Increase in Fees to Assign Certificates of Sponsorship
Among the latest increases in Home Office fees announced last week, the cost of assigning Certificates of Sponsorship will rise from 4 October 2023. The change impacts sponsor licence holders assigning all types of CoS to sponsored workers. Most notably, the cost of a Certificate of Sponsorship for a Skilled Worker is rising to £239 from […]
Sponsor Licence Downgraded?
Sponsor licence holders are legally required to meet certain compliance duties. Where there has been a failure to discharge those duties, the Home Office can take enforcement action against the organisation, including downgrading the sponsor licence from an A to B rating. In this guide, we explain what a sponsor licence downgrade means, the steps to […]
Can Recruitment Agencies Sponsor Workers for Clients?
UK visa sponsorship rules are notoriously complex and strict. If you are considering your options to sponsor workers in the UK, you will need to ensure that your organisation is eligible. To sponsor migrant workers in the UK, organisations need to hold an appropriate sponsor licence. This requires the organisation to be approved by UK Visas […]
A-Rating Sponsor Licence Guidance
In this guide, we look at UKVI’s sponsor licence rating system, including what it means for an organisation to have an A-rated sponsor licence. We also look at the consequences of being downgraded to a B-rating and how to reinstate an A-rating. What is an A-rated sponsor licence? For routes other than UK Expansion […]
Authorising Officer: Compliance Guide
When you are applying for a sponsor licence, you will be required to nominate certain key personnel to manage the sponsorship process, including an Authorising Officer. The following comprehensive guide to the Authorising Officer role looks at who can and cannot fill this position, together with a detailed account of the Authorising Officer’s responsibilities and […]
6 Steps To Pass A Home Office Inspection
A Home Office inspection can be a cause of real concern for employers. The Home Office has powers to investigate organisations to ensure they are meeting their obligations under the prevention of illegal working regime and if they are licensed sponsors, to ensure they are meeting their sponsor licence compliance duties. While immigration compliance may […]
Digital Right to Work Checks
By law, UK employers have to verify that all prospective employees are eligible to work in the UK and have the necessary permission to do the work on offer, regardless of their nationality or ethnic origin. One of the ways that employers can conduct these checks is to use digital right to work checks. In […]
Do You Need a Business Visitor Visa for the UK?
If you are coming to the UK for the purposes of business, you’ll need to ensure you have the relevant permission. Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a Business Visitor visa, or you may be able to travel visa-free. The following guide for foreign nationals looking to come to the UK […]
Working Offshore: UK Visa Guide
In this offshore working guide, we set out the visa options and immigration rules for foreign nationals arriving directly into UK waters for the purposes of working. What is offshore? Offshore work in the UK refers to employment on any oil, gas, wind and other installations wholly at sea and fixed to the sea […]
Right to Work Share Code Guide 2024
Right to Work share codes were introduced in the UK to enable certain individuals to prove their immigration status and eligibility to work digitally. Under the prevention of illegal working regime in the UK, all employers must conduct prescribed right to work checks on all employees. In some cases, they may even need to carry […]