A UK-based company looking to hire foreign workers in the UK or a foreign organization setting up a based in the UK must first apply for a sponsor licence. Once they receive a sponsor licence, they can issue a certificate of sponsorship (a mandatory document) for the foreign workers to the apply for a UK Visa in categories as skilled worker, expansion worker, scale up worker, health and care worker, creative, seasonal, charity, religious or a specialist worker.
When applying for a sponsor licence you need to submit documents relevant to your organization type in order to meet the eligibility criteria for the sponsor licence. Appendix A of the Sponsor Guidance provides a list of supporting documents to be submitted according to the type of organization.
Appendix A sets out the list of supporting documents need to submitted to the Home Office in support of a sponsor licence application on the Worker, Temporary Worker, or Student routes. It sets out the mandatory evidence and other relevant evidence required in support of the sponsor licence application. It sets out different types of documents that an organization needs to submit depending on the type of organization and the type of sponsor licence being sought. It also sets out the format in which the documents are required, documents or information which can be accepted from information available online, and also the time limit in which they must be sent.
Appendix A comprises 4 tables and documents required for organizations listed in those tables. In most cases, you must send at least 4 documents or 4 combinations of documents where stated including the mandatory documents. If you fail to send these documents your sponsor licence application will be deemed invalid and UKVI will reject your application with a refund of the application fee.
If your organization falls in Table 1 (mentioned below) in certain limited circumstances you may have to send fewer than 4 documents. Depending on the type of your organization and the visa route you are applying on you need to submit different sets of documents as mentioned below.
Government department, government agency, or other public body recognized by the UK government
They need not send any document to the Home Office unless mandatory documents are listed inTable 3 for the specific immigration route/s.
Public bodies not recognized by the UK government.
You must send a cover letter or an email from your sponsoring government department confirming your public body status. If your details are available on your sponsoring department’s website you can include a covering email or letter giving the name of your sponsoring department for an online check. You may also need to send additional mandatory documents listed in Table 3 depending on the visa route/s you are applying on.
Local authority or local council with an accessible website
You only need to send mandatory documents listed in Table 3 depending on the visa route/s you are applying on.
Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (main market)
You don’t need to send any documents unless there are the mandatory documents listed in Table 2 or Table 3 required specifically for your type of organization or the visa route/s you are applying on.
Scale-up
If your organization is required to be registered with, or inspected or monitored by, a regulatory body to operate lawfully in the UK, then only you must send any evidence or information specified for such organizations in Table 2.
Start-up (Not more than 18 months old on the date of application)
You must send evidence that you have a current, corporate bank account with a UK registered bank. This is not required if you apply under Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker.
Franchise
You must send your franchise agreement signed by both parties involved.
Subject to mandatory registration or inspection
If you are required to be registered with, or inspected or monitored by, a regulatory body to operate lawfully in the UK the Home Office will carry out an online check. Thus you are not required to send us any registration or inspection evidence unless asked later by the Home Office. You must, however, state who you are regulated by and provide your registration number.
Charity
If you are registered with one of the following and under the same name in which you are applying for a sponsor licence you don’t need to send any document as the Home Office will conduct an online check.
Table 3 states that you must send documents specific to the visa route/s you are applying on. For example:
If you are applying for International Sportsperson route you must send the Home Office a copy of the endorsement from the approved governing body for your sport including the governing
body unique reference number.
Similarly, you must send different sets of documents for the following organizations listed in
Table 3:
If your organization is not listed in any of the Tables above, you can send other documents from
Table 4.
These documents include but are not limited to:
Applying for a sponsor licence successfully is a complex process and thus you must seek an expert immigration lawyer like us. We help you gather correct documents in the correct format meeting the Home Office requirements. For any assistance on a sponsor licence that will allow you to hire talented overseas workers, you can contact us.
Read Related Blogs:
https://www.visaandmigration.com/blog/how-to-achieve-success-on-a-sponsorship-licence-application
https://www.visaandmigration.com/blog/cost-for-sponsoring-skilled-worker-visa
https://www.visaandmigration.com/blog/sponsor-license-revocations
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