%
K
/5
Most applications (8 out of 10) are dealt with in less than 8 weeks. UKVI may need to visit your business for compliance inspection and that may add a further delay. UKVI has introduced a new priority service where you may be able to pay £500 to get a decision within 10 working days. This service is limited to 30 applications per day.
If the sponsor licence application is rejected, the organisation will be given written reasons for the same. In most cases, this is because some of the required information has not been provided, so the application has not been considered. The organisation may be invited to re-apply immediately with all the relevant information and give a refund for the application fee.
If the sponsor licence application is refused after consideration the organisation will be given written reasons for the same. Based on the reasons there may be a cooling off period of 6 months, 12 months or 5 Years on the basis of refusal reasons. We may be able to assist organisations if the decision has been made as a result of a case working error; however, a full reconsideration is not possible. The organisations may however challenge the decision by the way of a Judicial Review which we can assist with.
It is possible for organisations to recruit any foreign workers, immaterial of their location. Different processes apply for those who are overseas and seeking to enter the UK as opposed to those who are in the UK and eligible to be sponsored. Our corporate immigration team will be happy to assist the organisations in determining the right route and strategy for the licence application and/or employee’s skilled work visa application.
Skilled worker visa applications after 1st Dec 2020 are not required to advertise the vacant positions however you must still retain evidence of any recruitment activity you have undertaken. If you did not advertise the role, you must be able to explain how you recruited the worker. This information will help home office establish, where necessary, that the role is a genuine vacancy.
Following COVID-19 Pandemic, the Sponsor Licence Application Team has now changed its guidance to enable the prospective sponsor to submit all supporting documents via email. This service allows for the authorising officer to use a digital signature on the submission sheet. All documents must now be submitted within five working days from the submission of the online application form.
