With over a decade of experience in digital product design — spanning UX, UI, and design research — Alexander Katin has built a career at the intersection of creativity and technology. Working in a startup that created tools for designers on the global market, he realised he wanted to pursue an international career. Later, he came to see the Global Talent Visa as the best way to gain stability and independence while continuing to grow professionally.
In this interview, Alexander reflects on the challenges of the application process, the lessons he learned along the way, and how life and work have evolved since making the move to London
I’ve worked in digital product design for nearly 11 years. In 2017, I joined a startup building tools for designers worldwide and discovered how much I enjoy collaborating with international teams. After leaving in 2018, I interviewed with Facebook in London and Intercom in Dublin but was rejected, so I paused the idea of working abroad. I then joined Avito, where I spent three rewarding years, moving between teams, growing professionally, and organising design meetups — an experience I truly valued.
Since 2020, I’ve interviewed widely — about 70–80 roles at different stages. With guidance from a career consultant who supported both job search and relocation, I secured three offers in early 2021: a London logistics startup backed by strong investors including Jeff Bezos’s fund, a similar company in Berlin, and an energy firm in Oslo. I chose London for its scale, global companies, open culture, and English language. In January 2022, I moved on a Skilled Worker visa and began settling in.
A few months after I began working at my company, layoffs started — they had hired more people than they could sustain. Management gave us ample time to look for new roles, but I also began thinking about a more reliable long-term strategy, especially regarding visas. I wanted to feel secure without depending on employer sponsorship.
I first learned about Immigram from a LinkedIn ad in mid-August 2022, and by the end of that month, we had signed a contract. I began preparing my case with their team, but knowing the process could take time, I continued interviewing with companies willing to sponsor a Skilled Worker visa. I found a new role within five weeks, but after four months I started looking again — my manager and I didn’t align on working styles, and I failed the probation period. That was a stressful time, and I even briefly considered leaving the UK.
The Global Talent visa process took nearly nine months, ending in March 2023. It felt slow at times, with endless reviews and edits, but Immigram kept things clear — helping me structure evidence, collect recommendations, and shape the story. I added talks, projects from Avito and earlier roles, and we refined the personal statement with strong examples. The hardest part was waiting for Tech Nation’s reply, the most anxious stretch of all — but finally, I got the approval, and six weeks later, the visa itself.
Life in the UK is both comfortable and quite a challenge. Everyday routines are easy, people are polite, multiculturalism is everywhere, and government services are digitalized and reliable. In London, with so many expats, you never feel like an outsider. I’ve traveled widely, from the Scottish mountains to Cornwall beaches. And I love the contrasts: one morning, you drink artisan coffee among city skyscrapers, then hop on a train and, two hours later, enjoy a pint in a historic town while admiring the view of a 13th-century cathedral.
The rise in prices over the past two years has been felt even by well-paid IT specialists — a basic grocery basket has gone up by dozens of percent. The rental market is chaotic and unpredictable: finding decent housing in a good area is a real quest that takes effort and deep research. Add to this the inefficient NHS, visa centers that issue Schengen visas strictly for travel dates, and an unstable job market — and you get a fairly realistic picture of everyday life.
Receiving the Global Talent visa gave me, above all, a sense of security and independence: the ability not to depend on an employer, to change jobs without fear for my status, and to make long-term plans. The visa also helped me build new connections, join a community of like-minded professionals, and feel in control of my career.
For those considering applying, I’d advise treating the case as a project: set aside time, gather your achievements, and think about your future. Even if you feel you’re “not qualified enough,” remember — many who thought the same ultimately succeeded.
