The United Kingdom is one of the most prominent countries in the world for career enthusiasts. This country provides the ultimate job opportunities not only to its native citizens but also to global citizens. People from all over the world want to join this country for various reasons. But one of the most prominent reasons is the enticing job opportunities and top-notch work environment that every working professional wants in their life. Due to the skill shortage in the United Kingdom and for the growth of their companies, UK employers always want to hire international employees. However, due to complex UK immigration rules and regulations, it is not that easy to implement an overseas hiring process. They need to obtain a sponsor licence first. This licence is the key to hiring international skilled workers. Before you apply for this licence, it is crucial that you must get some sponsor licence guidance from solicitors in London. The knowledge and advice they provide will help you tremendously in acquiring this licence. Their help is necessary and advisable because employers make common mistakes during the application process. Those mistakes can lead to delay and denial of the licence.
Here in this comprehensive guide, we have mentioned several common mistakes and ways to avoid them. It is essential to know that mistakes in the application can have several consequences. Once your application gets denied by UK visas and immigration, you won’t be able to hire international skilled workers. So what are we waiting for? Let’s delve into this informative guide to avoid these mistakes.
An Overview of Sponsor Licence Application
Before diving into the common mistakes, knowing everything related to this licence application is essential. So, being a UK employer, if you want to hire international skilled workers for your venture, it is essential to obtain a sponsor licence first. Without this licence, you won’t be able to hire international workers for your UK company. However, to obtain this licence, it’s vital that you must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfil all the requirements of the UK visas and immigration that are associated with this licence. Here, we have mentioned some of the specific eligibility requirements for it.
- So, first and foremost, your company must be registered under the legalities of the UK government.
- You must have a VAT registration number.
- Your company must be genuine and trading lawfully in the United Kingdom.
- You have to demonstrate that you genuinely need to hire international skilled workers.
- You must have sufficient funds to fulfil the salary threshold of hired employees from all over the world.
- You must have all the necessary documents required for this visa application.
Inadequate documents and non-eligibility can become two of the top reasons for your application cancellation. Hence, evaluating your eligibility before applying for this licence is essential. In this way, you will be able to save your money and time as well.
Common Mistakes in Application Process & Ways to Avoid Them
Now, let’s talk about common mistakes associated with this application process. Here in this section, we have mentioned all those mistakes and ways to avoid them.
- Usually, UK employers don’t emphasise the preparation of sponsor licence applications. They apply in a rush, leading to discrepancies and licence application denial. To avoid this mistake, employers need to take proper time to prepare for their applications. Put all the essential information in a detailed way to avoid consequences.
- Employers must have a resilient human resource system to obtain a sponsor licence. Keeping records of your hired employees and maintaining compliance with UKVI rules and regulations is essential. The lack of an HR system can lead to further discrepancies and become one of the common reasons for your application denial.
- For UK employers, it is essential that you must have all the records of your employees. You must have updated contact details, immigration status, work permit documents, and the residential addresses of your employees. Mismanagement in keeping these records can also lead to licence cancellation and revocation. Thus, keeping records of your employees is essential to avoid discrepancies in visa applications.
- Generally, UK employers don’t take their sponsor duties seriously, and as a result, it leads them to licence cancellation. Understanding your sponsor duties and timely reporting to the UK visas and immigration are essential for every sponsor licence holder in the United Kingdom. Ignoring your duties and responsibilities can become one of the reasons for application denial.
- One of UK employers’ most common mistakes is neglecting to seek legal help. Since the process of obtaining this licence involves several legacies, it is advisable to get help from solicitors in London. There are various renowned legal firms in the United Kingdom, such as A Y & J Solicitors. They have a team of experienced and knowledgeable solicitors who can provide ultimate advice and assist you through the application process. In such a way, you can avoid making common mistakes.
- If you are already a sponsor licence holder, paying the cost associated with this lcience is essential. For new applicants, it’s important to pay the appropriate application fee. Not paying the fees and other costs can also become one of the reasons for licence revocation or cancellation. Your application will be denied if you fail to pay these fees. So it is essential to take care of fees associated with this licence.
- For sponsor licence applicants, it’s essential to take proper sponsor licence guidance before filling out the application form. You need to fill out the application form with adequate information. Your full name, company name, contact details, and VAT registration number should be correct.
Thus, these are some of the common mistakes employers make while applying for a sponsor licence. Avoiding these common mistakes can make your application more robust and presentable in front of the UKVI. Proper guidance, understanding of sponsor duties and keeping employees’ records are vital in avoiding negative responses to your application from the UK Home Office.