What are the proposed changes to the online Sponsor Management System?

07 Sep 2021, 05 mins ago

The Sponsor Management System (“SMS”) is the IT system via which UK employers are able to manage their Sponsor Licence for the purpose of hiring non-resident staff members.

To date, however, UK employers have continuously struggled with navigating the SMS and its reform is, therefore, in high demand. This is particularly so given that employers have been required to sponsor should they wish to hire any EEA nationals from 1 January 2021.

The Home Office promises that the new SMS will deliver a streamlined, simplified and modern sponsorship process that will enable efficient operation for both UK employers and the Home Office, ultimately encouraging compliance. The Home Office intends for the new SMS to start operating from mid-2023, with all licenced UK employers to be on the new system by the first quarter of 2024.

Since January 2021, the Home Office has already introduced an array of changes with a view to streamlining and improving the sponsorship process. These include:

  • Removing the Resident Labour Market Test, reducing the time from identifying a need to hire an overseas worker and acquiring a visa for that worker by 28 days;
  • Suspending the cap on Skilled Workers, reducing the certificate of sponsorship assignment process by up to 4 weeks in some cases;
  • Making the Sponsor Licence application process fully paperless;
  • Introducing a mobile application via which EEA nationals may provide their biometrics, in place of needing to attend an in-person appointment; and
  • Increasing available post-licence priority requests from 30 to 60 a day.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson has over 30 years of experience in assisting with all aspects of UK immigration law and is monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on all immigration issues closely. We have a specialist corporate immigration team who service the needs of a large number of companies. If you would like to speak to a member of our corporate immigration team in respect of any of the issues raised in this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or alternatively, follow us on TwitterFacebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

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