We were able to move to London and settle here. That’s very important for us because before that, we were constantly moving between different countries, which was quite exhausting. Here, everything feels much more structured — there are clear rules and a path to citizenship. For our children, there’s even a possibility to get a passport in a relatively short time, which is really great.
I had a business in Russia — I was a co-founder of a company called Broniboy. We built a food delivery service, and it was growing quite well, but the business depended heavily on venture funding. When the war started in 2022, I realized there was no point in continuing. I sold my share in the company, and we started figuring out our relocation. First, we moved to Georgia, then to Turkey, and later we began working on the Global Talent visa application.
First of all, we liked that it doesn’t require you to work for a specific local company — that gives a lot of flexibility. Secondly, it’s great that you can start your own business here, which is also very useful.
I am currently a sole trader working as a product manager. My wife and I are developing our own company as well. Having the ability to register a proper legal entity and work with reliable banks is extremely valuable. And of course, the shorter path to ILR and a UK passport compared to other countries was also an important factor for us.
Yes, our child was born here in the UK. Despite some minor challenges, we had access to free childbirth through the NHS, and the quality of medical care here is really high — that was very important for us. It’s great that the visa gives access to all of this. Even though you pay certain fees, it’s definitely worth it.
I reached out to Immigram right away, before doing anything myself. They were quite well-known at the time, and it seemed like a smarter decision to work with professionals instead of figuring everything out on my own. That’s how we started working together on my application.
Right now, I’m focusing on building my career with a strong orientation toward the US market. It seems quite achievable — the language is the same, and there are clear ways to work with American clients and receive payments from the US.
The plan is to keep developing my career here in the UK but to build products and business connections aimed primarily at the American market. I’m currently involved in a startup called Ex-human. The goal is to continue growing and developing, creating products from here for the US market.
If you’re thinking about applying — just do it. I honestly don’t see any serious downsides. If you have a solid professional background, it’s a great and straightforward opportunity.
My main advice would be: don’t postpone it. The earlier you get the visa, the sooner your ILR and citizenship timelines start running. It’s much more reassuring to already be in the UK than to spend months just preparing or hesitating to apply.
