If UK firms want to hire an overseas skilled worker, they must submit an application for a sponsor licence.
Typically, worker licences and temporary worker licences are the categories under which sponsor licences fall. The kind of sponsor licence that the business needs to apply for will depend on the position that the organisation is hiring for.
Application for Sponsor Licence
The Sponsorship Management System (SMS) allows access to the licence application form, which is available online.
Although it is a simple system, applications are advised to save routinely to prevent losing any of their data because it is an old system.
The following will be needed for the form:
- Contact details
- The type of licence you’re applying for.
- Names of the licence’s Key personnel.
- the list of the supporting documents
The application can be filed with the help of a legal representative, but according to the laws, the Home Office must receive the application from a relevant representative of the organisation. The licence application cost must be paid at this time.
A submission sheet will be created once the fee has been paid.
Documents needed to apply for a sponsor licence
Employers mostly fail to comply with the criteria for supporting paperwork.
The mandatory information and documentation that must be presented with a sponsorship licence application are listed in Appendix A. In order to prove that the organisation satisfies the eligibility requirements, i.e., it is real and operating legally in the UK, a minimum necessary documents must be presented.
The following documents are expected to be submitted, depending on the organisation’s type and duration of time in the UK:
- Evidence of company premises ownership or a commercial lease
- Current annual audited accounts
- Certificate of employer liability insurance
- Registration for VAT document
- Most recent corporate bank statement
- Evidence of HMRC registration
Although a minimum of four documents must be supplied, it may be good to add further details if the Home Office could have reservations about any of the submissions.
Additional documents
Employers must provide the following in addition to the above mentioned documentation:
- Describe the reason behind their request for a sponsor licence.
- Specify the sector in which they operate and give their daily opening and operation hours.
- Send a current organisational chart with the names of all the owners, directors, and board members.
- Indicate the names of everyone with access to the email account you provided when applying for a sponsor licence online.
- Give a landline phone number where you can be reached.
In most cases, a covering letter would be used to transmit this information.
Completing the application
When the AO is confident that the UK organisation has the requisite strategies in place to fulfil its sponsor duties and obligations and that all essential supporting documents are in order and prepared for submission, the applicant should only submit the online sponsor licence application form.
Only the Authorising Officer (AO) may submit the completed online sponsor license application form. Legal counsel may aid the AO in filling up the draft online application form, but they are not required to submit it.
Once the application is filed, a submission sheet is generated, and the AO should save a copy of it since once the application has been closed, it is impossible to get another copy of it.
Processing Time
The sponsorship licence application process consists of several steps, and timing is crucial to ensuring that you move through the process effectively.
Understanding processing timelines may be useful when planning for recruitment.
It may take up to 8 weeks to process your initial licence application, so please plan accordingly. If the application is complete and accurate, processing timeframes can normally be shortened, but at best, decisions on licence applications will often take four to six weeks.
Licence applicants can pay an extra £500 for the priority application service in order to get a response to their application within 10 working days. In cases where a company is concerned about not losing a candidate due to prolonged
Visit for pre-licensing compliance
Before making a decision about a sponsor licence application, the Home Office has the authority to conduct a compliance visit. The applicant’s capacity to satisfy the suitability requirements is assessed through the inspections.
Officials from the Home Office may ask to see documentation related to the employer’s sponsored employees during the visit in order to evaluate the company’s HR processes. In order to confirm that the role is legitimate, they may also wish to meet with the authorising officer and interview sponsored employees.
Getting prepared to undergo an inspection by the Home Office
The following will be crucial for preparations if you have been informed that the Home Office plans to visit your premises to perform a compliance audit:
- Make sure all of the information on the SMS and the licence application form is accurate and comprehensive.
- Ensure that all selected key individuals meet the requirements for suitability and are educated on their responsibilities.
- The AO should be ready to answer questions from officials and provide a thorough and in-depth analysis of the organisation’s compliance systems and procedures.
- To ensure compliance and find any problems that need to be fixed, conduct a mock compliance audit.
- Keep a record of the inquiries made and the responses provided, and get a copy of the compliance officers’ notes.
Home Office decision
The Home Office will send the organisation an email with the decision it made. If approved, the employer will be entered into the UK’s list of authorised sponsors.
Sponsors are urged to keep the password and user ID private and safe, and to make sure that only the designated Level 1 user uses them to log in to the system.
Need help with your sponsor licence application from a professional?
While obtaining a sponsor licence has become a requirement for businesses seeking to hire non-UK residents from abroad, the UK’s immigration laws continue to be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive for businesses looking to attract top talent.
A Y & J Solicitors is a great help in an employer’s sponsorship licence journey. With a team of best immigration lawyers, A Y & J guides you in all the requirements vital to stress free process when applying.
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