Please can i get some feedback on my profile for the exceptional promise category

Stage 1
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Hi, Everyone. Thanks to everyone who provides responses and helps people going through the process, it’s definitely intimidating, and a support group like this is really helpful.

I am considering applying for the GTV visa under the exceptional promise category.

My Background:
I have two master’s degrees, one in communications( I took digital communications classes during this) and another master’s in information technology. I have published three peer-reviewed research papers (one on AI governance, another on cybersecurity, and the last on digital communications tools; they have over 70 citations between them). I have approximately two years of experience as a software developer in a global CRM software development company. I am in a PhD program (which is currently on hold, and I will not be applying with my PhD for this reason). During my comms program, I was selected as a TA based on academic excellence, which meant I was responsible for over 20 students while serving as a research assistant each semester. I received a full scholarship for this.

Documentation I Plan to submit for the exceptional promise criteria:

3 letters of recommendation from:

  • Senior Tech lead at work
  • Program Director of my PhD program
  • My professor during my master’s in IT

Mandatory Criteria: Evidence of Recognition in the Digital Technology Sector
First-author research paper on AI with citations, reads, recommendations and other metrics
Second-author research paper on cybersecurity with citation, reads, recommendation and other metrics

Option 1: Significant Academic Contributions
Third research publication and Comprehensive citation analytics
Journal impact factor documentation
Full scholarship award documentation from my TA/Research Assistant position
A reference letter from my primary Advisor from my first master’s degree/professor in charge of teaching assistants during my program

Option 2: Continuous Learning/Skill Mastery
Master’s degree certificate and transcripts - Information Technology
Master’s degree certificate and transcripts - Communications
Company employment verification letter which shows above industry standard compensation package
Company letter from CoOp to full-time
Documentation on impact metrics and achievements at work and documentation of specific features developed as well as contributions and PRs

Questions:
Thoughts on my bio/profile?
Is there documentation that may further strengthen my case, or should I remove any of the above because it is unnecessary?
Also, must one of my reference letters be from someone in the UK?

I’m hoping to get some help; thanks!
@Akash_Joshi @alexnk @pahuja @hsafra @Francisca_Chiedu

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Your profile shows good potential for the Global Talent Visa under exceptional promise. Your dual master’s degrees and industry experience as a software developer strengthen your technical background.

For mandatory criteria, using research papers is appropriate but ensure you demonstrate their impact through citation metrics and journal rankings. Include screenshots of journal websites to establish credibility. The letters of recommendation should come from people in the technology sector who can specifically attest to your contributions.

For optional criteria, your academic publications fit well under OC4 (Exceptional Researcher). However, consider diversifying beyond just academic achievements. The employment verification showing above-industry compensation could qualify under different criteria. Your TA experience could be framed as evidence of leadership/mentorship.

The reference letters don’t strictly need to be from UK-based individuals. However, having UK connections can help demonstrate your potential contribution to the UK tech ecosystem.

One suggestion is to create a clear mapping of your evidence to specific criteria requirements. Organize documentation by combining related items into single PDFs with clear summaries explaining their relevance. Make sure each piece of evidence tells a distinct part of your story rather than repeating similar achievements.

Remember that you cannot use the same evidence multiple times across different criteria, even if it could apply to multiple categories. Focus on presenting each achievement in a way that best aligns with your chosen criteria while maintaining a cohesive narrative throughout your application.

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@Akash_Joshi points taken! Thanks a lot for the feedback

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Which 2 OCs are you applying to?

MC looks fine, you can perhaps add one more evidence if you can get.
Option 2: Which OC is this for? The masters degree certificates don’t count as valid. Ensure the letter and documentation includes your specific contribution and quantified impact.

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@pahuja
Thanks a lot for responding!
I think the OCs I may qualify for are (a combination of any two):

How do I demonstrate that I have exceptional ability in the field by making academic contributions through research?

by using a third research paper

OR

How do I demonstrate that I have been recognized for my work outside of my immediate occupation that contributed to the advancement of the sector?

using my TA/research assistant role

OR

How do I demonstrate that I have made a significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions to the field as a founder, senior executive, board member or employee of a product-led digital technology company?

by using my work information.

In looking at the responses I guess I need to do a better job in gathering the related information together. For example, I am assuming if I use my work information as a SWE for an OC, information about my masters doesn’t belong here. Do I understand correctly