Sponsor Licence-Tier 4

Sponsor License – Educational Establishments

If you are running an educational establishment and wish to recruit overseas students for their studies, you need to obtain sponsor license from the HOME OFFICE. This is permission from the HOME OFFICE to the UK educational establishment allowing taking on overseas students under the point based system.

The educational establishment needs to provide documentary evidences of physical and trading existence of the business and are also required to maintain certain set of HR policies and procedures in order to make a successful application.

The HOME OFFICE may also visit the business premises to see whether the documents provided truly reflect the nature and the extent of the business and whether the UK establishment have HR policies in place or not and whether there are set procedures in place to meet the stringent reporting duties. If they are happy with all the paperwork and are satisfied with the HR policies and other procedures, they can approve the application for a sponsor license.

Once approved, they can either give an A – rated license or a B – rated license.

A-Category:

This is issued when the HOME OFFICE finds everything in perfect order and place and are satisfied with the UK establishment`s HR policies and other procedures. Once this is issued, the educational establishment may then commence enrolling overseas students.

B-Category:

This is issued when the HOME OFFICE is generally satisfied that all the requirements are being met but has concerns about some minor issues. This is a temporary stage and the educational establishment is required to follow a certain plan of actions to upgrade to category A. The issuance of a B category license is generally followed by an approved plan of action for that particular educational establishment, that needs to be followed in order to be upgraded to A - category.

Educational establishments can only sponsor overseas students if they have a valid A category license.

Important Information:

1) Duration of License:

The license is issued for a period of four years and it has to be renewed upon completion of four years, if the UK establishment continues to recruit overseas students.

2) Duration of the Process:

If all the process goes well, it takes an average time of about 8-10 weeks for the HOME OFFICE to give their decision.

3) Suspension of Sponsorship License Application:

The Home office may often visit the business premises to check the educational establishment’s compliance with the requirements and if they find out any discrepancies in the records or are not satisfied with the HR procedures and policies, they may suspend the sponsorship license of the company. A suspension letter is issued and the educational establishment is generally given 20 working days to respond to any queries or concerns raised in the suspension letter. It is really important to seek legal help at this stage as it is often difficult to understand the legal jargon available on the Home office website relating to the sponsorship license procedure. We have handled a number of such matters and have been able to get relief to our clients.

4) Judicial Review:

A refusal of sponsorship license application does not attract full rights of appeal and the applicant (i.e. UK establishment) has either to lodge a fresh application by addressing the issues raised by the HOME OFFICE or if dissatisfied with the decision may lodge Judicial review proceedings against the decision.

Why Chauhan Solicitors?

We are a city law firm, specialising in UK Immigration matters. We are located in Central London and South West London (Tooting), therefore conveniently accessible to Londoners and clients in other parts of the UK. Moreover since all the UK immigration Applications can be submitted online, it has become easier for us to take instructions from anywhere in the world.

According to our clients, we are one of the Best Immigration Solicitors in London. We invite you to view our online reviews shown below that would allow you make an informed choice when instructing on of the best immigration solicitors of London to represent you.

How We Can Help You?

No two immigration matters can be the same. We have a tailor make solution for every immigration matter and in order to achieve the best outcome we follow a strict strategy i.e.

A) Assessment of your Immigration Matter:We carefully asses merits of your intended visa application, further leave to remain, immigration appeal, Judicial Review or any other immigration matter, as the case may be.

B) Immigration Advice: Upon assessment of your matter, we advise you on the most appropriate way forward by keeping in view your personal circumstances and the relevant law.

C) Engagement of Our Immigration Services: Once engaged, we shall provide you with a comprehensive list of documents / information required for preparing your immigration application, immigration appeal, Immigration Judicial Review and Administrative Review, as the case may be.

D) Review of Information and Documents: We then very carefully review the requested documentation and information and make sure that your application etc. is aligned with the relevant laws. In immigration appeal or Judicial Review matters, we discuss suitability of the immigration barristers for the particular matters.

E) Representations:We believe that for any successful UK visa application, leave to remain application, UK immigration appeals, immigration Judicial Review or Admin Review, it is pivotal that you are thoroughly & efficaciously represented. For the same reasons, we very carefully draft your covering letters, Grounds of Appeal, Grounds of Judicial Review or Skeleton Arguments etc. in order to conclude your immigration matters successfully.

F) Follow-up: Once the immigration matter is submitted or filed, when & where necessary, we keep tabs on the Home office or the Immigration Tribunals and update you accordingly.

G) Outcome of your Immigration Matter: The outcome of the matter is followed with a need of further advice in respect of making a further application in the future or complying with a list of do’s and don’ts. Our team of best immigration solicitors take care of that diligently.

We believe in giving honest & unparalleled advice to you. We work in complete confidence, as your partners, in sorting out your immigration matters. We have teamed up with the best immigration barristers who specialise in UK Immigration Laws and are well equipped to represent you in any complex immigration matter. Our 5 star reviews vouch for our legal competence, vast knowledge and diligent work attitude.

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