- First application for a sponsor licence
- Sponsor licence renewal
- Sponsor licence Track 1, Track 2 and Action Plan
- Sponsor licence revoked.
First application for a sponsor licence
If you are applying for a first time Tier 4 sponsor licence, you have no adverse history with the Home Office. If any staff within the UK organisation who has a criminal offence which includes speeding offences, must declare them if they are to become the:
- Authorising Officer
- Key Contact
- Level 1 User
- Level 2 User.
Authorising Officer
The Authorising Officer does not have automatic access to the organisation Sponsorship Management System (SMS). If the Authorising Officer needs access, they must be set up as a Level 1 or Level 2 User. This will mean they will have two roles, Authorising Officer and Level 1 or 2 User.
An Authorising Officer must be an employee of the organisation. The Authorising Officer is accountable for ensuring the assigned Key Contact and Level 1 and Level 2 Users are competent to manage workers employed and the use of the SMS and dealing with the Home Office.
If the Authorising Officer leaves the organisation employment or, they prefer to appoint someone else, their SMS must be updated within 10 working days (ideally immediately) and sign-off a form that is sent to the Home Office for their approval.
Key Contact
The Key Contact does not have automatic access to the SMS. This role allows the Home Office to contact this person if they need to visit the organisation’s premises or need clarification. Home Office can also contact the Authorising Officer and Level 1 User(s).
Level 1 User
A organisation must have at least one Level 1 User assigned to their SMS. If not, UKVI could revoke the organisation sponsor licence for non-compliance. Level 1 User has full access to do actions within their SMS.
Level 2 User
The organisation does not have to appoint a Level 2 User. If they did, this User would be limited to the actions they can do within their SMS.
See below section called
G4I
Support, it explains more in detail what a Level 1 and Level 2 can do within the SMS and how the organisation can appoint G4I to be a Level 1 or level 2 User under a Service Level Agreement.
If the initial application is refused, the UK organisation cannot submit a fresh application for 6 months or challenge the refusal unless the UK organisation has proof the Home Office made errors in their decision.
Sponsor licence renewal
If the UK organisation holds a valid sponsor licence, it will need to be renewed once 4 years has passed from the approval date. This means the UK organisation pays the Home Office a renewal fee for a further 4 years. This is all done within the organisation SMS.
If the organisation decides not to renew their sponsor licence and they have students under Tier 4 still studying, they will no longer be permitted to study for the organisation once the initial sponsor licence has expired regardless if the Tier 4 non-EEA national still has a valid BRP or not.
Sponsor licence Track 1, Track 2 and Action Plan
If the Home Office decides to inspect (Home Office compliance officer Announced or Unannounced) the UK organisation and they suspect non-compliance, the Home Office would normally follow this process:
Compliance Track 1
If the Home Office suspects the UK organisation is suspected of minor sponsor licence fringes, they go down this route first. The Home Office will write to the organisation, allowing them 20 days to respond. During this investigation the organisation can still assign CASs.
The Home Office will agree in writing an action plan with the organisation and the Home Office will expect the action plan to be followed.
Compliance Track 2
If the Home Office suspects the UK organisation is suspected of serious sponsor licence breaches, they will skip Compliance Track 1 and go straight to Compliance Track 2. In the majority of cases, the organisation will be removed from the Tier 4 Register of Sponsors whilst the Home Office investigates. During this time, the organisation will not be permitted to issue any CAS, and may be subject to other restrictions on its licence, but must continue to meet its sponsorship duties and the requirements of
Tier 4 Guidance for Sponsors. The Home Office will write to the organisation to explain the course of action that is being pursued.
Once the Home Office has finished its investigation, the Home Office will start the 'revocation' process and it will allow the organisation 20 days to respond. During this investigation the organisation cannot assign CASs and issued other restrictions.
Action Plan
The purpose of the action plan is to give an organisation some time to rectify breaches that fall short of a serious breach or collective of other breaches. The Home Office will set out in the action plan what the organisation must do to get compliant. The Home Office will charge the organisation a
fee for the action plan. If the action plan is not paid or the organisation does not respond to the action plan, the sponsor licence will get revoked.
Sponsor licence revoked
If the UK organisation sponsor licence is revoked, this is not very good. This means any Tier 4 non-EEA nationals studying, their studies must cease immediately.
Before the Home Office revokes a sponsor licence, the organisation has 20 days or longer to respond to the Home office letter.
There is no right of appeal if the UK organisation sponsor licence is revoked but it is possible to go down the Judicial Review route but this is likely to be expensive as the courts views are, holding a sponsor licence is like a gift, you have to cherish that gift but if you fail to cherish that gift then why should you keep it hence having it revoked.
The ban for Tier 4 revoked licence is two years (unless exceptional circumstances comes into play) whereas Tier 2 or tier 5 is one year.
A solution to this is very simple. Do not breach the rules from day one.
See below G4I Support for our end-to-end support package.