- Sponsorship
- Sponsor Licence Extensions
Sponsor Licence Extensions
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government.
Can I apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa?
We can help you. It’s what we do.
Overview
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.
International Sportspersons visa
This category is for highly skilled sportspersons who must be recognised by a governing body as an elite sports person or a sports coach. The applicant must demonstrate that their employment in the UK will encourage the sport to become more elite and prominent in the UK.
To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of 5 years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £35,800.
Indefinite leave to remain
The skilled worker visa lasts for up to five years. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After five years, you may also be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You must apply to extend or update your skilled work visa UK if you change jobs or employer.
To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of five years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £25,600 per year.
Why do we need to renew our sponsor licence?
As part of your compliance obligations as sponsor licence holder, you are responsible for renewing your sponsor licence once it expires to allow you to continue employing foreign workers legally in the UK. As a result, it is a very important part of maintaining your sponsor licence. It is your duty to ensure the sponsor licence renewal is processed in time, to comply with the Home Office and avoid you losing your ability to grant new certificates of sponsorship to foreign workers.
What is the sponsor licence renewal process?
When renewing your sponsor licence, this will allow you to continue hiring and employing foreign workers for your respective business. To obtain this renewal of your licence, you must simply do the following:
- You must submit a request for a sponsorship licence renewal via the SMS (Sponsorship Management System) – the renewal fee will vary depending on the size of your company.
- Ensure that all details on your application are accurate – for instance, making sure the details for the SMS users (‘Authorising Officer’ and ‘Level ½ Users’) are correct.
- Once your application is submitted and appropriate fee has been paid, you will receive a submission sheet generated by the SMS.
- This sheet must be completed, signed, and sent to the Sponsor Licencing Unit.
- There is a possibility that the Home Office will contact you to provide additional documents to aid the application review process – this must be done within five days of the initial request to avoid your renewal application from being refused or revoked.
How do I check my sponsor licence expiry date?
The expiry date of your sponsor licence can be found on the summary page of your SMS (Sponsor Management System). Typically, sponsor licences are valid for up to four years at a time, so this should provide you with a rough estimate of when your licence starts and expires.
However, it is advised that you apply to renew your sponsorship licence up to three months before your current sponsor licence expiry date, especially to allow for any unexpected issues or delays that may arise.
Please note, that in some cases the Home Office may invite you to apply for a renewal earlier than your expiry date, but this is up to discretion – you will be notified of this in writing by the UKVI, if so.
What if my sponsor licence renewal is refused?
In a situation where your sponsor licence renewal application is refused by the Home Office, then it is critical to determine why this is the case, before thinking about your next steps.
Some reasons for why your renewal application is refused, could include:
- Failing to provide the Home Office with adequate information and documentation.
- Failing to pay the licence renewal fee or paying the correct amount.
- Unable to meet the reporting requirements of your licence.
- Not complying with sponsor duties and obligations.
- Failing to pass compliance visits.
In some cases, you may believe that your sponsor licence renewal was refused due to an error or that your documents were not inspected effectively – you could consider applying for a review if so. However, you must ensure that you’re certain you have substantial grounds for review if you decide to embark on this path.
Otherwise, there is a risk that you will be required to submit a new application for a sponsor licence to issue certificates of sponsorships to foreign workers again. In doing so, you should address the underlying issues or problems that caused the refusal of your licence.
How much is the sponsor licence renewal fee?
The sponsor licence renewal fees will vary depending on the size of your business, as well as the type of licence you wish to renew. Please see the table below for a breakdown of the kind of fees to expect.
Please note, that in addition to the fees above you may incur an additional cost of £500, should you be interested in processing your application quicker via the priority service.
How long do sponsor licence renewals take to process?
Typically, a sponsor licence renewal application will be processed within 8 weeks – however, there are some additional steps that can be taken to make this process more efficient for you and your business. For instance, you could do the following:
- Upon the Home Office requesting documentation, making sure that you provide them with this as soon as possible.
- Ensuring that your SMS, records, and processes are fully compliant and within regulations.
- You may want to apply for a priority processing service, which can mean your application will be processed within 10 days (please note, that this would be based on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis, as there are a limited number of slots every day).
What happens if I do not renew my sponsor licence?
Failure to renew your sponsor licence, will result in your licence automatically expiring on the date listed on your SMS and you will no longer be able to act as a sponsor from that date, going forward. Subsequently, you will lose your ability to grant new certificates of sponsorship to foreign workers, as well as continuing to sponsor your current employees. By not renewing your sponsor licence, it will impose a detrimental effect on your business and its needs.
Additionally, if you’re recorded as still sponsoring foreign workers after your sponsor licence has expired, the UK government will report this to the Home Office, and your permission will be curtailed. More concerningly, you could face penalties for illegally sponsoring foreign workers without a certified licence.
How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?
At Bridge Partners, we understand the stress and worry that is involved in maintaining your sponsor licence duties and how important the renewal process is for your duty as a sponsor licence holder and your business. While it may seem like a simple process, we are here to support and guide you through the steps to ensure that your renewal process is conducted as smoothly and properly as possible.
Despite there being no limits to the number of attempts you can make when renewing a sponsor licence, each renewal will incur fresh costs for you – so it is your best interest to speak to a member of our team to receive reliable advice, to ensure that you get it right the first time! Please contact us today for further information.
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Frequently Asked Skilled Worker visa Application Questions
Someone can be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer from a sponsoring company in the UK for a job that is on the list of skilled worker occupations. In addition, the skilled worker must have the required skills and experience to undergo the role in the company and have the required level of English language ability.
The minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is either £25,600 per year, £10.10 per hour or the “going rate” for the particular occupation code, whichever is highest. For each job on the Home Office occupation list, there is a “going rate” which details the recommended annual and hourly salary that an individual must earn for the role. The rates are based on a 39-hour week of work. Those applying for the Skilled Worker visa need 50 points to do so. These are gained from sponsorship, skill level and English language requirements. However, 20 further tradable points can be given to those that meet the minimum salary requirement.
You cannot move to the UK without a job offer from a company that has a UK sponsor licence, unless you apply for the Global Talent visa where this is not a requirement. When you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa you must provide a certificate of sponsorship reference number which proves that you have a job offer and therefore permission to work in the UK with a registered sponsor.
The general Skilled Worker visa requirements are that you must have a job offer from a company that is a UK-registered sponsor and have a certificate of sponsorship that confirms that you have permission to work in the UK within a specific job role. You must be paid the required minimum salary for the occupation, have the required skill level and English language ability to do the job and have enough funds to support yourself in the UK.
Once all the correct documentation has been submitted, it takes around 3 weeks for an application for a Skilled Worker visa to be processed by the Home Office when applying outside of the UK. For applications within the UK, the standard processing time is 8 weeks, although this can take around 9 weeks on average.
For the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to provide a valid passport and proof that you have a job in the UK with details about your job role, salary, and employer information. You will also need the reference number for your certificate of sponsorship which proves that you have an approved job offer with a registered UK sponsor. In addition, you will need to provide bank statements that show you are able to support yourself in the UK and proof of the required qualifications needed for the role such as an English language test and degree certificate.
Yes, you can study whilst on a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can study as long as it does not interfere with your work. Another requirement is that workers who study must first get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for their studies and present it to the education provider.
Skilled Workers are not allowed to run their own businesses.