Information for Sponsored Staff
As a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) sponsor the University has to meet certain requirements. This section sets out how you are required to work with the University to meet these.
The University has an obligation to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) in terms of record keeping/reporting duties for sponsored staff. This section provides information on where this applies.
As a sponsor the University has certain obligations to UKVI in terms of record keeping/reporting duties. Throughout your employment we are required to keep a record of attendance/absence. Also, if you decide to apply for settlement the University is required to provide a supporting letter which documents your absences. Therefore, it is essential University records match your own in the settlement application.
If you take a period of unpaid leave of over four weeks duration, which is not due to one of the UKVI exceptions, e.g., parental leave or long-term sickness, the University may be required to withdraw your sponsorship which will lead to the curtailment of your visa, unless there are compelling or exceptional circumstances as to why sponsorship should not end, in these cases the absence must be reported, and the reasons submitted for the Home Office to consider.
As a holder of a Tier 2/Tier 5/Temporary Worker/Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship, you are required to notify the University of any changes to your circumstances. In particular, you must report the following to HR Services via a Service Request through People and Money. Guidance on how to do this can be found within the Service Request User Guide.
- any changes to your residential address in the UK or your contact details including mobile telephone number;
- if you no longer require sponsorship, this may be due to changing visa route, i.e. attaining settlement/indefinite leave to remain;
- if for any reason you lose an appropriate registration or professional accreditation;
- if you are considering taking up secondary employment or an alternative role whilst under the University’s sponsorship;
- your resignation from the University’s employment;
The University is also required to report to the UKVI:
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any significant changes to your employment circumstances such as:
- a promotion or change in salary (other than annual increments/pay rises)
- a change in job title or work location
- any breach of the conditions of your leave to remain in the UK
- if you are absence from work without authorisation for more than 10 working days
Significant changes in role will require additional permission from the UKVI.
Changes to employment
This section provides information for sponsored workers when changing jobs.
The role you are currently undertaking will have been allocated a SOC code (Standard Occupational Classification Code). If you are changing jobs within the University, but your new role will remain in the same SOC code (and still meet the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) criteria for Skilled Worker) you do not need to make a new visa application, unless your current visa is due to expire.
If your employment is changing outside this or to a different employer a new Certificate of Sponsorship will be required and you will need to make a new visa application.
Talk to your school/department admin team for further guidance in these circumstances.
If you are changing your hours of work, the salary you are paid must still meet the appropriate UKVI salary threshold. The SOC code (Standard Occupational Classification Code) allocated to your role determines what the appropriate salary threshold is.
When your original visa was granted it will either:
- have met the experienced rate salary threshold, or;
- Required tradeable points to meet a percentage of the threshold, ie for a PhD related to the job, ie 90% or 80% for a PhD in a STEM subject or;
- been deemed new entrant or have been in an occupation included on the UKVI shortage list
If your existing salary meets the experienced rate salary threshold, but you wish to reduce your hours to a level where tradeable points are required to meet the salary threshold, you will need to make a new visa application.
Additional/Secondary work whilst on a Tier 2/Skilled Worker visa
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) class extra work in two different categories, additional and taking on a second job. The categories are explained on the Home Office webpage.
Please note if you are subject to the ATAS requirement, you will be required to obtain an ATAS certificate for any additional research work you undertake with a different University/research institute, if that research is also subject to ATAS requirements.
Further information on the ATAS requirement is available on the Home Office webpages