UKVI Sponsorship - your responsibilities

Sponsorship responsibilities

As a global University, we value our community of international staff, visitors and students and are proud of the contribution they make to the University.

As a member of that community and as someone sponsored under the points based system, the UKVI places certain responsibilities on you as an individual and the University as your sponsor.  

To protect you and ensure we all remain compliant, these responsibilities are detailed below.  Your assistance with this is much appreciated and is an important step in ensuring that we meet our responsibilities as an international employer.

Skilled Worker

Absences/contact information

The UKVI requires the University to have up-to-date record of any absences and contact information of sponsored individuals:

• Record and request annual leave through MyJob.  You will have access to this system once you begin your role.
• Ensure your home address and phone number are kept up to date through MyJob.
• All sickness absence should be reported in line with the University's Sickness Absence policy.

Changes in circumstances

The UKVI requires the University to report certain changes to them within 10 working days. Please let your HR team know as soon as possible if you:

• Want to change your start date
• Change visa category and no longer hold a Skilled Worker visa
• Are considering requesting changes to your role, for example, decreasing your hours
• Have a change in work location (temporary or permanent)
• Are considering requesting to take a period of unpaid leave (UKVI has specific rules and restrictions in relation to period of unpaid absence).
• Will be leaving the University, for example, resigning from your role.

ATAS

If you had to apply for an ATAS certificate when you applied for your Skilled Worker visa and subsequently change your field of research you will need to apply for a new ATAS certificate for that research before it starts.  Please contact your HR team as soon as possible if you are changing your field of research.

Temporary Worker (Government Authorised Exchange)

Absences/contact information

The UKVI required the University to have an up-to-date record of any absences and contact information for individuals sponsored under the Temporary Worker (Government Authorised Exchange) route.

• Absences - please keep your host department informed of any absences (e.g. holidays, sickness, conferences, field trips, overseas research, maternity, paternity etc).  Ensure a full record is retained which lists your absences throughout your visit.  A Google document to record your absences was shared with you when you started.
• Contact your HR team if your home address, telephone number and mobile number change.

Change in circumstances

UKVI requires the University to report certain changes to them. Please let your HR team know as soon as possible if you:

• Want to change the start date of your visit to the University
• change visa category and no longer hold a Temporary Worker (GAE) visa
• If there are any changes to your visit which may have an impact on your sponsorship. For example, if your funding changes, you are considering reducing your hours
• Plan to work overseas for more than 4 weeks
• Would like to consider taking a period of unpaid leave
• Will be ending your visit early

ATAS

If you had to apply for an ATAS certificate when you applied for your Temporary Worker (GAE) visa and subsequently change your field of research then you will need to apply for a new ATAS certificate for that research before if starts.  Please contact your HR team as soon as possible if you will be changing your field of research.