The sponsor licence
To get a sponsor licence, you must:
– be able to show that you are inspected, audited or accredited by one of the UK Border Agency’s approved bodies;
– allocate a number of key roles to staff using the sponsorship management system;
– be able to comply with your sponsorship duties; and
– have the appropriate human resource (HR) systems in place to be able to monitor your students’ attendance, when the reporting functionality in the sponsorship management system is rolled out for education providers later in 2009.
There are many supporting documents required for this application and if you are successful you will be given an A or B rating and added to the UK Border Agency’s tier 4 register of sponsors.
The visa letter or confirmation of acceptance for studies
To bring non-EEA students to the United Kingdom on or after 31 March 2009, educational establishments were required to issue students with a visa letter. This is only if you are giving the student an unconditional offer. If they apply successfully, the student’s visa will then be linked to your institution. We can advise you of the information the visa letter should contain for general students or visa letter for child students.
From autumn 2009, student sponsors have been required to issue confirmation of acceptance for studies (which is a unique reference number) instead of visa letters, using the UKBA’s sponsorship management system.
Key elements of the new system
You must have a licence. You must comply with your sponsorship duties.
All educational establishments with foreign students must issue a confirmation of acceptance for studies to all non-EEA student to enable them to apply for a new visa or extension, using the sponsorship management system to issue confirmation of acceptance for studies.
How we can help you
Assist with the task of Sponsor Registration, ensuring wherever possible that our clients (you – the educational institution) are awarded an A-rating from the start, and are allocated the maximum quota of certificates of sponsorship. This will include an initial compliance audit of your HR systems and procedures. The processes and materials that we use are designed to be as efficient as possible in helping clients ensure that they meet the requirements of the new system.
Deal with the administration of the Sponsor Management System, on your behalf including: keeping accurate records of all issued Certificates, and of all information provided through the SMS to the UK Border Agency; updating all relevant details or changes in the sponsored migrant worker’s job or status as we are informed of them, and highlight any mistakes or discrepancies before they cause any problems with the UKBA.
Administer the issuing of Certificates of Sponsorship on behalf of the sponsoring school in accordance with the UK immigration authorities criteria. This wil include checking the situation meets current guidance, making a case for each certificate, and making checks as necessary on the documentary evidence available to confirm a student’s qualifications and/or progress. We will also ensure the necessary supporting documentation is adequately collated and filed, in preparation for the compliance inspections conducted by the UK Border Agency.
Ensure all important updates regarding specific areas of compliance which the Border Agency may have identified are expeditiously implemented.
Distribute guidance documents and updates to all administrators of sponsored students, or HR Officers to ensure that the right issues are reported to the UK Border Agency in a timely fashion