Since the UK left the EU, freedom of movement for EEA workers has now ended. This means that UK employers have a much smaller recruitment pool with which to build their teams. Despite this, only 3% of UK organisations are registered as UK visa sponsors.
The complexity and cost of the process are thought to be two of the biggest obstacles to becoming UK visa sponsors. Organisations may also worry about having to justify their recruitment processes.
Recruitment can be a complex process without the added confusion of having to sponsor the applicant’s visa. If you’re in a rush to fill a vacancy in your organisation, every second counts. With this in mind, we’re looking at ways you can speed up the application process to streamline recruitment.
How long does a standard application take to process?
A standard application typically takes around eight weeks to process. Bear in mind that this is a standard case with no complications. If your application is more complex and requires more in-depth investigation.
The Home Office may also send an agent to your premises to learn more about your company. Arranging this can take time, so this could delay your decision. And finally, issues with your documents could also delay your application decision. For example, if the documents are provided in an unreadable format, the Home Office may contact you to get the correct documents.
Eight weeks can be daunting to many employers, particularly when you consider that the applicant will also need to submit an application with a similar processing time. This could mean you’re waiting at least four months before you can fill vacancies in your organisation.
If you need to find a way to expedite the process, you could consider choosing the sponsor licence priority service.
How long does a priority application take to process?
The sponsor licence priority service allows you to pay to get a decision in just 10 working days. This excludes public holidays. The service costs £500 and is available to most applicants. The number of priority service requests available per day is limited to 30 on a first-come-first-served basis.
It’s important to note that there are no guarantees with the priority service. If your case is more complex, it could take longer than 10 working days to reach a decision. The Home Office reserves the right to take longer in the decision process, even if you have purchase priority processing. The only instance where you would receive a refund of your fee for a delay in the decision process would be if shortfalls in the Home Office delayed your decision.
Can I upgrade my standard application to priority service?
If you have submitted your application and realise that you need to expedite the process, you may be able to apply priority processing to your case. To do this, you will need to log in to your online account and check the status of your application. If this is marked as “in progress”, you will no longer be eligible to request the priority service.
However, if you have submitted all of your supporting documents and paid your fee, and your application still isn’t “in progress”, you will be able to request the priority service.
Does priority service guarantee success?
No, it’s a common misconception that paying more for your visa sponsor application will guarantee success, but sadly this isn’t the case. The priority service simply elevates your application to the top of the list. The Home Office representatives will still carry out the same checks that are required for all applicants.
The only instance where you will receive a streamlined application process is for sponsors who are renewing. If you have two previous successful renewals behind you, then your organisation will be eligible for a streamlined renewal process.
This will allow the Home Office agents to reduce some of the checks required to confirm your application. You don’t have to pay for this service and it will be automatically granted once you have at least two successful renewals on your record.
Who can use the priority service?
Most applicants can use the priority service, but there are some instances when it won’t be available. You need to be applying for a relevant visa sponsorship route and apply within the correct time frame.
There are only 30 priority requests available per day, and these are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. You can also only make a request between 9:00 a.m. and 23:59 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
Who cannot use the priority service?
Certain visa sponsorship routes are not eligible for the priority service. These include:
- GBM UK Expansion Worker
- GBM Service Supplier
- GBM Secondment Worker
- Scale-up Worker
- Government Authorised Exchange
- International Agreement
- Seasonal Worker
If you are hoping to hire workers in any of these categories, you won’t be able to request the priority service.
You also need to ensure you have submitted your documents on time and paid the fees. The Home Office will not chase you for failure to submit documents or pay the required fee. The process will be to reject your application and you will need to submit a fresh application.
How can A Y & J Solicitors help?
We can help to streamline the application process and increase your chances of success. We do this by anticipating the Home Office’s requirements to ensure that your application ticks all of the right boxes.
We can also manage correspondence with the Home Office to take the pressure off your recruitment team. Navigating this legal process can be incredibly daunting, but our guidance can help to make the process easier for your team. With one less thing to worry about, you and your organisation can focus on finding the right staff to help you grow your organisation.
If you’re thinking about becoming a UK visa sponsor but are worried about managing the process, we can help. Get in touch with our expert team today to learn more about what we can offer. Checkout Best Immigration Lawyers in London UK
