Care Home Sector Sponsorship Licence
If you are a care home business owner or are involved in the daily operations of a care home, obtaining a sponsorship licence is essential if you are to recruit the right staff. That said, you will no doubt be aware that applying for such a licence is not always straightforward.
At OTS Solicitors, we understand the various hurdles that care homes need to navigate when it comes to dealing with sponsorship licences. From requirements set out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), to the general eligibility criteria for applications, the process can be challenging. Having the right legal support from experts who have specialist expertise in helping care homes to make these types of applications is key.
As a firm, we have substantial experience working with care homes to make sponsorship license applications. As such, we can ably assist care homes across England and Wales with all stages of applying for and managing sponsorship licences.
Looking for expert legal support for your care home with a sponsorship licence? Please call us now on 0203 959 9123.
Our team can provide clear advice on matters including:
- Care home sponsorship licence applications
- Care home sponsor licence renewals
- Compliance audits and advice
- Revocation of care home sponsorship licences
- Sponsor licence management
Speak to our experts today
We will be able to discuss your matter at our offices, over the phone or online via web conferencing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx or Skype.
To speak to our expert team, please call now on 0203 959 9123 or use our simple online enquiries form.
Why choose OTS Solicitors to assist your care home with sponsorship licensing in the UK?
- A very high success rate for our clients
- The highest Law Society Accreditation award in Immigration Law
- Consistently ranked as leading immigration experts by respected client guides the Legal 500and Chambers & Partners
- Head of Department Teni Shahiean is a Legal 500 recommended Immigration Lawyer
- Managing Partner Oshin Shahieanis a Law Society accredited Immigration Supervisor and accredited Senior Level 2 Immigration Advisor OISC Level 3
- Senior Immigration Consultant Paul Gulbenkianis a former Immigration Tribunal Judge and Crown Court Recorder, a founder member of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) and President of the European Immigration Lawyers Group
- Over 85 years of combined experience and knowledge across our team covering all areas of immigration law
Sponsorship licences for care homes explained
How to apply for a sponsor licence for your care home
Securing a sponsorship licence will usually rely on being able to demonstrate that your care home meets the strict requirements set out under UK immigration law. As you might expect, a high standard of evidence is required to demonstrate that you, as an employer, meet these requirements. Additionally, mistakes made in the sponsorship license application process could lead to delays and additional recruitment pressures, highlighting the importance of seeking expert advice from our team.
The basic process to apply for a sponsor licence is as follows:
- Complete the online application process through the government web portal
- Send in the submission sheet provided at the end of the online application process
- Send in any required supporting documents as outlined in Appendix A of the published Home Office guidance (these must be submitted within five working days of the initial application to the Home Office)
Please note: You will need to provide a detailed explanation of your reasons for requiring a sponsorship licence as part of the application process.
Alongside the care home sponsorship application, you will also need to make sure you have suitable HR systems in place to comply with your obligations as a licence holder.
While making an application, you should anticipate a pre-licence compliance visit, where a Home Office official will visit their premises for an inspection and ask any additional questions they may have about the application. While this does not always happen, it is important to be prepared.
You can read more about this process in our article on applying for a sponsor licence for your care home.
How to apply for a skilled worker sponsor licence
Generally speaking, the process to apply for a skilled worker sponsor licence is the same as what we have set out above under the heading: ‘How to apply for a sponsor licence for your care home’.
If you wish to apply for a skilled worker sponsor licence, our expert team can support you through every step of the process, giving you the best chance of success. We can also advise both employers and employees on the process of securing a skilled worker visa.
How long does it take to get a sponsorship licence for a care home?
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) claim that most sponsor licence applications are dealt with in less than eight weeks. This can be a long timeframe, especially as you may be in a situation where you need an application for a licence to be approved quickly to ease any recruitment pressures you may be facing.
Instructing the expert legal support of our team to help with your application can help to reduce the time it takes to secure a licence. It is easy to make mistakes that can delay your application or see it rejected, particularly if you have little experience with applications. These are the exact mistakes our team can help you to avoid.
Do I need a solicitor to apply for a sponsor licence?
You can apply for a sponsorship licence without the support of a solicitor, but please be aware that this can be risky. As we have discussed, the process and requirements are complex and it is very easy to fall foul of the UK’s strict sponsorship licensing rules.
Having experienced immigration law experts to advise you can significantly increase your chances of a successful application, as well as making sure you fully understand and can meet your ongoing compliance obligations.
At OTS Solicitors, our industry-leading immigration experts are highly experienced in supporting employers with sponsorship licence applications and management. As such, we can provide confident, reliable support for all stages of dealing with these matters.
How to apply for a care worker visa
To be eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa, the applicant must be qualified as a doctor, nurse, health or adult social care professional. They will need to work in a health or social care role for a Home Office-approved UK employer who has offered them a certificate of sponsorship, in addition to meeting the relevant minimum salary requirement.
That is not all. There are other basic requirements applicants will need to meet, including the knowledge of English test. It is also worth noting that there are proposed changes to Health and Care Worker visas that mean the requirements may change in the near future.
Care homes who offer certificates of sponsorship need to make sure the overseas employees they are sponsoring are eligible and that they are meeting their obligations as a sponsorship licence holder, so the benefits of having expert support with care worker visa sponsorships, both during the application stage and once your licence has been secured, cannot be underestimated.
Please note that if you are an overseas worker looking to apply for a UK Health and Care Worker visa, our immigration for individuals team will be happy to advise you.
Our fees for helping care homes with sponsor licences in the UK
At OTS Solicitors, we believe in offering exceptional value for our clients, with complete transparency over our fees. This way, clients can be confident they are getting real value for money with our services.
For some matters, we can assist on a fixed cost basis, with our fees agreed at the outset. Where ongoing support is required, we will work to an appropriate hourly rate where all billable work is agreed upon in advance.
Speak to our experts today
We will be able to discuss your matter at our offices, over the phone or online via web conferencing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx or Skype.
To speak to our expert team, please call now on 0203 959 9123 or use our simple online enquiries form.
Your Questions and our answers about Care Home Sector Sponsorship Licence
Thank you for your enquiry. In the UK, holding a sponsorship license as a business gives you the ability to sponsor skilled workers from outside the UK. However, having a sponsorship license does not obligate you to offer sponsorship for all skilled roles within your company. You have the flexibility to choose which positions you want to sponsor. A COS must be issued for all sponsored positions. For more information, please contact us on 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry. If the admin review does not result in a favorable outcome, we can advise on potential legal avenues, such as appeals or judicial review. Given the complexities of immigration law, it is essential to have professional legal representation to navigate through these challenges successfully. It is also important at this stage to be able to substantiate and prove the elements referenced above. For more information, please contact us on 02039599123 or click here
With the CoS from your sponsor, you can then apply for the relevant UK work visa (e.g., Skilled Worker Visa) through the points-based system. This involves meeting the visa criteria, including a job offer from the licensed sponsor and meeting the required points based on salary, skill level, English proficiency, etc.
It’s essential that the company follows all legal and regulatory procedures to revive its status and apply for the necessary licenses to sponsor workers. Additionally, as an individual applying for a visa, you need to meet the specific visa requirements under Appendix Skilled Worker. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry. For your husband’s situation, as a dependent visa holder linked to your Tier 2 sponsorship and considering your naturalization as a British citizen, the appropriate form for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application would likely be FORM SET (O) – Application for Indefinite Leave to Remain Other Purposes.
FORM SET (O) is typically used for individuals who do not fall under specific visa categories and are applying for ILR for reasons other than those covered by other application forms. In this case, your husband, as a dependent on your previous visa, might not fit the criteria specifically outlined in FORM SET (M) for partners.
Rules and forms can occasionally change, and seeking advice from OTS Solicitors can offer tailored guidance based on the most current regulations. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry.
Your partner may be able to switch from sponsored employment to a spouse visa. There are various eligibility and suitability requirements for you and your child in addition to being able to meet the financial threshold of a minimum of £18,600 per year income plus additional for any dependents. The continuous residence would start from the beginning in this scenario. The requirements are in depth and we would advise that you arrange a consultation to determine if this route is appropriate. For more information, please call 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry.
You would usually receive a curtailment letter from the Home Office explaining your options if your employer has correctly notified them on the company’s circumstances. You would usually have a limited amount of time to switch to another sponsored route which can be done within the UK. We would recommend that you get in touch for more information and visit our sponsorship licence pages. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry.
Your employer may need to find the most suitable and closest description under the relevant occupation code. It is important to note the ‘going rate’ and salary requirements for the position. We would recommend that you get in touch for more information and visit our sponsorship licence pages. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry.
The cost of the sponsorship licence will depend on the size of the business. If you are looking to sponsor candidates for employment, you would need to issue a valid CoS to the new employee. You may be able to apply for a defined CoS where you have already selected people to fill the positions or an undefined CoS which provides greater flexibility. We would recommend that you get in touch for more information and visit our sponsorship licence pages. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry.
The cost of the sponsorship licence will depend on the size of the business. If you are looking to sponsor candidates for employment, you would need to issue a valid CoS to the new employee. You may be able to apply for a defined CoS where you have already selected people to fill the positions or an undefined CoS which provides greater flexibility. We would recommend that you get in touch for more information and visit our sponsorship licence pages. Please contact us on 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry.
This would depend on the category of visa you have been granted. If it is a family/partner based visa, you may be able to make an in-country extension to satisfy the 5-year continuous residence requirement. If you are on a sponsored visa for employment, you would need to be issued a valid CoS covering the period of leave. For more information, please contact us on 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry.
The most-straightforward route may be to obtain a certificate of sponsorship from the company referenced above. The company would need to apply for a defined CoS which would enable them to sponsor you for a defined period to work for them. We can assist with the sponsorship licence and the skilled worker visa when you have obtained your CoS. For more information, please call 02039599123 or click here
Thank you for your enquiry.
You would first need to obtain endorsement from one of the relevant endorsing bodies prior to making your application. We would be happy to discuss this with you during a meeting and explain the endorsement process and how to obtain a letter of endorsement. For more information, please call 02039599123 or click here