Employers Guide to Becoming a Licensed Sponsor of Skilled Migrant Workers

You may want to consider employing a skilled migrant worker. Often companies are faced with the challenge of not finding the skills they need from the UK workforce. Expanding your search will allow you access to a wider talent pool. Employing a skilled migrant worker will also allow you to diversify your workforce, which will lead to greater innovation and employee engagement.

Check your organisation is eligible

• Check the people you want to hire are eligible to come to the UK under the new points-based immigration system
• Ensure you are able to provide the necessary supporting documents for your sponsor license application
• To get a license, you cannot have unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes

Ensure your organisation can manage its license

 You need to appoint people within your organisation to manage the sponsorship process when you apply

Apply – allow 8 weeks

• Apply online and pay the fee
• The fee is dependent on the type of license(s) you are applying for and the type and size of your organisation
• Send your supporting documents to UKVI
• Confirm how many staff you plan to recruit through the sponsorship system for the current financial year
• Each staff member sponsored costs between £21 and £199, in addition to the usual visa application fees

If successful, your license will be valid for 4 years

Sponsor a worker

• Once you have selected a candidate, they must make a visa application to work in the UK
• You must first endorse your prospective employee’s visa through your sponsor license
• Pay the Immigration Skills Charge
• The employee must then submit a visa application under the same category as your license

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government License v3.0.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Kjb0cQ