The UK Home Office often uses the terms ‘premium’ and ‘priority’ for value-added offerings, but some service users may be confused as to what they gain, when these are available, and how to access them. For Tier 2 / Skilled Worker sponsor license holders (please note, as of 1st December 2020, the Tier 2 work visa route was replaced with the Skilled Worker visa route), there is both a priority and a premium service available, but they are distinctly different and should not be confused with one another. The premium customer service provides sponsors access to a range of benefits, including a dedicated account manager, whereas the priority service is about ensuring that changes of circumstances are processed faster. In this article, we will explain what is meant by the sponsor license premium service, the benefits available, the eligibility criteria, how to apply, and ultimately our view on whether it is worth the additional cost.
What Is The Skilled Worker Sponsor Premium Customer Service?
The Skilled Worker sponsor premium customer service provides an additional level of support for sponsor license holders. Premium customers are given a dedicated UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account manager whose role it is to support that business with their immigration needs. As such, the premium customer service can be thought of as a personal banker; a person who knows you, your business, and will ensure you receive additional and faster service.
What Are The Benefits Provided By The UKVI Premium Customer Service For Licensed Sponsors?
There are several benefits of paying for premium customer service. According to UKVI, these benefits include:
- expert and tailored advice to your business, offering guidance and support with any immigration queries or issues a premium sponsor might have
- a dedicated account manager with the knowledge and contacts to deal with queries relating to a wide range of immigration routes, including but not limited to all aspects of the points-based system
- access to a bespoke account management portal, giving you a quick and efficient way to track and monitor your interactions with your account manager
- Five free five-day priority upgrade slots per year
- unique access to a number of additional services and benefits, including an annual event, tailored workshops and training packages and closer working with compliance teams
The main benefit, therefore, is that rather than being reliant on the generic support and assistance provided by UKVI, businesses know they can ‘pick up the phone’ to someone they know and receive advice and support.
Like most premium offerings, there are set hours of availability. The service operates Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm, and for exceptional circumstances, it is possible to receive support at the weekend during the same time window.
Are We Eligible To Apply For The UKVI Sponsor License Premium Service?
Most businesses will be able to apply for the UKVI sponsor license premium service, but some will not. To be eligible, you must not have received any civil penalties in the last three years from UKVI, and you must have paid any outstanding which were received prior to this. In addition, B-rated license holders will not be able to apply. The Home Office guidance also states that premium service applicants must “have passed a compliance check, before or during the application process, to make sure they still qualify for an A-rating”.
How Do We Apply For The Sponsor Premium Customer Service?
The application process for the sponsor premium customer service is completed on the sponsor management system (SMS) by clicking ‘Apply for or renew Tier 2/5 premium customer service’. If your sponsor license is to due to be renewed, you can apply for both the renewal and the premium service at the same time.
UKVI state that they will process your application within ten working days, but only if you have received a visit from a compliance officer in the last six months. If you have not, then they will arrange for you to have a compliance visit within three weeks of your application, and then complete your premium service application.
The cost of applying for the premium service does, however, come at the premium cost of £25,000 for large organisations, however, there is an SME+ package available for small, medium or charitable organisations at the cost of £8,000.
Is It Worth Applying The Premium Service?
This very much depends on a number of factors which you will need to weigh up. If you employ a relatively small number of overseas staff and/or you have experienced and knowledgeable staff who understand sponsorship, backed up with mature sponsor license systems and processes, then it is less likely you will need to phone for support. Indeed, if you have managed your sponsor license for a few years and never needed additional support, the chances are you won’t need this service. On the other hand, if you are new to sponsorship, or your business is especially dependant on the hiring of overseas staff, it may well be worth having this as a backup. If you do choose to invest in the premium service, however, it is advisable to ensure that your key users and key contact are well acquainted with the UKVI account manager and know how and when to contact them when needed. If you invest in the service and no-one in your organisation knows you have done so or understands how the account manager can assist them, it may be wasted money.
Final Words
For some sponsoring businesses in the UK, charitable, small, medium, and large, the UKVI premium customer services is an essential offering they cannot do without. Given the cost of hiring skilled staff from overseas, including the immigration skilled charge and CoS fee, it is important to weigh up whether the investment is likely to provide value which is of real benefit to your business.
