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.