must undergo an English test, provide income proof, and maintain a minimum amount of money in your account for the Skilled Worker visa.

In contrast, the Global Talent visa requires proof of your talent but offers extensive flexibility. You can opt to work or not, switch jobs without constraints, freelance, or establish your own business – all without the requirement to demonstrate proficiency in English or meet specific income criteria.

As far as I know, the Global Talent visa has only two restrictions: you cannot work as a doctor or a professional sportsman, and you cannot claim public funds, such as benefits or pensions. Apart from these limitations, you have the freedom to live and work as you prefer on this visa.

Preparation and categories

When you peruse the general descriptions and prerequisites for this visa, you’ll come across terms like “exceptional talent” and “acknowledged leader.” Somewhere in the mix, there’s a mention of “If you have Oscars or Grammy awards, click here.” Initially, it might seem a bit daunting. You might think, “Well, that’s a bit extreme! I don’t have any of that. Looks like this visa isn’t for me.”

The key to getting ready mentally is not to feel intimidated or misled. You don’t need to be a global star. Any level of success in your field might just be enough. From my experience, this visa isn’t primarily about inherent talent; it’s more about your willingness, determination, and your ability to meet the criteria.

From my experience, this visa isn’t primarily about inherent talent; it’s more about your willingness, determination, and your ability to meet the criteria

The Global Talent visa comes in two categories: Exceptional Promise (for those who show promise) and Exceptional Talent (for recognised leaders).

The key difference between these categories is that achieving indefinite leave to remain takes at least 5 years under Exceptional Promise, while Exceptional Talent requires only 3 years. Clearly, Exceptional Talent is the preferred choice.

The decision of which category to apply for is yours to make. However, it’s crucial to note that if you apply for Exceptional Talent and fall short of the recognised leader criteria, you may still qualify for Exceptional Promise. On the other hand, applying for Exceptional Promise might restrict your eligibility only to that category. So, my advice is to always opt for Exceptional Talent, even if you’re uncertain about meeting all the stringent requirements.

Stages and costs

The visa process globally comprises two primary stages referred to as Stage 1 and Stage 2 in official documentation.

Stage 1 involves obtaining approval from a cultural institution. Normally, immigration officials, who typically deal with formalities like border crossings, income, employment, and criminal records, might not possess the expertise to determine your talent in the cultural or scientific field. Therefore, they redirect you to the relevant organisations that are better equipped to assess your credentials.

The cultural institution you approach for approval depends on your area of work. This step, known as endorsement, is the most critical and often the most challenging.

The visa fee totals £623, divided into two components: £456 for the endorsement application and £167 for the visa application. For Stage 1, you’ll need to pay the initial £456 online from anywhere globally. Unfortunately, if your endorsement isn’t approved, the payment is non-refundable. You can reapply by paying the same amount again.

Stage 2 involves applying at the visa application centre once you secure the endorsement. This necessitates physically submitting the required documents to the specified address. If it’s your first time obtaining the visa rather than renewing an existing one, you must apply outside the UK. This phase is primarily a formality, and it’s almost certain that your visa will be granted.

According to regulations, you’re eligible to apply from any country where you have permission to stay for a minimum of 6 months. However, there are cases of successful applications from countries where legal residence is less than this duration. If this detail is crucial for you, I suggest delving deeper into this aspect. I haven’t encountered this situation personally as I applied from Israel.

During this phase, you’ll need to settle the remaining £167 for the visa and, notably, £624 for health insurance (Immigration Health Surcharge) per year per individual, which can be quite a hefty sum. For children under 18, the amount is slightly reduced to £470 annually. Additionally, there’s an additional £55 fee for the visa centre.

Total cost:

You’re not obliged to apply for the full visa period in a single application. You have the flexibility to select a duration between 1 to 5 years. For instance, if the immediate payment for insurance is challenging, opting for a shorter term is feasible. Yet, it’s worth noting that extending the visa later will incur an additional £623 fee. Hence, making a one-time payment for the entire term is the most cost-effective option.

Here’s an overview of the process and its associated costs. Now, let’s delve into the specifics.

Choosing the field of work

Before diving into document collection, it’s crucial to decide on the specific field you’ll be applying under. As mentioned earlier, various endorsing organisations correspond to distinct fields, each with its unique application requisites and nuances.

Here are the available options:

I applied under the following category: Arts and Culture → Combined Arts, Dance, Literature, Music, Theatre, or Visual Arts → Music → Performing DJ, Music Producer, Curator, Events Promoter.

The endorsing body for my field is Arts Council England. It’s important to note that all my experiences pertain specifically to this organisation, considering my application falls under this category. If you’re applying in another field, ensure you thoroughly research their individual requirements.

A full list of requirements as well as the specific disciplines in which to apply in arts and culture is available in the official guide from Arts Council England. Be sure to download and study this document carefully.

A list of eligible disciplines in the field of music. Screenshot from Arts Council England guidelines

Stage 1: Endorsement

To apply for endorsement, you need to provide 13 documents :

3 letters of support from organisations with international professional recognition with whom you have previously worked.

The letters should describe how you met, the things you have done together, your achievements and how they think you can enrich the cultural life of the UK. The latter is particularly important: not what the UK is good for you, but what you can do for it. It is very important here to outline what specific plans you have for the country in the short term.

The first letter must be from a UK organisation. The second letter can be from any international organisation. The third letter can be from either an organisation or an individual who is also a well-respected expert in your field.

Each letter should contain the company’s logo, full legal address, date, signature, and a brief company profile or author’s biography to ensure clear identification. Only senior executives may sign these letters.

Pro Tip: Provide a draft when requesting recommendations, making it easier for them to adjust details and sign off, significantly enhancing your chances of securing it.

10 supporting evidence of your professional activities. These should fall into at least two of the following categories:

• Media recognition: independent reviews, critiques, or evaluations of your work via articles on websites or magazines. While interviews are acceptable, they are less desirable.
• International awards: any awards or nominations that highlight your work’s quality.
• Proof of appearance: any professional activities relevant to your application.

There should be at least two media coverage. Other than that, it is up to you to decide on the proportion of these documents, as long as they do not exceed ten in total. For example, you could have three media recognitions, five awards and two appearances. Or whatever else you like.

Each document should focus on one event or article and not exceed two A4 pages. Roughly speaking, you cannot name a document “All my performances abroad” and fit all your tours into it.

Two important points to note:

• All evidence must be no more than five years old. Showing an award you received six years ago, unfortunately, is not possible.
• You can’t use blogs or social media. If the poster of your most important performance is only posted on Facebook, it won’t count as evidence, sadly. Only websites or magazines.

Be prepared for those handling endorsements to Google your name. Ensure that your online presence displays relevant and reputable content. This holds true for the companies providing recommendation letters.

There are no special rules about the layout of the documents – do as you like. There is only one requirement, though: if you show a screenshot of the website as evidence, save the page through the print version so that the date and the link to the source are automatically inserted in the footers.

I can show you one of my evidence as an example, as there’s no confidentiality concern:

An example of my document from the proof of appearances category. The page on the right is a screenshot from the website. Note the headers and footers: they are a must

Please note, the document showcases my stage name, Daniel Lesden, rather than my real name. This is fine: during the application, you can present various versions of your first name (including transliteration, maiden name, etc.) alongside your stage name.

You might wonder, ‘What if I lack an award, media mention, or any other necessary document?’ This, indeed, constitutes the primary challenge of the visa! Remember the emphasis on determination I highlighted earlier? Write, search, network, inquire. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but I firmly believe that any hurdle can be overcome.

Once all the documents are gathered, you can proceed to apply for endorsement through the Global Talent Endorsement page. You’ll be required to complete a comprehensive application form and pay the initial portion of the visa fee. Once you’ve gone through these steps, you’ll receive a crucial precious address to which you must submit all the documents. Attachments should not exceed a total size of 25 MB.

Here’s the composition of the final list of 13 documents I submitted to Arts Council England:

• Evidence 1. Media recognition
• Evidence 2. Media recognition
• Evidence 3. Media recognition
• Evidence 4. International award
• Evidence 5. Proof of appearances
• Evidence 6. Proof of appearances
• Evidence 7. Proof of appearances
• Evidence 8. Proof of appearances
• Evidence 9. Proof of appearances
• Evidence 10. Proof of appearances
• Letter 1 (UK)
• Letter 2 (USA)
• Letter 3 (UK)

The entire process of understanding the requirements and gathering documents took me a little over a month. I imagine this timeline can differ significantly for each individual: the more tangible accomplishments you have, the smoother the document preparation, and conversely.

After dispatching the documents, all that remains is to wait. Speaking from experience, it’s quite an emotionally charged period.

I got a decision after three weeks:

“Letter of happiness” indicating the endorsement. The spelling has been preserved. The main body of the message is highlighted in yellow

From this point, the clock starts ticking: the endorsement remains valid for 3 months. If you don’t proceed with the second stage within this timeframe, the endorsement will expire, requiring you to begin the process again.

Step 2: visa application centre

If you were in the UK as a tourist during your stage 1 application, as I was while in London, you’ll need to depart the country. The second stage must be applied from outside the UK.

During this stage, you aim to secure an appointment at the visa application centre. At the appointed time, you’ll submit your documents there. Similar to the prior step, you’ll need to complete an extensive application form and make the insurance payment at the end.

Following the payment, you’ll have the chance to schedule an appointment on the visa application centre’s website. At this point, there are two entry methods: self-service and assisted service. The distinction lies in self-service, where you independently upload your documents online, while assisted service involves bringing copies of your documents to the visa centre for scanning and online uploading. I opted for the first option as it appeared more convenient for me.

Here are the documents I uploaded online:

• Scans of all the passports I listed on the application form
• Endorsement email

It’s important to note that, in addition to these documents, a tuberculosis certificate is required, and this can be a bit tricky. The test is mandatory for those who have in these countries resided in specific countries within the last six months, including Russia but excluding Israel. The test must be conducted at UK-approved certified clinics. When I scheduled my appointment at the visa centre, there were no such clinics in Israel, as residents there aren’t typically required to undergo this test. This presented a challenge as I couldn’t physically take the test there.

I must highlight that this was a point of contention; they were not pleased with this situation, and I was instructed to send them the certificate anyway. Interestingly, around the same time, the UK website suddenly listed Israel as one of the certified clinics! Regardless, I eventually managed to obtain the required test, and fortunately, everything was alright. Nevertheless, it was a stressful experience, so I strongly advise taking care of the certificate beforehand, ensuring it’s completed wherever it’s feasible.

After your appointment, you’ll receive a checklist outlining the required documents for your appointment. However, there might be a section that might initially give you a scare:

“Visit information, savings, real estate”.... er, what? Aparentely, this is a part of a general checklist applicable to various visa types, including regular tourist visas, and doesn’t pertain to the specifics of the Global Talent visa. Phew!

In the end, I only needed the first sheet of the printed application form and my passport at the reception at the visa centre.

Bear in mind that your passport will be taken from you while you wait for your visa, which can take up to 8 weeks. If you want to keep your passport with you, you can use the Keep My Passport service for a fee. This service costs an additional £55 and is only available online, before your visit. This service is not available at some visa centres.

Then the procedure is the following: your passport is sent to the Decision Making Centre, a vignette is stamped in it, then they return your passport, and then you can fly to the UK with it.

Exactly 15 days after the visit, I received this email from the Decision Centre:

This email might appear alarming, particularly with phrases like “unfortunately” and “120 working days.” However, it’s a standard automated email expressing regret for not meeting the ideal 15-day processing time. So, if you receive this email, don’t panic – it’s a routine message.

My passport was returned after 8 weeks and 5 days, delivered by a DHL courier.

Tel Aviv visa centre building

By now, your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) should be awaiting collection at the designated post office in the UK, as indicated on your application form.

This marks the start of your life as a resident in the UK, with new challenges like finding a place to stay and setting up a bank account ahead of you. It’s a whole new adventure!

Timeline

Here’s the final timeline in my case:

Family

As previously mentioned, the Global Talent visa also allows you to bring your partner and children:

• Spouse or civil partner
• Unmarried partner
• Children under 18

They hold a special status as ‘dependants,’ meaning they rely on and are linked to your visa. If you choose not to renew your visa or leave the UK, they must also depart. However, they are permitted to legally live and work throughout the visa’s duration, similar to the main talent visa holder.

Dependants do not require endorsement, yet they are responsible for the full visa and insurance costs—matching the main talent visa expenses: £623 for the visa and £624 per year for insurance. For children under 18, insurance costs slightly less at £470 annually.

Interestingly, dependants can apply without waiting for the main talent visa’s approval. Although it may seem illogical, there’s no explicit rule preventing dependant applications before the main visa decision is made.

Indefinite leave to remain

The visa marks the start of the journey, not the destination. I’ve delved into what comes next, but it’s all theoretical, so it’s best taken with a pinch of salt.

After spending a few years on your visa, you might qualify to apply for permanent residence, known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). ILR allows you to live in the UK without time restrictions and access social security benefits.

gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain

For Exceptional Promise category holders, the minimum qualifying time for ILR is five years, while for Exceptional Talent, it’s three years. However, this differs for dependants. They can only apply for ILR after five years, even if the main talent qualifies for Exceptional Talent and could apply after three years.

ILR requirements for Global Talent visa holders. The main point is highlighted in the yellow box

This rule seemed puzzling to me and doesn’t quite add up. In essence, it means that regardless of the Global Talent visa category, your dependents will end up paying for the full five years of insurance.

To secure ILR, it’s necessary to demonstrate income derived from the professional field related to your visa. I’m still in the process of figuring out the exact income requirements, but it seems employment documents, receipts, and three months’ worth of bank statements are considered suitable evidence.

Additionally, meeting the ILR criteria involves spending no more than 180 days outside the country per year and passing language and UK life tests.

Unlike the visa, a permanent residence permit doesn’t have an expiration, but staying outside the UK for over two years can lead to its revocation.

The application cost for ILR stands at £2404.

Citizenship

The final milestone of this journey is citizenship. Eligibility for citizenship comes after residing in the UK for five years, including at least one year with ILR. It’s important to note that the actual time spent in the country matters, excluding time spent abroad.

gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain

Upon completion, you’ll receive a blue passport adorned with the royal crest. This passport functions as both an internal BRP replacement document and an external travel document for international trips.

The UK allows dual citizenship, but the rules concerning three citizenships and any potential implications remain unclear to me.

Applying for citizenship costs £1330 for adults and £1012 for children. Additionally, if a child is born in the UK while both parents already hold indefinite leave to remain, they automatically gain citizenship.

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I hope this post helps anyone going through the Global Talent application process. Thanks for giving it a read!

If you’ve got any questions while dealing with your Global Talent application, just drop them in the comments. I’ll try my best to help out.

I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported me during this challenging period – it was undeniably the toughest time in my life, and your support meant everything.

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Please note: I’ve been receiving numerous emails with questions, but I want to clarify that I’m neither a lawyer nor an expert on this visa. This article shares my personal experience in obtaining it, so I can’t predict the success of your case. Unfortunately, I can’t share any other documents beyond what’s discussed in this article. If you have questions, please post them in the comments below, where others might also contribute helpful answers.

Best of luck!