Sponsorship Licences Explained: For the Employer
For the remainder of this week we will be explaining all about Employment Sponsorship Licences.
If any of you have any concerns or would like any more information drop us a message and we will do our best to get back to you!
Today we will be explaining all about Sponsorship Licences for the employer and what steps they will need to take to recruit foreign nationals.
Who needs a Sponsorship Licence?
If you own a UK based organisation and wish to employ skilled workers from outside the EEA in a permanent or long-term job, you must become a Licensed Sponsor to sponsor them under Tier 2 of the points-based immigration system.
A UK Licensed Sponsor is a person or company who is responsible for employing workers from overseas. The UK Licensed Sponsor must be registered with the UK Border Agency in order to assign Certificates of Sponsorship to applicants under the Tier 2 Employment Visa category.
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?
A Certificate of Sponsorship is not a paper certificate like a work permit. It is a ‘virtual document’, with a unique reference number which you issue to a migrant so that they can apply for permission to enter the UK if they are overseas, or permission to stay in the UK if they are already here.
A or B rated Sponsors
If your application Sponsorship Licence is successful, you will be issued with an A or B rating and added to the UKBA’s published register of sponsors. The B rating is for sponsors could be a risk to immigration control or who do not have all the correct systems in place.
When deciding whether you are suitable for a sponsor licence, the UKBA assess you using a scoring system.
The following marking scores are used:
- 1 – meets all of the criteria.
- 2 – meets only some of the criteria.
- 3 – does not meet any of the criteria.
Your score will be assessed on the following:
- your human resource systems;
- the civil penalties and criminal convictions of your staff;
- any non-compliance by your organisation.
What if I am awarded a B rating?
You will need to follow a sponsorship action plan designed to help you become A-rated, or you risk losing your licence.
So what do I do after I have a Sponsorship Licence?
You will need to give the foreign national you have found to work the unique reference number that you have. Once they have this they will need to apply for a Tier 2 Work Permit. This UK visa will allow them to work with you in the UK.
