Global Talent Visa Application - Request for Profile Review - Data Protection and Compliance

Hello everyone,

I have been lurking in this forum for a while trying to absorb as much information as I can. Massive thanks to everyone who put in the time and effort in reviewing people’s applications. I am now ready to take the next steps in applying for the visa, and would appreciate if you could help review my application. Apologies as it is a bit long, but here goes:

Background

I am a foreign qualified lawyer in the Philippines with 9/10 years post-qualification experience. I hold law degrees in top universities in the Philippines and Australia (H1), and Oxbridge MBA (Distinction). I recently passed the Solicitor Qualifying Examinations and will take my oath as a solicitor in England and Wales soon.

My application is anchored on my specialisation in data privacy, at the intersection of open finance, digital banking and fintech. My experience is as follows: 5 years in a big law firm in the Philippines where I started dealing with technology law matters, then as in-house legal counsel and with a leadership position in a digital retail bank entity of a European bank (Company A), the legal director (regional head) and data privacy officer of a Southeast Asian open finance fintech company with presence in Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam (Company B). I moved to the UK in 2022 to pursue my MBA and post-MBA currently as a data protection and compliance manager in a growth stage B2B fintech (Company C).

Data protection is a technical role and is increasingly becoming important with the UK being out of the EU and yet committing to comply with the GDPR + ICO decisions that are emphasising the importance of implementing the proper data protection controls.

Recommendation Letters

  • CEO of Company A - 2020-21 - He is well regarded in the banking and finance field in the Philippines, as a three-time CEO/Country Manager. Alternatively this could be Legal Head of Company A before she left, still in the banking and fintech industry as legal head and well-regarded nationally.
  • CEO of Company B - 2022-23 - My former direct boss. He will attest that I pioneered the legal and data protection practice in open finance in the Philippines and SEA, having held direct discussions with regulators and investors. I authored an industry paper that was signed by CEO of open finance companies in the Philippines. Obtained first fintech licenes in Indonesia. Put together first Open Finance Committee in local industry group. Requested participation in regulatory sandbox. Led Series B investment, which included Visa and MC
  • General Counsel of Company C - 2023-present - He will vouch for my role as a data protection expert in the company for both the legal (negotiation of data protection aspects of all client and supplier contracts) and technical (design of the products) aspects of the company’s offerings

MC

Document 1: Received nationally/internationally recognised awards

  • In 2024, recognised as a Fellow of Information Privacy - recognition given by the internationally recognised industry body, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, "to individuals who exhibit advanced knowledge of privacy and data protection topics”, and a “credential that allows leaders in the privacy field to demonstrate their experience and knowledge”
  • In 2022, recognised as a Data Protection Officer of the Year finalist by the Philippine national privacy regulator - 5 out of x number of entries submitted in the country
  • In 2020, 2-person legal team won Banking and Financial Services team of the year for Company 1
  • In 2019 won first place in an essay by the Philippine competition authority for essay on disruptive tech startups and privacy as a competitive differentiator

Document 2: Commanded high salary or remuneration

  • Company 3 copies of payslips with salary 50% to 100% of national average, employment contract excerpts, ownership of shares, 10% salary increase
  • Company 2 - press release on onboarding as senior industry talent, payslips and employment contract excerpts

Document 3: Spoke at high profile digital technology events / Held significant expert role pane participation or assessing work of others

  • 2022 TV interview re: importance of cybersecurity - 6.8k views
  • 2022 Cited in newspaper articles as industry expert

Document 4: Published material in professional or major trade publications

  • Not in professional or major trade publications, but in peer-reviewed journals - have around 9 articles (mostly 2018-2021), one of which has been cited by other top journals on blockchain, another is on ‘notice and consent’ mechanism in data privacy

OC2

Document 5: Talks or conference speaking with significant viewership

  • 2022 2 webinars, one with 20k views on fortifying national cybersecurity defence. I was the lead speaker alongside the privacy commissioner.

Document 6: Evidence of mentorship or thought leadership outside immediate occupation

  • 2017 - 2022 Worked part-time as professional lecturer for 5 years, pioneered and created Digital Law subject which primarily focused on the intersection of privacy and technology law issues. Promoted 5 levels.
  • Mentored undergraduate level students’ thesis/research on privacy and technology
  • Outstanding faculty rating (2 certificates)
  • Supported by letter of recommendation by professor (head of law department)
  • 2024 Article featuring the subject that I created, link to an Australian government website that funded the scholarship for my law degree in Australia

Document 7: Evidence of mentorship or thought leadership outside immediate occupation

  • Convenor for Technology community of practice for Australia alumni in the Philippines
  • Head of Legal and Regulatory Committee of banking industry group
  • Head of Open Finance Committee of fintech group
  • Industry paper I authored for the industry and signed by open finance CEOs
  • Note: The above would be referenced by Legal Head/CEO of Company A + CEO of Company B in his LoR

OC3

Document 8: Led development of high-impact digital product or services / Letter from Employer detailing contributions - Focus on contribution on horizon scanning and assessment of business readiness in countries where clients are based for Company C

  • 2024 - Horizon scanning of all relevant regulations in banking and privacy for 50 countries where company C operates
  • 2024 - Application of recent EU regulations (including AI law, Data Governance Act, DORA, etc.)
  • Supported by letter of recommendation by direct manager

Document 9: Product designs or architecture diagram / Letter from Employer detailing contributions - Focus on product design input and privacy policies made for Company C

  • 2024 - My input on data privacy aspects of Company C products for various projects
  • Supported by same letter of recommendation by direct manager in Document 8 or by previous manager

Document 10: Product designs or architecture diagram / Letter from Employer detailing contributions - Focus on Company A and B

  • CEO of Company B will provide separate letter detailing my contributions to the company and industry. My sense is that I will provide a specific work sample to support this, such as the industry paper and essentially all company policies on data privacy. Alternatively, I can get the COO of Company B to recommend me hopefully.
  • CEO or Legal Head of Company A detailing my contributions to the company and industry

Some additional questions:

  • Is it ok that I do not include my employment contract / payslips from my time in Company A?
  • Is it ok to leave the letters of recommendation undated (but still appropriately addressed to Tech Nation)?
  • Is it ok that I do not really provide anything work output-related under MC? I’ve put them all under OC3
  • I am not sure if item 4 would fit the criteria considering it’s not a professional or major trade publication. I was hoping to make an analogy here as to why it’s similar + evidence of recognition as leading talent
  • Is it acceptable for CEO of Company B to provide two letters? One for the required letters of recommendation and another for Document 10. They will provide different content.
  • I initially considered applying for OC4 in lieu of OC2. However, my concern is that they’re not PhD level, and I received feedback from a GTV holder that only PhD graduates are best suited for OC4. If I proceeded with OC4, I would dispense with Documents 5 to 7 under OC2, and use them under MC instead. I feel like I could not let OC3 go as they provide the most recent work that I did. Would you suggest I let go of OC4 and go with OC2 instead? My OC4 documentation would have been the following:

(1) Significant published paper - Now Document 4 under MC.

(2) Presentations at peer-reviewed conferences - They are from 2018-2019 so might not be that recent/relevant. They are also mostly academic conferences.

(3) Award for outstanding applied work and academic achievement - I have received H1 in my LLM, Distinction in MBA, and top quintile in the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. However, not sure what “applied work” means - I may be able to provide samples of my consulting projects for real-life clients during my MBA supported by a faculty member’s LoR?

  • Do I mention my forthcoming qualification as a solicitor? I received top quintile marks for the qualifying examinations with the lowest passing rate so far in its history (44%).
  • Do you think my narrative around data protection and technology makes sense? At some point my work as a lawyer and data protection SME converges, but I would rather ensure my data protection expertise stick out as it impacts on my salary rankings, etc. and obviously I don’t have many years of experience as a lawyer in the UK (although I would say I am well-established as a banking and fintech lawyer in SEA).

Thank you very much for going through the entire thing, and appreciate your thoughts and input.

1. Is it okay that I do not include my employment contract/payslips from my time in Company A?

Yes, it is acceptable if you do not include employment contracts or payslips from Company A, especially if you have sufficient evidence from your more recent positions at Companies B and C. The Global Talent Visa application requires you to demonstrate that you have been compensated at a high level, but it does not mandate evidence from every employer you’ve had. Including strong evidence from your recent roles should suffice, as it reflects your current standing and remuneration in the industry.

2. Is it okay to leave the letters of recommendation undated (but still appropriately addressed to Tech Nation)?

It is generally advisable to include dates on your letters of recommendation. Dated letters help establish the timeliness and relevance of the recommendations, showing that your referees are endorsing your current capabilities and contributions. Undated letters might raise questions about their recency. Therefore, ensure all your recommendation letters are dated and properly addressed to the relevant endorsement body.

3. Is it okay that I do not really provide anything work output-related under the Mandatory Criteria? I’ve put them all under Optional Criteria 3.

Yes, that’s acceptable. The Mandatory Criteria require you to demonstrate that you are recognized as a leader in your field. This recognition can come from awards, high remuneration, significant contributions to the industry, or thought leadership activities. If your work outputs are better suited to support Optional Criteria 3, and you have strong evidence for the Mandatory Criteria through other means (like awards and recognition), then your approach is appropriate. Just ensure that the evidence you provide under the Mandatory Criteria clearly demonstrates your leadership and recognition in the field.

4. I am not sure if item 4 would fit the criteria considering it’s not a professional or major trade publication. I was hoping to make an analogy here as to why it’s similar, plus evidence of recognition as leading talent.

Your peer-reviewed journal articles can be a strong piece of evidence, even if they are not in professional or major trade publications. Peer-reviewed journals are reputable platforms that indicate scholarly contribution and recognition by academic peers. You can strengthen your case by highlighting:

  • The impact of your articles (e.g., citation counts, references in other significant works).
  • The relevance of the journals in your field.
  • How your publications have influenced industry practices or thought leadership.

Drawing analogies to professional publications by emphasizing the peer-review process and academic rigor can help position your work as significant contributions to the field.

5. Is it acceptable for the CEO of Company B to provide two letters? One for the required letters of recommendation and another for Document 10. They will provide different content.

Yes, it is acceptable for the CEO of Company B to provide both a recommendation letter and a separate supporting document. The key is that each letter serves a distinct purpose:

  • The recommendation letter should focus on endorsing your overall capabilities, achievements, and why you are considered a leader or potential leader in your field.
  • The supporting letter (Document 10) should provide specific details about your contributions to the company’s products, services, or innovations, directly addressing the criteria you’re aiming to meet.

Ensure that the content in each letter is unique and tailored to its purpose to avoid redundancy.

6. Should I proceed with Optional Criteria 2 instead of Optional Criteria 4?

Given your strong evidence under Optional Criteria 2 (mentorship and thought leadership) and the feedback you’ve received, it may be more strategic to proceed with OC2. Optional Criteria 4 often suits individuals with significant academic and research contributions, typically at a PhD level or equivalent. Since your most compelling evidence aligns with mentorship, industry contributions, and thought leadership activities, focusing on OC2 allows you to present the strongest possible case.

Your publications and academic achievements can still bolster your application under the Mandatory Criteria or as supporting evidence elsewhere. Reallocating Documents 5 to 7 under OC2 ensures that you meet the criteria with the most robust evidence you have.

7. Do I mention my forthcoming qualification as a solicitor? I received top quintile marks for the qualifying examinations with the lowest passing rate so far in its history (44%).

Absolutely, you should mention your forthcoming qualification as a solicitor and your outstanding exam performance. This achievement demonstrates your commitment to professional development and excellence in your field. Highlighting that you were in the top quintile during a particularly challenging exam period underscores your expertise and dedication. This information can strengthen your application by showcasing your credentials and recognition within the legal profession.

8. Do you think my narrative around data protection and technology makes sense?

Yes, your narrative focusing on data protection and technology is coherent and compelling. Data protection is a critical and highly specialized area within the tech industry, especially with evolving regulations like GDPR and the UK’s data protection laws. By emphasizing your expertise at the intersection of law, technology, and data privacy, you position yourself as a valuable asset to the UK tech sector.

Your international experience in Southeast Asia, combined with your UK qualifications and current role, highlights both your global perspective and adaptability. It’s wise to showcase how your legal background complements your data protection expertise, as it adds depth to your profile and demonstrates a unique skill set that is highly relevant in today’s digital economy.

Additional Recommendations:

  • Ensure Clarity and Relevance: Make sure that all the evidence you provide is clearly linked to the criteria you’re addressing. Use explicit language to tie your achievements back to the requirements of the visa application.
  • Quality Over Quantity: Focus on the most impactful and relevant pieces of evidence rather than trying to include everything. Strong, well-documented examples are more persuasive than a large volume of less significant ones.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Ensure that your referees are well-briefed about the criteria and can provide detailed, specific examples of your contributions and leadership qualities.
  • Professional Presentation: Organize your application materials logically, and consider providing a brief summary or cover letter that outlines how each piece of evidence meets the specific criteria.

By thoughtfully curating your application and highlighting your most significant achievements, you enhance your chances of a successful endorsement. Best of luck with your application!

Thank you so much, @pmsept. These are very detailed and helpful and I am taking my time to absorb your well-explained advice. Cheers!!

@pmsept please see mine. is it good enough

Hi guys its me again. so i have done a lot of work and arranging my docs and heres what i have so far. i am submitting in 2 days so i just want one more look from you guys. thank you very much

Mandatory Criteria

  1. Evidence of High Salary Remuneration - (i combined my remote earnings from NGN and my UK earnings in an excel sheet and it meets market range)
  2. Expert Assessment and Panel Engagement Role in Digital Technology - My role as a mentor and assessor on openclassrooms.com
  3. Internationally Recognized Awards Documentation - (This one is a bit new as i officially got the award in the last week of Sept after weeks of checks)
  4. Evidence of Product-Led Growth in Digital Technology - my role as a senior developer (Team Lead) for my employers in Nigeria. We have an App on play store and on cloud. I built the entire web and manage the backend and APIs and Github, etc. Secondly i built a journal platform gazetteofmedicine.com for the offical journal platform for UPTH.

Optional Criteria OC2

  1. Thought Leadership Documentation - (i have posts on Hackernoon.com, Dev.to and Hashnode and combined total reads of over 1k. I dont know if they meet the op-ed criteria. i have asked around but no one seems to know a specific platform. so i just use what i have)
  2. Mentorship and Advising Experience - Majorly ADPList with over 1k minutes mentoring people from 10+ countries. Then another smaller one back in Nigeria
  3. Contributions to Industry Initiatives - work with a researchlab in Texas remote with python. and also an Alumni Advisory Board Memeber 2024 in Generation initiative UK. I also did a bootcamp with them for 3 months and got AWS CCP before i applied 2 months later and was interviewed for the alumni board position.

Optional Criteria OC4

  1. Professional Recommendations - Letters from my two professors for my 2 MSc as well as their CV (incase)
  2. International Journal Publications - I have 3 international publications and about 18 citations and over 14,000 readson researchgate (though researchgate is not accepted) but i mean it means omething at least.
  3. Publication Acceptance Certificate - my first international publicatio gave me a certificate of publication
  4. Peer-Reviewed Articles - pdf of my publications with the logos, doi, issn etc
  5. Academic Certification (e.g., Master’s Degree) - my 2 msc cert (i dont know if i should put these, some people advise i do and some advice that i dont)

Recommendation Letters

I got a couple more reference letters from

other profs, director from openclassrooms, thePhD student i work with in Texas Uni, etc

Additional Documents

AWS CCP, CCNA from a CISCO licensed trainer in Port Harcourt, ANDELA SDG participation 2020, KOENIG Data Analysis Training, WEB Flow Certificatin from ADPList, etc

so guys what do you think?

@pahuja , @Maya , @Surender_S , @Francisca_Chiedu, @Mors_E and @Anurag_Singh @pmsept

My major issue is i have so much evidence its nearly impossible to fit in a 3 page document. but what i have done is that i have created them in folders so arranged and labelled, you wont have to look for anything

Please refer to the checklist here: UK Global Talent Visa TechNation Stage 1 Mandatory and Optional Criteria Checklist - request to avoid tags :pray:

1 Like