Feedback on my Global Talent Visa application under the Exceptional Promise route

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Hello everyone,

I’m preparing my Global Talent Visa application under the Exceptional Promise route (Design/UX within Digital Technology), and I’d love some feedback on whether my evidence structure is strong enough to stand a chance.

Here’s a quick background about me:

BSc in Accounting, but I transitioned into tech and have been working for the past 2 years as a Product (UI/UX) Designer.

Currently Lead UI/UX Designer at Instollar a green-tech startup building a marketplace that connects renewable energy companies with freelance green-collar workers across Africa.

I’ve also contributed to multiple community initiatives, mentored young women in tech, and supported open-source projects.

My Proposed Evidence Structure:

Mandatory Criterion (MC) – Recognition as a leading talent in digital technology

  1. Led growth of a product-led company/product/team → My role at Instollar (UX impact, design systems, product growth).

  2. Contributed to a large tech-led initiative → She Code Africa (7 months as Graphics Design Associate, promoted to Design Lead, plus community outreach + mentorship).

  3. Significant role in assessing others’ work → HNG Tech Internship (assessed, graded, gave feedback to interns’ design work).

  4. I also have a media mention an publication from a tech blog, the article was written by the blog featuring me as a leading talent in the design industry. Although the blog is a small blog

Optional Criterion 2 (OC2) – Recognition for work outside immediate occupation
5. Contributions to open source → Hacktoberfest (GitHub PRs, merged contributions).
6. Op-eds / thought leadership → Published LinkedIn + Substack articles on UX and design leadership.
7. Mentorship outside immediate occupation → She-levate program, Tech Up Girls, and Ladies in UX mentorship (bundled together).

Optional Criterion 3 (OC3) – Significant technical contributions to the field
8. Product designs & architecture diagrams (Instollar Figma files, UX flows).
9. Employer letter detailing contributions (from Instollar founder).
10. Key role in growth of a product-led digital tech company (Instollar traction/impact).
11. Led development of high-impact digital products/services (Fuse: An ERP solution for businesses to manage their operations & Tentz: an entertainment tech company providing an ecosystem for filmmakers and creators to produce, monetise, fund and distribute their films)

I also plan to attach media mentions, screenshots, LinkedIn posts, and photos at the end of each evidence document, and for She Code Africa, I’ll include a reference letter from the founder.

My question is: Does this structure look balanced/convincing enough, or am I spreading myself too thin across community contributions and product work? Should I narrow it down further or keep it this way for variety?

Thanks so much in advance for your feedback.

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For op-eds/thought leadership, linkedin or medium or even Substack articles don’t count as an evidence. You need articles that you publish on tech media organisation with a rigorous editorial process.

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I can see several areas that require immediate attention to strengthen your chances. Your LinkedIn and Substack articles won’t count as thought leadership evidence. You need publication in established tech media organizations with rigorous editorial processes. The small tech blog mention you have is also insufficient unless it can demonstrate significant reach and engagement metrics. Consider pitching articles to publications like CSS-Tricks, Smashing Magazine, or established Medium publications with large followings.

Your mentorship activities need to be repositioned as structured programs with clear selection criteria. The assessors specifically look for evidence that mentees were selected through a formal process and that the mentorship was primarily in-person. Your She Code Africa role is strong, but you must emphasize the structured nature of the program and include concrete metrics about mentee outcomes. I’ve seen applications succeed when mentorship evidence included photos from in-person sessions and detailed program documentation.

Your open source contributions through Hacktoberfest alone are too weak for OC2. These seasonal contributions don’t demonstrate the consistent track record assessors expect. Instead, focus on your UX work at Instollar and community building as your strongest evidence. The $100k investment story needs to clearly articulate your individual innovation rather than team achievement. I’ve guided designers who successfully repositioned similar collaborative work by explaining the specific design decisions and methodologies they pioneered.

Your application structure spreads across too many weak areas instead of building compelling narratives around your strongest achievements. Focus on 2-3 excellent pieces of evidence per criterion rather than trying to cover every possible angle. Quality and depth always outperform volume in Global Talent applications.

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Thank you for your response. I’m trying to gather my strongest evidence with the plan of applying this year. I will share the list once I’m done for your review. Thank you :pray:t4: