Tier 2 Sponsorship Licenses

In order to employ skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) you must ‘sponsor’ them under Tier 2 of the Points Based System (unless they already hold a valid work status e.g. Tier 1 or Tier 5 visa). To do this you will need to gain a Tier 2 Sponsorship License from the UK Border Agency.

At Commonwealth Contractors we partner with OISC Registered Private Immigration Firms who can provide professional representation & Tier 2 Licensed Healthcare & IT Consultancies who can sponsor skilled workers on Tier 2 Visas (formerly UK Work Permits) where required.

OISC Immigration Partners (Services & Fees):

Under Tier 2 a sponsor must judge who is worthy of sponsorship, no official feedback is provided until a UK Border Agency Audit is conducted months or maybe even years later. Breaches of immigration law carry a maximum fine of £10,000 or two years in prison for the responsible person within the sponsoring company. See Ongoing Immigration Compliance for further information.

Our OISC Registered Immigration Partners can ensure your company is set up to satisfy all Tier 2 compliance requirements & that each individual migrant is compliant with the requirements of the time (Tier 2 changes frequently, especially; advertising requirements, skill shortage roles, pay grades, application forms and processes etc).

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

** Professional Fees do not include any Government Fees

Consultancy Partners:

In certain circumstances in may be better for an employer to outsource services to a Supplier in the form of a Managed Project rather than secure in house expertise. Where for example a company wishes to install an Oracle database & provide ongoing support it may be easier and more cost effective to agree a service contract with an IT Consultancy than hire an individual from outside the EEA to permanent position. See Alternatives to Sponsor Licensing for more information

For more Information call now on 0800 294 4388 or Submit your Details & we will get back to you.

Tier 2 Categories & Applications

Tier 2 of the Points Based System (PBS) is split into four categories:

1. General: UK Employers hiring Non EEA nationals where unable to find Settled Workers
2. Intra Company Transfer: Multinational Employers transferring employees from overseas
3. Sports People: Organisations employing elite sportspeople and coaches
4. Ministers of Religion: Organisations employing Ministers of Religion, Missionaries etc

To become Tier 2 Licensed an employer must submit an application to the UK Border Agency for consideration (3-6 months required). The company must demonstrate satisfactory Tier 2 HR systems & processes, prove that it is a genuine employer (company documents required) & nominate key members of staff to Tier 2 roles (legal responsibility for Tier 2 given to key staff members).

The UK Border Agency will make a decision on the application & may attend a pre-approval audit to ensure satisfactory systems and processes are in place. If successful the employer will receive a Tier 2 license (reference number), an A Rated or B Rated status, a set number of Certificates of Sponsorship & a Sponsor Management System log in code. The company’s details will also be added to the UK Border Agencies Register of Sponsors. See License Application Process for further Information.

Employing Workers under Tier 2 General

In order to employ skilled workers from outside the EEA under Tier 2 an employer must:

1. Satisfy all Tier 2 Employment Criteria: e.g. Advertising Requirements, SOC Codes, Resident Labour Market Search, Employment Documents etc)
2. Ensure the Migrant qualifies under the Points Based System: Applicants must score 50 points for Attributes and satisfy the English Language & Maintenance requirements
3. Create & Assign a Valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to a worker: A CoS is a 10 digit reference number that corresponds to a database entry on the Sponsor Management System. This electronic document is all important as it sets out the legal basis for employment to the UK Border Agency.
4. Provide Employment Documents to the Worker: e.g. Offer of Employment Letter, Maintenance Letter (where required) etc

The Prospective Employee must then:

1. Prepare a Tier 2 Visa Application: e.g. Complete Tier 2 Application Forms, prepare Original Supporting Documents, submit an Online Visa Application, book Biometrics Appointment, Pay Visa Submission Fee etc
2. Attend a Biometric Appointment: All applicants (excluding dependents under the age of five) must provide Biometric Information in order to submit the application e.g. Full Face Digital Photo, Scans of all 10 Fingerprints
3. Submit the Application: Applications must be submitted to the British Diplomatic Post (e.g. Embassy, High Commission) in the individuals country of residence (1 to 4 weeks normally required)
4. Gain an Approval: Once a Tier 2 visa has been validated in an individuals passport he / she may travel to the UK and begin employment

For more Information call Commonwealth Contractors now on
0800 294 4388 or Submit your Details & we will get back to you.

Related Information for Employers Pages:

• Alternatives to Sponsor Licensing
• Tier 2 License Applications
• Ongoing Immigration Compliance