Sponsor Licence Application Process
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A quick look
Sponsor Licences are valid for 4 years – it is possible to renew.
Most applications are processed in under eight weeks. UK Visas & Immigration may visit the premises of an applying business during this period.
There is a fast-track option for an additional fee; £500 to get a decision within 10 working days. The fast-track service is limited to a small number of applications, each working day.
The documents required by UK Visas & Immigration will depend on the kind of workers an applying company aims to employ.
A business that wishes to employ unskilled workers on a seasonal basis, will need to provide a different set of documents to those that wish to employ skilled workers on a long-term contract.
Documentation requested may include financial statements, tax records, insurance cover, and endorsements from related governing bodies.
Should a Sponsor Licence be refused by UK Visas & Immigration, there will be a six-month cooling-off period before a business is able to re-apply. This is triggered from the date of refusal – not the application date.
Should a company believe that a mistake has been made, it may be possible to apply for a pre-sponsor error correction.
Sponsor Licence Application
Businesses can apply for a Sponsor Licence online.
Once an application has been completed, with all supporting documentation, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will carry out various checks, which may include a visit to an applicant’s premises.
Most applications are processed in under eight weeks, with a fast-track option for an additional fee; £500 to get a decision within 10 working days. The fast-track service is limited to a small number of applications, each working day.
Documentation
The documentation required by UKVI, when processing an application, will depend on how a sponsor intends to use their licence.
Here are just two examples, showing how varied requirements can be when applying for a Sponsor Licence.
Businesses intending to sponsor workers under a Seasonal Worker Visa will be required to provide an endorsement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), among other documentation.
Businesses that aim to sponsor individuals under a Secondment Worker Visa need to provide evidence that they have been awarded a services contract through open tendering, among other documentation.
Other required documentation might include:
- Notarised affidavits or statements
- Audited accounts and annual reports
- Proof of funds
- Certified agreements/contracts
- Lease agreements or proof or purchase of land or property
- Planning permission
- Insurance cover
- Endorsement from a related governing body
The Genuineness Test
The Genuineness Test has three tenets. An applying business must prove that they:
- Are a genuine organisation operating lawfully in the UK
- Have a genuine vacancy
- Can offer genuine employment.
Essentially, businesses must assure UKVI that their intentions in hiring foreign workers are completely above-board.
Rejections
Rejections of Sponsor Licences are usually the result of your application being found to be invalid. A rejection could be due to a number of minor issues, such as missing documents or a discrepancy with the application fee. If this is the case, your application will often be refunded soon after rejection.
There is no appeals process for a rejected application. You are free, however, to make a fresh, revised application.
Refusals
If your application for a Sponsor Licence is refused, it will be because of significant issues with your application. In these cases, you are unlikely to get a refund and your business may need to go through a cooling-off period before a fresh application can be made. Reasons for refusals include submitting incorrect, falsified, or late supporting documents.
There is no appeals process in the case of a refusal.
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The information contained on this page is sourced from UK Visas and Immigration and is subject to change. While Woodcock Law Limited makes every effort to keep this information current, prices and information cannot be guaranteed and should always be checked on www.gov.uk.
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