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Tier 2 License Applications
In order to ‘sponsor’ a worker from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) on a Tier 2 Visa you must first secure a Tier 2 License from the UK Border Agency. It can take between three to six months to gain an approval however once issued a license will normally be valid for up to four years. If you wish to apply for a Tier 2 License or would like to find out about alternatives to Tier 2 Sponsorship call Commonwealth Contractors today!
By partnering with OISC Registered Immigration Firms & Tier 2 Licensed Healthcare & IT Consultancies we can provide a comprehensive range of solutions to UK Employers.
OISC Immigration Partners (Services & Fee Scales)
Our Immigration Partners can ensure that you successfully gain a Tier 2 Sponsorship License & employ migrant workers further to up to date rules and regulations. The penalties for non compliance can be severe and due to the nature of the Tier 2 system any issues arise down the line at a UK Border Agency Audit rather than at the time of initial sponsorship.
| Professional Immigration Services | Professional Fee |
|---|---|
| Pre Approval Tier 2 License Consultancy | £5,000 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship Issue (per worker) | £800 |
| Out of Country Tier 2 (General) Visa Application (per worker) | £2,000 |
| In Country Tier 2 (General) Visa Application (per worker) | £1,500 |
| Independent Tier 2 Immigration Compliance Audit | £2,000 |
| UK Border Agency Compliance Audit Representation | £3,000 |
Consultancy Partners
In certain circumstances it may be possible to outsource services in the form of a Managed Project to a suitable Supplier. To find out more see Alternatives to Sponsor Licensing.
For more information call now on 0800 294 4388 or Submit your Details & we will get back to you.
Tier 2 Eligibility & Suitability
In order to secure a Tier 2 License an employer must prove that:- It is a genuine & established UK Employer: To do this a company will have to provide a wide range of supporting documents. Please be aware that if your company is fairly new you may find it very difficult to secure a license
- It has suitable HR Processes & Systems in place: Tier 2 places full responsibility for migrant workers with the employer. If a company does not have satisfactory HR processes in place it will not be able to satisfy the requirements, therefore significant changes may be required.
- Suitable Employees are responsible for the License: See ‘Key Personnel’ below
The UK Border Agency’s Sponsor Licensing Unit may decide to make a site visit before approving a license in order to ensure compliance and that satisfactory systems and processes are in place to operate Tier 2. Employers must provide; employer documents, system processes, access to members of staff etc.
Once the Sponsor Licensing Unit have been satisfied a License may be approved on an A or B rated basis. Employers that meet all requirements are given an A rating. Employers that need to improve systems / processes etc are given a B rating and are expected to make sufficient changes to attain an A rating.
Employers receive a Sponsor License Number that must be quoted in all correspondence. The number is detailed on the letter sent to an employer to confirm approval.
Key Personnel
To secure a license the UKBA must receive full details of the prospective employees operating Tier 2 on behalf of the employer. These individuals take responsibility for Immigration Compliance. Non Compliance can result in a £10,000 fine or potentially a criminal conviction.An Organisation must provide details of:
- An Authorising Officer: responsible for deciding how many of the Sponsor Organisation’s staff need access to the Sponsor Management System & the level of permission granted. Authorising Officer’s are responsible for the activities of all users
- A Key Contact: The key contact acts as the main point of contact between the UK Border Agency and the Sponsor Organisation
- Level 1 Users: Level 1 Users undertake the Sponsor’s day to day activities through the Sponsor Management System. They can; assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), request an increase to the CoS Limit, notify the UKBA of minor changes to employer circumstances, report migrant activity, withdraw Certificates of Sponsorship
- Level 2 Users: Level 2 Users have more restricted access to the Sponsor Management System than Level 1 Users. Users at this level can assign Certificates of Sponsorship to migrants & report migrant activity
Sponsorship License Renewals
Tier 2 Sponsorship Licenses normally last 4 years and must be renewed before the period expires, even if the Sponsor continues to employ non EEA nationals but does not wish to sponsor any additional ones.If the 4 year period expires the sponsor will not be able to renew the license. Instead an entirely new Sponsor License application must be submitted.
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