Moving to the UK: My Journey to the Global Talent Visa and New Opportunities
Hello! My name is Alexey Yuzhakov. My journey with technology began back in the 1990s, when I was a teenager. What started as a hobby eventually turned into a career. I’ve gone from being a programmer to an architect and engineering team lead, and now I hold a UK Global Talent Visa. After nearly three decades in tech, my passion for my work has helped me and my family relocate to the United Kingdom. I remain dedicated to my calling and am excited to explore new opportunities. Below, I’d like to share my story!
Career in Tech: From Programming Passion to Leadership Roles
My passion for programming began when I was 10 years old. Despite tough times, my parents bought me a ZX Spectrum in 1993. I started learning Basic and then moved on to mastering assembly language. Since then, programming has been more than just a job — it’s been my hobby.
My tech career began in 2001, when I was a student and started writing commercial software. Later, I became a developer and worked for various companies.
Nineteen years ago, I joined Plesk (a WebPros holding company), where I progressed from a programmer to an architect and eventually became an engineering team lead. For the last 15 years, I’ve been leading development teams. Although my current role is more focused on team management, I still try to find time to write code, including for personal pet projects.
My Approach to Career and Technologies
In one way or another, I’ve been writing code for over 30 years now. I’ve transitioned from developing desktop and mobile apps to working on web projects and cloud infrastructures. I try not to tie myself to any single programming language or framework — what’s most important to me is solving problems and achieving results.
I’ve studied and continue to explore various technologies, keeping up with new trends in the industry. Whenever I face a challenge, whether it’s project management, programming in a new language, or implementing machine learning, I take a fundamental approach (reading up extensively on the subject) and stay focused on the end goal. This combination has often helped me solve complex problems.
Moving to the UK: A New Chapter
I had been putting off the idea of moving to the UK, even though opportunities came up several times. However, after living in Bulgaria for the last two years, I realized that I felt more comfortable in an English-speaking environment. The idea of moving to the UK was sparked by a conversation with a friend who had already made the move. He told me about the Global Talent Visa and its advantages, including the freedom from being tied to a specific employer, which I found very appealing.
When I began looking into the requirements for the Global Talent Visa, I decided to seek help from Immigram. They helped me understand how to properly prepare and submit my documents. The requirements for the visa can be a bit ambiguous, and Immigram provided invaluable assistance in structuring my application and gathering the necessary recommendations. With their help, I submitted my application to Tech Nation and received approval within a week.
Bumps Along the Way and Final Success
The application process turned out to be quite lengthy — it took me about two months to gather all the necessary documents. It wasn’t just about collecting paperwork; it was crucial to present my achievements from recent years in the right light.
The experts at Immigram helped me at every stage — from selecting which achievements to highlight to writing recommendation letters. In the end, I successfully completed the process and received the long-awaited visa in January 2024.
New Life and Future Plans
My family and I moved to London in March 2024. I drove from Sofia in our car, covering more than 2,500 kilometers across eight countries. I’m currently still working for Plesk/WebPros, as the holding has a division in the UK.
The move has opened up new opportunities for me — there are many large tech companies and startups here, and I have ideas for new projects that I want to develop alongside my main job.
About Collaboration with Immigram
Overall, I’m very satisfied with my collaboration with Immigram. They helped me navigate each stage of the application process and minimized potential errors. Thanks to their support, my family and I now live in the UK, ready for new challenges and opportunities.
You should give it a try, too. If you’re considering moving and want to know if you qualify for the Global Talent Visa, be sure to take the test on Immigram’s website. This could be the start of your new journey!
