Why can you not add new evidence at a review?
Because the review is a check on the process, not a fresh assessment of your case. GOV.UK is explicit that there is no statutory appeal against an endorsement refusal; the only remedy is a free, non-statutory review, and that review challenges process errors only - for example, evidence you already submitted not being properly considered. The reviewer is not asked whether a stronger application would have succeeded, only whether the original decision was reached correctly on the material already before Tech Nation. A new recommendation letter, fresh press coverage or a rewritten personal statement falls outside what a review may look at.
What can an endorsement review actually challenge?
It can challenge how your existing evidence was handled - nothing more. The legitimate ground is that something you already provided was overlooked or not assessed against the correct criterion. You must request the review within 28 days of receiving the decision, and the outcome is emailed within 28 days. You get one review per refusal, and if it is refused for the same reasons it cannot be repeated. If the refusal reasons are fair and the real problem is that your case was thin, a review will not fix that, because you cannot strengthen the case inside it.
What should you do if you have new evidence after a refusal?
Reapply - a fresh Stage 1 endorsement application is the only route that lets you submit new evidence. Since 4 August 2025 you complete a single GOV.UK Stage 1 endorsement form, and a new application lets you add new documents (up to 10, each up to 3 sides of A4), refresh your 3 recommendation letters, change referees and rewrite your personal statement. The cost is that you pay the £561 endorsement fee again (the visa fee of £205 sits at the later stage). Reassuringly, a Stage 1 endorsement refusal is not an immigration refusal and leaves no mark on your immigration history. One caution for those already in the UK: requesting a review does not extend your permission to stay, so if your leave is close to expiring, factor that in.
How does the £99 Fit Assessment help before you reapply?
It tells you exactly why the first application fell short and what a winning second one needs, before you commit the £561 endorsement fee again. The Fit Assessment scores your case out of 20 across every component - the Mandatory Criterion, the four optional criteria, your letters, your documentation and an integrity-risk adjuster - and recommends whether Exceptional Talent or Exceptional Promise is the stronger route. You receive a 10-document evidence plan, a letter and referee strategy, a gap analysis and a risk register, plus a one-hour detailed report walkthrough. The report is refunded in full if you engage Endorsa for a document-preparation package.
Refused, and thinking about your next move?
Do not spend the endorsement fee twice on a guess. Get a £99 Fit Assessment first - a scored diagnosis of why it failed and what a stronger reapplication needs.
Frequently asked questions
No. A review challenges process errors only, including evidence that was not properly assessed. No new documents or letters may be added; if you have new material, a fresh reapplication is the correct route. Verified against GOV.UK on 6 July 2026.
Process errors only - for example, evidence you already submitted not being properly considered. It is not a chance to strengthen a weak case. It must be requested within 28 days of the decision, and the outcome is emailed within 28 days. Verified against GOV.UK on 6 July 2026.
Reapply rather than request a review. A fresh Stage 1 endorsement application lets you submit new evidence, rewrite your personal statement and change referees, but you pay the £561 endorsement fee again. Verified against GOV.UK on 6 July 2026.
No. Requesting a review does not extend your permission to stay, which matters for in-country switchers whose leave may expire while the review is pending. A Stage 1 endorsement refusal is not an immigration refusal and leaves no mark on your immigration history. Verified against GOV.UK on 6 July 2026.
The £99 Fit Assessment scores your case out of 20 against every criterion, maps where the original evidence fell short, and gives you a 10-document evidence plan plus a letter and referee strategy before you commit the endorsement fee again. It is available as a £199 option that includes a one-hour case discussion and is refunded in full if you engage Endorsa for a document-preparation package.
Related reading: how the endorsement review works, review vs reapply, does a refusal affect future visas?, your 28-day window, plus the guides on the 10-document evidence pack and recommendation letters. Start at the pain points hub.
Last updated: 6 July 2026. Facts on this page were verified against GOV.UK on 6 July 2026.