Can I sponsor myself for a UK Skilled Worker Visa?
Yes, you can sponsor yourself for a UK Skilled Worker Visa only by establishing or acquiring a business entity in the UK and applying for a valid sponsor licence. It permits you to sponsor yourself on behalf of the company.
How to apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa with self-sponsorship
You have to complete the following steps to sponsor yourself for a UK Skilled Worker visa:
- Establish a company in the UK
- Apply for a sponsor licence
- Assign a CoS
- Apply for a Skilled Worker visa
How to establish a company in the UK?
- Identify a business you want to take control of or have a properly attainable and suitable business plan.
- To establish or acquire a business, you must have related qualifications or professional experience.
- Must meet the English Language Proficiency requirements of understanding and speaking English at B1 level on the CEFR scale
- Have the required amount of funds to establish or take control of a business in the UK. There is no maximum or minimum amount required to meet the investment criteria.
- The new or acquired business in the UK must have an authorised officer either of British nationality or a person settled in the country.
You must apply for a valid sponsor licence before applying for a UK Skilled Worker Visa to sponsor yourself.
How to apply for a sponsor licence?
As a new business in the UK, you must provide the below-mentioned proof in order to apply for a sponsor licence to support your application:
- Recent statements for a corporate bank
- Liability Insurance for Employers
- Evidence of the locality of business
- HMRC registrations (minimum registration for PAYE)
The recently registered business can be selected by the UKVI for a pre-registration audit. The audit ensures that the company has the required processes and adequate systems to meet the requirements of a sponsor. The UKVI officials will want to meet the employed individual by the company to discuss the sponsorship application.
How to assign a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship)?
After the approval of the application for a sponsor licence you must apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
The CoS is an electronic record given for each immigrant the business employs. Each Certificate of Sponsorship will have a reference number that enables one to apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa.
The Certificate of Sponsorship must have certain information that includes:
- Information on the employee’s name, job role, and income
- A start date which is no more than three months after the date your Skilled Worker visa application
- Evidence confirming the CoS has not been used for a previous application that was either refused or granted and cancelled by the UK Home Office.
What are the requirements to apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa?
You can apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa after getting a sponsor licence for your business. This will allow you to reside and work in the country. You have to meet the following requirements to be considered for the visa:
- Your valid CoS reference number
- English Language Proficiency scores
- Valid passport
- Identity card and proof of nationality of the home country
- Job role, annual income, and your occupation code
- Employment must be at relevant skill level
- Salary must be equal or exceeding the current pay scale
- Sponsor paid the necessary Immigration Skills Charge
- Employer name and sponsor licence number as present on the certificate of sponsorship
- Evidence of having the necessary financial funds
- If you are from a listed country, then provide a test result for tuberculosis
- Certain sectors require evidence of no criminal records
- ATAS certificate for any field that requires researching in a sensitive field
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