Sponsorship Management System (SMS) is becoming more efficient

Effective immediately, the SMS (the online portal allowing employers to manage their sponsored migrants) has updated how it processes certain sponsor requests.

Requests to replace the Authorising Officer (AO) or Key Contact (KC) and requests to add new Level 1 Users will now be actioned immediately, provided that certain criteria are met.

Further, if a sponsor holds a license for an eligible route, their annual allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) will also automatically renew when they reach their allocation expiry date. The sponsor will be granted the number of CoS they used in the previous CoS validity period.

To benefit from these new processes the postcode of the address stated for the new AO, KC or Level 1 User must match either the postcode of the sponsor’s main organisation address or that of their head office address. For KCs and Level 1 Users, the postcode of a legal representative registered on the SMS will also be considered.

If these criteria are met, the sponsor’s request will be dealt with immediately. For some of the changes it is still a requirement to send the submission sheet and any supporting documentation to the Home Office by email. If the criteria are not met, the request will still be processed, but not automatically.

This update to the SMS means sponsors can keep their licence details up to date without having to wait for requests to be approved by Home Office personnel.

How Gherson can assist

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