Tier 4 Sponsor Licence Applications and Compliance

International students bring billions of pounds to the United Kingdom each year, and the UK remains an attractive study destination with highly-ranked universities and schools. In order to ensure that educational institutions continue to attract students from overseas, Tier 4 Sponsor Licence compliance is a vital step to take.

tier 4 sponsor licence
Successful Tier 4 Sponsor Licence Applications with LEXVISA Solicitors & Barristers

Who needs a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence?

Any educational institution that wishes to attract and enrol students from non-EEA countries will need to apply for a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence. Holding a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence will give that institution the ability to issue Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), and to ultimately sponsor Tier 4 visas. These visas are for students who have been accepted to study on long-term academic courses, such as at a university, embedded college or a school, but they can also be issued by English language schools for students who have been accepted to study English language on a course of over 11 months. Given the popularity of the UK as a study destination, as well as the continuing importance of English in a global market, successfully applying for a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence and being on the Government’s Register of Sponsors has a great deal of value.

Tier 4 Sponsor Licence Application

Making an application for a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence – as well as subsequent licence compliance – is more rigorous now than ever before. Previous abuse of the Tier 4 Sponsor Licence by bogus colleges has resulted in tighter rules and more robust inspections from the Home Office. The initial stage in making a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence application will entail meeting the requirements set out by the Home Office, in order to demonstrate that the educational institute meets certain quality standards, a requirement known as Educational Oversight. This is carried out through an inspection by an oversight body such as QAA, which will usually look at, amongst other aspects: academic standards and how teaching is carried out; the suitability of the premises for teaching; corporate governance; financial performance; and sustainability. There are other requirements that will be taken into consideration, but if an education institution is able to meet the initial requirements as set out by their oversight body, they will be on the road towards a successful Tier 4 Sponsor Licence application.

Tier 4 Sponsor Licence Compliance

In 2012, London Metropolitan University had their Tier 4 Sponsor Licence revoked as they had failed to comply with their sponsorship duties. Large numbers of international students were left facing an uncertain future, and the university suffered a great deal of financial and reputational damage. The fate of London Metropolitan University demonstrated the importance of Tier 4 Sponsor Licence compliance in the starkest of terms, as failure to comply with sponsorship duties will result in a revocation of the licence and a ban from re-applying.

Tier 4 Sponsor Licence duties are manifold. It is necessary to maintain the Educational Oversight standards that were previously met, and to ensure that all students who have been sponsored on Tier 4 visas have a high level of attendance. Of perhaps greater importance is that students who have been issued a CAS in order to apply for a visa do not have that application refused; a certain level of visa refusals will result in a suspension of the Tier 4 Sponsor Licence. Compliance with sponsorship duties should always be viewed as an on-going process, but despite the duties a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence entails, the rewards of enrolling international students are great.

Using Legal Representation to Apply for a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence

Legal representatives, such as our specialist immigration and visa law firm, are qualified to advise you on immigration law and your immigration status. It is possible to instruct an immigration and visa legal representative to submit a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence application.

Caseworkers at the Home Office are trained to reject applications which are improperly prepared, for example by failing to provide the correct supporting evidence. In order to ensure your application succeeds, all necessary documents must be provided.

This can be a significant administrative task and you will need to submit the correct documentary evidence. The UK Immigration Rules are complex and a legal representative can help ensure that your application meets the Immigration Rules.

Successful Tier 4 Sponsor Licence Applications

Our team of solicitors and barristers are specialist immigration lawyers who act in your best interest. We offer a client-tailored approach from the outset. From the very first meeting, we will be able to advise you in respect of your immigration status and the merit of your visa and immigration application before your matter even reaches the Home Office UK Visa & Immigration department. We can assist you with the preparation of your immigration and visa application and ensure that you meet all the requirements of the relevant rules.

We are based in the legal epicentre of London, just across the road from the Royal Courts of Justice in order to ensure we get the best results for our clients.  We are minutes away from the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and other central London courts.

Preparation is the key to successful immigration applications. Our UK immigration and visa solicitors are here to guide you through the complex immigration rules and requirements. If you wish to meet one of our lawyers, please call our Immigration Team so we can assess your case and arrange your legal consultation.

Contact our London immigration solicitors on 02030110276 or complete our contact form.

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