Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence Renewal
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Skilled worker (previously Tier 2) sponsor licence allows UK employers to recruit foreign workers. Sponsor licences are granted for four-year periods. To continue employing migrant workers, employers must make a sponsor licence renewal application to the Home office. If you don’t yet have Sponsor Licence, click here to learn more about Sponsor Licence application process.
How To Apply
Sponsor licence holders are able to submit their renewal application up to three month in advance of the expiry day. A sponsor will be required to apply online using the Sponsor Management System (SMS). The employer must ensure that all details displayed on the summary page of the SMS are correct and have been fully updated. In addition to this, the Sponsor Guidance states that all requested documents must be sent within 5 working days. Failure to do so will lead to the refusal of the renewal application and a suspension or downgrading of the current sponsor licence. Therefore, applicants are strongly advised to start preparing their renewal applications. Another reason to apply early is that if an application is rejected prior to the licence expiry date, then a sponsor is able to submit a new renewal application and the licence will continue until a decision has been rejected.
The Fee
The application fee is not fixed and depends on the size of a company. The sponsors of small companies pay £536, while medium and large companies pay £1,476.
UKVI procedure
Following the renewal request, the UKVI officials will make checks as outlined in the Modernised Guidance to determine that the company is:
Operating legally in the UK
Still suitable to be a licensed sponsor
Able to meet their duties at the level we expect
In most cases, general information held by Companies House will be reviewed to check if the company is operating legally in the UK. Moreover, the UKVI will review the sponsor’s immigration history and previous Certificates of Sponsorship.
It is well known that renewal applications attract greater Home Office scrutiny than the initial licence applications. The Home Office uses this opportunity to fully investigate the organisation’s compliance with immigration rules, recruitment policies and other documentation. The compliance visits are highly likely if a sponsor has previously ‘had a tier 2 migrant application refused on the grounds of non-genuine vacancy’.
We understand that the renewal application process can be stressful. Sterling Law is keen to help you with ensuring that the paperwork is correct, preparing for compliance visits and providing remedies in case of a refusal.
Sterling Law is one of a limited number of firms which possess a thorough understanding of the sponsorship arrangements and obligations. We will manage the entire appeal and/or review process against the Home Office’s decision to withdraw or downgrade your Sponsor Licence status, helping you to navigate through Home Office bureaucracy without the fear of additional costs to your business. In return, the business will benefit by having more settled skilled workers as their immigration status will be dependent on the terms of sponsorship.
Can we arrange a time to call you to discuss how our tailored approach of renewal might help you and your business? Alternately, you could drop us a quick email at contact@sterling-law.co.uk
