UKBA rolls out Premium Service for Sponsors

The UK Border Agency will launch the premium customer service for sponsors on 6 April 2012.

The service is aimed at users of the sponsorship system who want to pay for a higher level of customer service and a package of benefits.

There are two levels of premium customer service for sponsors:

• Premium sponsor – £25,000 per year
• SME+ sponsor- £8,000 per year

Eligibility

Tier 2 and 5 sponsors will be eligible to apply for premium or SME+ customer service if they:

• are A-rated in all the tiers of their licence;
• have not been issued with a civil penalty in the last 3 years, and any civil penalty issued before that has been paid in full; and
• fully satisfy their sponsorship responsibilities as demonstrated by a successful compliance audit.

As a premium sponsor you:

• are defined as A (Premium) on the register of sponsors;
• have a named licence manager within the UK Border Agency;
• have a senior account manager within the UK Border Agency;
• receive priority treatment on requests you make after you receive your licence, such as changes of circumstances;
• receive 50 pre-paid checks using the online employer checking service (from May 2012); and
• are invited to premium sponsor events.

The migrants you sponsor receive:

• immediate passport returns for postal applications;
• priority access to appointments at public enquiry offices in the UK; and
• guaranteed access to priority and premium services overseas.

As an SME+ sponsor you:

• are defined as A (SME+) on the register of sponsors;
• have a named licence manager within the UK Border Agency;
• receive priority treatment on requests you make after you receive your licence, such as changes of circumstances;
• receive 25 pre-paid checks using the online employer checking service (from May 2012).

For further information on the above or how we can assist you in becoming a premium/SME+ sponsor, please get in touch with Rahul Batra, Director and Head of Department at rahul.batra@hudsonmckenzie.com or call on +44 (0)20 3553 7711.