Finding great workers can be pretty tricky, and sometimes employers are forced to search for them outside their country, and this trend is getting more popular every year. Although it can be a perfect solution for the company, and the dream comes true for the employees, as they get a sponsorship visa that allows them to live and work in the UK, there are certain things to pay attention to when applying. It can be a little confusing, especially for those doing this for the first time or people who are not familiar with laws and do not like to deal with a lot of paperwork, but there is no need to worry, as we will simplify the entire process in the text below.
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Keep copies of the documents
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We are all aware that each process requires a certain amount of documents that need to be gathered, and besides the papers that you need to provide as the employer, employees are obliged to provide documents such as their qualifications and accreditations that can prove they are suitable for the job position. The best way to keep the papers organized is to take one file folder for each worker and put a copy of each important document inside. In that way, you will be able to check each of them when necessary without spending hours searching.
Another way to look at keeping the copies is that in case of a negative response due to lack of paperwork needed, and one has that document in their archive, they can easily send it back and speed up the entire procedure. Of course, this doesn’t happen that often since everything is done online, but it is still something that might happen, and keeping copies of the paperwork submitted is not that big of a problem but can save you a lot of time. Overall, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so be organized and have all documents separated and archived.
Apply online
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One of the best changes in the UK Visa sponsorship process is that we are now able to apply online and save precious time for other important tasks crucial for running the company. Online application is pretty simple and does not require a lot of time, but it is important to gather all the necessary documents before the application. If everything is done properly, you can finish the application in a few minutes and wait for the response. It also makes the entire process much cheaper, as you do not need to travel anywhere, as everything can be done from home.
On the other hand, there is always a possibility to do everything in person, but for most companies, this is not ideal. So, to make it all easier and more efficient, applying online should be a to-go option for every employer. Yes, the online application can seem a bit difficult at first, but once you get the hang of how it all works, this should be an issue. Once again, proper paperwork is the key, regardless of whether you apply online or in person, so make sure double check whether you gathered everything before submitting the application.
Pay the fee
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Okay, paying fees is not something anyone likes, regardless of whether you are an employer or an employee. On the other hand, it’s understandable that everyone has to pay a certain fee for such an application, but the difference is regarding the amount. The first thing to clarify here is that paying these fees, even though you are an employer is a must, so do not forget that it is necessary to pay certain fees when applying for the sponsorship license, and the amount of these fees depends on the license type. Because of that, it is important to do the research, decide what type of license is the best for your business, and check the amount of fee that must be paid.
Small sponsors are those that have an annual turnover under £10.2, less than 50 employees, and total assets worth less than £5.1 million (two of three requirements must be met), and fees they need to pay are much lower than for medium or large sponsors. Having this license is the only way to be able to hire anyone from a foreign country, as it is a document that verifies that the company can take responsibility for a foreign employee and assist them in gathering all the documentation they need and guide them through the application process. Knowing this, it’s pretty logical that not just anyone can apply and get this type of sponsor license, which is why it is important to meet the criteria before applying for the license.
Waiting period
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It is almost impossible to find a person who likes to wait, and because of that, knowing the length of the waiting period can make it less stressful. Now, the time needed for the application to get administrated and dealt with takes time, but luckily, much has changed in the past decade, and that waiting period is much shorter. Namely, most applications are considered in less than eight weeks, which is great as within two months, you will get an answer or whether providing some extra paperwork is needed. Of course, the waiting time depends on the category – in-country applications, whereas for British National (Overseas), that time can get up to three months.
On the other hand, the great thing is that there is also a possibility to speed up the process, as sometimes it is possible to pay an extra fee and get a decision in less than ten days, which is perfect for those who are always in a hurry. Of course, there are certain limitations even here, as only a few applications per day can qualify to be done within two weeks. We also need to highlight that representatives from the UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration) might visit your business, as this is a common practice, so be prepared for this possibility as well.
