Certificate of Sponsorship for UK Expansion Worker Visa – The SmartMove2UK

1. Explained: Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for UK Expansion Worker Visa – UK Expansion Worker Visa Consultant in India & UK Need a quick help? CHAT WITH US NOW!

2. Vision Statement A Certificate of Sponsorship is a mandatory document when hiring workers through a few of the UK – Global Business Mobility Route or sending an employee to the UK for expanding the foreign business. An employer must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to verify that the requirements applicable to a UK Expansion Worker visa have been met before they can sponsor a migrant worker. The employee (applicant – going to the UK) then submits a sponsorship visa application through the CoS. Here’s more about the Certificate of Sponsorship (for a UK Expansion Worker visa – along with other important information)

3. What is UK Expansion Worker Visa The UK Expansion Worker visa is a route under the Global Business Mobility category. It is for foreign nationals who are accepting employment assignments in the UK are eligible for the UK Expansion Worker visa. It is one of the best routes under the Global Business Mobility visas category for an expansion worker/ a senior manager or a specialist working for that foreign company to move to the UK for initiatives involving expanding the foreign business there.

4. What are the benefits of UK Expansion Worker Visa for a company The benefits of Expansion Worker visa, amongst other Global Business Mobility visas, is that the route is a great pathway for business owners, senior managers and/or specialists to enter the UK and start planning the expansion of their business. Here’s how the UK Expansion Worker visa can do wonders for a company. • A company/business can allow up to 5 employees (with their individual Expansion Worker visas) to enter the UK for expanding their foreign business. • The Expansion Worker visa allows you to live in the UK for 12 months and allows you to extend the visa for another 12 months – adding up to 2 years. • The visa holder can travel abroad and return to the UK (for business, trading purposes)

5. What are the benefits of UK Expansion Worker Visa for an employee The Expansion Worker can: • Take their partner and children (if they are eligible) • Access healthcare in the UK • Access free education for children

6. What is a UK Expansion Worker Visa Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) A sponsor licence holder issues the CoS, a self-certifying document, to a candidate for a sponsored work visa. The Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record with a unique reference number and not a physical document. A sponsor must first issue the applicant with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for them to submit a valid application for the UK Expansion Worker visa and other Sponsored Work route. When the certificate is assigned, the expansion worker (applicant) must apply for their visa within 3 months. And They must not apply for their visa more than 3 months before the start date of the job listed on the certificate.

7. The certificate must show that the company (licenced sponsor) • Is willing to sponsor the employee; • Is confident the employee can adhere to all immigration requirements; • Are qualified to sponsor the employee and accept the terms and conditions outlined in the SMS (Sponsorship management System)

8. The certificate must show that the company (licenced sponsor) • Reference number – Your company will give you a reference number for your sponsorship certificate. • Your full name, title, and yearly salary • The occupation code for your position • Your employer’s name and sponsor licence number. • Bank statements or other documentation that shows you have enough personal savings to support yourself while you are in the UK.

9. How to apply for a sponsor licence Getting a Sponsor Licence is the first step for a business, in expanding their horizons to the UK. With a Sponsor Licence, an employer can issue a certificate of sponsorships to their employees for representing their business in the UK. If you’re looking to enter the international market and expand your business to the UK, a sponsor licence is a must. Here’s how you can get a sponsor licence.

10. 1. Apply for a sponsor licence online It is usually preferable to make sure that you have all the necessary information and paperwork available before you apply online. Once the online form is filled out, you must submit it and pay the sponsor licence fee, which is £536 for smaller businesses and charities and £1,476 for bigger ones.

11. 2. After completing the online application, you must submit Your supporting documents, if required, should be submitted using the submission form at the end of the application.Your affidavits and statutory declarations must be witnessed by a knowledgeable, impartial party, such as a lawyer, notary public, justice of the peace, commissioner for oaths, or (in Scotland only) a councillor.

12. 3. Email the Home Office a thorough letter and all the pertinent documents The Home Office should get all the paperwork and a thorough letter by email. Sending documents via postal mail is no longer essential due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Documents should ideally be provided to the Home Office in PDF format. Formats in JPEG and PNG are also supported. With so any requirements and all its technicalities, it can be difficult to provide the right evidence of each of them, and if you miss any important supporting documentation, your visa application can be refused. Hence, it is advisable to seek legal assistance.

13. What documents are needed for UK Expansion Worker Visa application? A UK Expansion Worker visa applicant must show to the Home Office in their application that they can meet all requirements and have the necessary paperwork and documents. Some of the documents needed for the UK Expansion Worker visa are: the application form, the Certificate of Sponsorship, bank statements to prove financial eligibility and TB-certificate along with other supporting documentation like identity, passport, pay slips, etc.

14. Eligibility criteria to apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa Meeting the eligibility criteria for a UK Expansion Worker visa is crucial, since failing to do so could result in the application being rejected. To be eligible, you must: • A valid certificate of sponsorship • Worked for your employer (sponsor) for atleast 12 months • Do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations • Meet the salary requirement

15. What is the cost of UK Expansion Worker Visa When applying for, keep in mind there are multiple cost of UK Expansion Worker visa like financial, salary and more involved. During your application, you will need: £259 – For the application fee, £624 per year for the health surcharge, £1,270 to support yourself in the UK (unless you are exempt) and £42,400 as your annual salary or the “going rate” for your position, whichever is higher.

16. What are the other important requirements for a UK Expansion Worker visa If we break it down, there are multiple areas of requirements like: • Business requirements – One of the requirements from the business is that it must not yet have been trading in the UK • Sponsor requirements – The sponsor must have a valid sponsor licence • Period requirements – A UK Expansion Worker must have worked for their overseas business/company for at least 12 months, before applying for the UK Expansion Worker visa. • Qualification requirements – As long as you can meet the eligibility and requirements, you can apply for the visa. • Salary requirements – Earn atleast £42,400 or the “going rate” for your position, whichever is higher. • Financial requirements – Application fee, health surcharge and maintenance funds • Health Surcharge requirements • And other supporting documents like identification, passport, etc.

17. How can The SmartMove2UK help Our UK-qualified immigration lawyers have helped numerous businesses and partnerships effectively grow their operations in the UK for more than 10 years. Our UK immigration lawyers know exactly how to present your application. Starting from: Checking your eligibility – Whether you are eligible for a sponsor licence, if not, how we can bridge that gap.Checklist of documents – Our team will assess your application based on the standard checklist of documents and if there is any missing evidence, our UK immigration lawyers will work at finding an alternative. Once all the required paperwork is gathered, our UK Expansion Worker visa experts based in India – Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and in the United Kingdom – London will help you make a successful immigration journey to the UK.