Immigration Advice and Support for Schools & Colleges

• Guidance and advice on all aspects of recruitment from overseas
• Advice on identity documents and right to work checks

Many schools seeking to fill vacancies may look to sponsor overseas workers. Our team is able to advise on effective recruitment and selection; give guidance and advice on all aspects of identity documentation and right to work checks; and assist with applications for sponsorship licences, including navigating the Sponsor Management System (SMS).

Assistance includes, but is not limited to:

• Applying for a sponsorship licence
• Guidance on using the SMS
• Acting as a Level 1 user Licence management and compliance
• Advising on revocation of a sponsorship licence
• Advising on right to work checks
• Ongoing support

We conduct audits for both Worker sponsors and Student sponsors, reviewing all current immigration processes and procedures, meeting with key personnel to advise on their duties and providing follow-up support in readiness for any UKVI compliance visits

We can assist with all aspects of the points-based system. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Undertaking the whole visa application process on your behalf;
• Sponsoring workers under the Skilled Worker route of the points-based system;
• Sponsoring Ministers of Religion visas (T2) under the points-based system;
• Sponsoring students under the Student route, and Temporary Students under the Short-term student route for certain courses, of the points-based system;

We appreciate this is an uncertain time for many organisations and we can provide specific support in relation to Brexit and EU national workers. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Applying for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, for any EU national employees
• Advising employees on the implications of Brexit and providing materials to send to affected staff.

We are able to provide a range of bespoke training, examples of which include:

• Recruitment from overseas
• Implications of Brexit
• Responsibilities of a sponsorship licence holder

Advised a FE college with regards to issues over their Student visas after the college had received correspondence from the UKVI suggesting that the licence would be suspended if the institution did not register with the correct oversight body.

Assisted a multi-academy trust with various immigration queries under the Stone King education retainer service. Common ad hoc queries include renewing a Certificate of Sponsorship allocation, the implications of Brexit on schools and advice on filling shortages in the workforce through Skilled Worker visas or teaching roles on the shortage occupation list.

Provided assistance to a large MAT which took on a school with sponsored workers, when they were not a sponsorship licence holder. Completed the application for a sponsorship licence on their behalf which was granted exceptionally quickly. Thereafter advised on the necessary steps to transfer the workers onto the new licence and ensure their immigration status in the UK was protected.

Remotely assisted a client with using the SMS over the phone to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to a worker that they wished to sponsor, as they were unfamiliar with how to navigate the system.

Assisted an independent school with applying for Restricted (now Defined) Certificate of Sponsorship (for workers outside of the UK) by completing the Resident Labour Market Test on their behalf, to ensure all requirements were met.

We act as level 1 users on many client’s sponsorship licences allowing for increased expertise reduced risk and increased efficiency and further ensuring complete compliance with the immigration rules. Actions taken as a Level 1 User include assigning Certificates of Sponsorship, replying to a UKVI request, reporting any absences or staff departures and adding any additional branches or sites to your licence.