How do I sponsor a migrant?
How we consider an application
This page explains what we do when considering your application for a licence to sponsor migrants under the points-based system.
On this page
How we consider applications
A key part of our role is to investigate and to make sure we only award licences to genuine organisations that are likely to comply with their duties.
We are likely to refer your licence application for extensive checks, which may include an on-site visit by our officers, if we know very little about your organisation and would like to know more.
Our visiting officers will be trained and equipped to issue civil penalties or refer cases for prosecution if they find evidence of wrongdoing or criminal activity.
The overriding principle
When considering your licence application, we ask three main questions:
- Are you a genuine organisation operating lawfully in the United Kingdom? You must prove this by sending certain documents listed in Appendix A of the full policy guidance of the policy guidance.
- Are you trustworthy? We look at the history and background of your organisation, your key personnel and the people who control the organisation. Any history of dishonest conduct or immigration crime will be viewed seriously and may mean we refuse your application.
- Are you capable of carrying out your duties as a sponsor? We judge this by looking at your organisation's processes and human resource practices (or student attendance monitoring practices in the case of education providers), to ensure that you can carry out your duties. If we have significant doubts, we may award a B rating or, in more serious cases, refuse your application.
See also
Terms explained
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B rating
This term is applied to a sponsor under the points-based system for coming to the United Kingdom to work, train or study. It is the rating awarded by us when a sponsor joins the register of sponsors. A B rating is a transitional rating for a sponsor who is under a sponsorship action plan.
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Civil penalties
A requirement to pay money that can be imposed for an offence without the need for a court conviction.