Why You Need an Immigration Expert for Your Sponsorship Application

Anyone who has gone fishing knows the importance of a good bait.  

But what if despite having a good, fat bait, you still end up with nothing? NADA. ZERO. 

Is it the gear? NO.  

Is it the weather? NO.  

Well then, it’s simple: You’re fishing on the wrong side of the sea. 

Casting a Wider Net for Care Workers 

Call it fishing or hunting, but hiring healthcare workers is no different. You look for eligible employees, offer the best deals, and most of the time, you end up with nothing—or you do get someone but lose them to a different employer in just a few months.  

And this doesn’t just happen to you. A survey in December 2021 shows that the majority of care providers in the UK feel that recruitment and staff retention have become increasingly difficult over the months—proof that the healthcare sector is collapsing. This is backed up by a separate study that reveals that there are approximately 430,000 employees who leave the care sector in just over a year.  

These alarming data are proof that we can no longer ignore our need to adapt to new hiring strategies. Open days and job fairs don’t work, so why force it when there’s an ocean of carers willing to get the job done, and more importantly, stay in your business?  

Now that changes in the shortage occupation list have made the UK an easy target for overseas migrants, this is your chance to cast your nets wide by getting a sponsor license. But if you do, do your business a favour: ask help from an immigration expert!   

Why You Need an Immigration Expert 

1. Industry-specific compliance requirements 

On 22 February 2022, our head solicitor, Sukhvinder Nara, received an urgent call from a care provider (CP) who recently submitted his sponsorship application. The Home Office asked for additional requirements, which naturally, CP didn’t know anything about. CP was only two days away from his deadline when he called Sukhvinder for legal assistance.  

Combining expertise and commitment to his job, Sukhvinder took on the challenge even if the call was after office hours. He worked with CP late at night—and even overnight—just to make sure all his documentation, response letter, and HR system were in place. More than showing the way, Sukhvinder led CP’s way by going on Zoom calls, sacrificing sleep, and making sure he has a robust HR system.  

The lesson: submitting a sponsorship application is one thing but making sure you meet all compliance requirements is a completely different story. The Home Office sets different supporting documents and requirements, depending on factors like the kind of industry you’re in and the positions available in your company. By asking for help from an immigration expert, you can avoid immeasurable stress and delays in your application.  

2. Cooling off period for re-application 

So what happens if CP missed his Home Office deadline? Simple. His application will be denied, prompting a six-month cooling off period, which means that his sponsorship reapplication can only be done in the next 6 months. This can delay his business plans and impact the quality and consistency of the care he delivers.  

Other grounds for sponsor license refusal include, but are not limited to, the following:  

• Failure to submit/pass the Home Office’s Compliance Audit 
• Failure to meet the deadline set by the Home Office 
• Failure to provide proper documentation 

• Failure to show a robust HR system for migrant workers