#sponsor licence suspension

[uk-visa-updates]

Understanding Sponsor Licence Suspension: Reasons and Next Steps

A Sponsor Licence is a vital document for UK businesses seeking to recruit skilled workers from overseas. It allows them to sponsor visa applications for these individuals. However, this privilege comes with responsibilities, and failing to meet them can lead to a serious consequence: Sponsor Licence Suspension.

Why Does Sponsor Licence Suspension Occur?

The Home Office can suspend a Sponsor Licence if they believe a sponsor has breached their immigration compliance duties. This can happen for various reasons, but some of the most common include:

Breach of Sponsor Duties: Sponsors have a legal obligation to uphold specific duties, such as conducting genuine vacancy checks, ensuring fair pay and working conditions for sponsored migrants, and maintaining accurate records. Failure to comply with these duties can trigger Sponsor Licence Suspension.

Poor Record Keeping: Sponsors are required to maintain detailed records of their sponsored workers, including their passports, visas, and employment details. Inconsistent or incomplete records raise red flags for the Home Office and can lead to suspension.

Misuse of Certificates of Sponsorship (COS): COS documents are issued to sponsored migrants to apply for their visas. Improper use, such as issuing them for positions that don't meet the genuine vacancy criteria, can be grounds for Sponsor Licence Suspension.

Non-compliance with Immigration Rules: The UK has a complex immigration system with various rules governing sponsored workers. Sponsors who fail to adhere to these rules, even unknowingly, risk suspension.

What to Do After Sponsor Licence Suspension

Receiving a Sponsor Licence Suspension notice is a time-sensitive situation. Here's what you should do:

Seek Immediate Legal Advice: Sponsor Licence Suspension is a serious matter. Consulting an immigration lawyer experienced in Sponsor Licence Suspension is crucial. They can analyse the suspension notice, advise you on the best course of action, and guide you through the process.

Understand the Reasons for Suspension: Carefully review the suspension notice to understand the specific concerns raised by the Home Office. This will help your lawyer craft a strong response.

Respond Within the Deadline: The Home Office typically provides a 20-working-day window to respond to the Sponsor Licence Suspension notice. Missing this deadline can lead to revocation of the licence.

Prepare a Detailed Response: Work with your lawyer to prepare a comprehensive response addressing each point raised in the suspension notice. This response should include evidence and explanations to demonstrate compliance or mitigating circumstances.

Regaining Your Sponsor Licence

The outcome of a Sponsor Licence Suspension depends on the severity of the breach and the strength of your response. In some cases, the Home Office may decide to lift the suspension after a satisfactory response. However, if the response is deemed inadequate, the licence could be revoked.

The Importance of Avoiding Revocation

Sponsor Licence Revocation is a far more significant consequence than suspension. It not only prevents you from sponsoring new workers but also impacts existing sponsored employees. Their immigration status might be jeopardized, and they could face visa curtailment or even deportation. Additionally, a revoked licence comes with a 12-month cooling-off period before you can reapply, hindering your ability to recruit skilled foreign talent.

Conclusion

Maintaining a Sponsor Licence requires ongoing vigilance and a thorough understanding of your obligations. By being proactive with record-keeping, adhering to immigration rules, and seeking legal guidance, when necessary, you can minimize the risk of Sponsor Licence Suspension. However, if you do face suspension, acting swiftly and with the support of an immigration lawyer can increase your chances of regaining your licence and continuing to sponsor skilled workers for your business.

[latest-uk-visa-news]

Navigating a UK Sponsor Licence Suspension: A Comprehensive Guide

A sponsor licence suspension can be a challenging situation for businesses sponsoring migrant workers in the UK. It's essential to handle this situation promptly and carefully to minimize disruption and regain sponsorship privileges. 

Below is a detailed guide to help you navigate the process:

Understanding the Situation:

Notification: The Home Office will notify you of the sponsor licence suspension through an official letter outlining the specific reasons for the action and the timeframe for responding. This timeframe is typically 20 working days.

Impact: During the sponsor licence suspension period, your organization cannot:

Assign new Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS)

Sponsor new migrant workers

Renew existing CoS for sponsored workers approaching their visa expiry date

Immediate Action:

Seek Legal Advice: Considering the complexities involved, it's strongly recommended to consult with a solicitor specializing in immigration law. They can guide you through the sponsor licence suspension process, analyse the suspension notice, and advise you on the best course of action.

Understand the Reasons: Carefully review the suspension notice to understand the specific concerns raised by the Home Office regarding your sponsor licence. Identifying the root cause of the sponsor licence suspension is crucial for addressing it effectively.

Gather Evidence: Compile evidence and documentation to address the Home Office's concerns regarding the sponsor licence suspension. This may include:

Addressing any compliance issues identified by the Home Office related to your sponsor licence.

Providing additional information or clarifications related to the suspended sponsor licence.

Demonstrating measures taken to rectify any non-compliance issues related to your sponsor licence.

Responding to the Sponsor Licence Suspension:

Prepare a Detailed Response: Within the 20-day timeframe, prepare a comprehensive response outlining:

Acknowledgement of the sponsor licence suspension and the reasons stated by the Home Office.

Detailed explanations addressing each concern raised by the Home Office regarding your sponsor licence suspension, supported by evidence if applicable.

Steps your organization has taken or will take to address the non-compliance and ensure future compliance with your sponsor licence duties.

Demonstrating your understanding of the sponsor's duties and commitment to fulfil them.

Submit your Response: Submit your response electronically through the Sponsor Management System (SMS) or by post as per the instructions provided in the suspension notice.

Additional Points to Consider:

Continuing Sponsor Duties: Even during the sponsor licence suspension period, your organization remains obligated to fulfil its existing sponsor duties towards your currently sponsored migrant workers. This includes reporting changes in their circumstances, maintaining records, and ensuring their continued legitimate employment.

Sponsor Licence Renewal: If your sponsor licence is due for renewal during the suspension, you should still submit the renewal application through the SMS. However, the renewal decision may be delayed until the sponsor licence suspension is resolved.

Compliance: Regardless of the outcome, prioritize implementing measures to ensure compliance with all sponsor duties and UK immigration regulations to prevent future issues and avoid further sponsor licence suspensions.

Remember, this information is for general guidance only. Seeking legal advice from a qualified immigration solicitor is crucial to navigating the specific details and complexities of your sponsor licence suspension case, improving your chances of a successful outcome.

[smartmovetouk]

UK Sponsor Licence Suspension – NEXT Options

Sponsors may lose their UK visa sponsorship license due to non-compliance. Common reasons include failing to meet sponsor duties, not keeping proper records, or employing unauthorised migrants. If a sponsor's license is revoked, they should assess the reasons, rectify issues, and reapply when ready. If you have any Sponsor Licence queries or want to overturn Tier 2 Sponsor Licence Suspension, contact our experts at The SmartMove2UK on +91 9819127002 or email at info@smartmove2uk.com

[cadriversedcourseblogs]

Know Why Driving Education is Beneficial

Driving a car could be a requirement for some people and a recreational activity for others. Most individuals drive to work, to pick up their children from school, and for a variety of other purposes. Few people chose driving as a job. Driving is a crucial activity that enables mobility, whether for personal purposes or as an income source. Understand that driving is a kind of activity that necessitates training and certification by the state in which the driver resides. Attending Drivered Classes San Diego is the best approach to obtain a driver's licence.

A range of states have battled about the feasibility and necessity of school-based driving education programmes. Due to a shortage of financing, a number of Drivered Lessons Los Angeles have reported fewer graduate licences and less school-sponsored driver's education programmes. As a result, the state funds a lot of driver education programmes.

Drivered Lessons San Jose include both outdoor and indoor driving sessions. Lessons are aimed to teach students about traffic laws and driving standards. Students learn how to operate various cars as well as state driving rules. These programmes inform pupils on the consequences of breaking the law, such as fines and licence suspension. Before taking a driving exam, students are taught how to drive a car by joining Drivered Lessons San Francisco.

During the summer, there are extra intense one-week driver's education classes available. Some programmes also accept professional drivers who may require further practise. The lessons are comprehensive, addressing all aspects of driving and driving legislation. They satisfy the growing demand for educating new drivers and familiarising students with traffic rules and security. Flexible learning schedules are available for driver's education programmes. Evening, weekend, and holiday classes are available. The flexibility enables people to select Drivered Lessons In San Francisco that are appropriate for their requirements and may be planned in their spare time.

There is a practical component to the theoretical courses taught in driver education training. This is an example of a practical driving lesson. The Drivers Training Fresno can assist you in determining the optimum method to drive. They will educate you about being observant, traffic situations, highway politeness, parking, and any other elements of driving in these practical sessions.

While driver’s education is a terrific approach to learn how to drive, you should supplement these courses with some practise. Fixing a learner 'L' sign to your car is the best approach to do this practise session without violating the law and getting in trouble. This will alert the general public that you're taking Sacramento Driver Training. Remember, check with your local city rules to see what is required to test drive.

The police would also sympathise when you make any blunders while learning to drive on city streets. You must have a responsible adult with you at all times because most states do not allow uninsured drivers to operate vehicles on the streets unaccompanied. When you believe you are committing a mistake, you may always ask your Driver Training Los Angeles trainer or check online for the solution.

[ayjsolicitor-blog]

Is your Tier 2 sponsor licence revoked? A Y & J Solicitors have a team of immigration lawyers who will examine the reason for your refusal and launch a judicial review on your behalf. To know more about the procedure, visit our site.

[ayjsolicitorsuk-blog]

Big Entertainment Company’s Tier 5 Sponsor Licence Reinstated After Suspension, Call us today and speak to our expert on 020 7404 7933! Read our full success story on our website and Visit now!

[ayjsolicitors]

Get Sponsor Licence in UK By Professionals

If you are an employer, you may need to apply for a sponsor licence, A Y& J Solicitors is here to help you. We are professional, reliable, honest and expert, and so more. Our expert team covers Home Office audits, Sponsor Licence applications, Sponsor Licence Suspension and Revocation.

[ayjsolicitorlove-blog]

UK Immigration Lawyer, Yash Strives To Help Pratham UK Raise £2,500.00 For Child Illiteracy In India, Through London Marathon 2020

A Y & J Solicitors will match the total donation received and double YOUR contribution

India is home to 40% of the world’s illiterate. Children suffer the most. Without education, these underprivileged children are vulnerable and unlikely to ever rise above the poverty of previous generations. In India, multi-million children work as child labourers. It is an unacceptable truth that is both a cause and by-product of India’s continuing cycle of illiteracy.

Yash Dubal, Director of A Y and J Solicitors did a fundraiser to raise £—- through London Marathon and completed the marathon in 2017. This year, he is aiming to raise £2,500.00 for child illiteracy in India, through London Marathon 2020.

“I came to the UK in 2003 with only £1500. I founded A Y & J Solicitors on the principles of honesty, professionalism, reliability, helpfulness, and approachability.” said Yash, “The firm has reached its peak and it is now a Legal 500 law firm and won ‘Best Immigration Law Firm’ in 2018.”

If you wish to be a part of this noble cause and help Yash raise the fund for Pratham, please donate generously through uk.virginmoneygiving/YashDubal and A Y & J Solicitors will match the total donation received and double YOUR contribution.

About London Marathon

It all started in the pub, according to John Disley and the late Chris Brasher, co-founders of the London Marathon… The growing importance of the London Marathon as a fundraising event, helping hundreds of good causes, year after year.

An iconic image of the event is the thousands of runners traipsing the streets to raise money for charity, many in fancy dress, hoping to stand out as a rhino, football mascot, giant tree, or escaped convict.

More than three quarters of competitors now run for a good cause and a third of all entry places are offered by charitable organisations.

About Pratham UK

Established in 2003, Pratham UK is a volunteer-driven charity aimed at bringing about lasting change in India through education reform. Our events and activities engage the local South Asian diaspora and foster relationships with corporate and institutional partners.

About A Y and J Solicitors

A Y and J Solicitors is a one of the Top Legal 500, award winning law firm housing SRA-regulated solicitors with expertise in UK visas, work permits, visa extensions and visa renewals for individuals and businesses. Named a 2018 and 2017 Best Immigration Law Firm and 2018 Immigration Team of the Year, A Y and J Solicitors is committed to extensive services addressing all UK immigration law needs of their domestic and international clients.

Expert team at A Y and J covers Home Office audits, Sponsor Licence applications, Sponsor Licence Suspension and Revocation, Sponsor Licence renewal, all categories of UK Visa applications, Certificate of Sponsorship applications, compliance with UKVI, civil penalty appeals, Right To Work checks, Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifications and applications, and complex Appeals and Judicial Reviews.

#UKImmigrationLawyer, #UKImmigration, #helppratham, #childilliteracyindia, #londonmarathon2020, #yashdubaldonation, #fundforpratham

https://ayjsolicitors.com/blog/uk-immigration-lawyer-yash-strives-to-help-pratham-uk-raise-2500-00-for-child-illiteracy-in-india-through-london-marathon-2020/

[legallexme]

Minister of Religion - Visa Application

MINISTER OF RELIGION SPONSOR LICENCE APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS

A Minister of Religion sponsor licence allows faith-based organisations such as churches, mosques, temples and synagogues to employ a skilled person of religion as a minister of religion from outside the United Kingdom including the EU.

In this article, we will explore the general requirements for the organisation to obtain a sponsor licence, application process, documents required and obligations of the organisation under the T2 minister of religion sponsor licence.

Minister of Religion T2 Sponsor certificate

From 1 January 2021, the new regime of Minister of Religion T2 has replaced the previous Tier 2 Minister of Religion category. Under Minister of Religion T2 sponsor licence, the organisation that wishes to employ a skilled Minister of Religion from outside the UK must have the following.

A recognised charitable status in the UK.

Must be part of a structure for a faith-based community with a common system of belief and spiritual goals, codes of behaviour and religious practice, which exists to support and/or propagate common beliefs and practices and where beliefs:

Include any religious belief or similar philosophical belief in something transcendental, metaphysical or ultimate.

Exclude any philosophical or political belief concerned with man, unless that belief is similar to religious belief.

the organisation must not exclude anyone from the community based on gender, nationality or ethnicity.

receives financial and material support for its core religious ministry from congregation or community on a voluntary basis, without promise or coercion.

does not breach, or encourage others to breach, any UK legislation.

does not work against the public interest or have a detrimental effect on personal or family life as commonly understood in the UK.

Under Business Immigration, The application process for the sponsor licence is similar to the one for the general sponsor licence. The real difference is in the supporting documents required to submit with the sponsor licence application, no requirement of resident labour test and non-application of Skilled worker surcharge, which makes the sponsor licence application relatively cheaper.

Home Office Fees

Application fee – £1,476/£536 (depending on the size of the charitable organisation)

Priority fee (not mandatory) – £500 Immigration application for a five-year Skilled Worker visa:

Certificate of Sponsorship fee – £199

Immigration Skills Charge – £5,000/£1,820 (not required for a T2 sponsor licence.

For T2 Minister of Religion Applicant (Employee)

The Fees charged by the home office are following.

Application fee – £1,220 from abroad or £1,408 from within the UK

Biometric enrolment fee – £19.20

Certificate of Sponsorship fee – £199

Immigration Health Surcharge – £1560 -£3120,

(The correct amount of the Immigration Health Surcharge will depend upon the Certificate of the Sponsor, that whether it is for 30 months or full 5 years. If the employer issues a CoS for 30 months, then the IHS payable will be £1560 and for the full 5 years it will be £3120)

Priority fees (not mandatory) – £300/£500

Successful Application

Upon a successful application, the faith-based organisation will be granted an A-rated sponsor licence, following which the organisation can start assigning Certificates of Sponsorship to migrants who wish to work for them. The details of the sponsor licence and the organisation will be listed in the register of sponsors.

Refusal

If the sponsorship licence applicant is refused then it is important to note that the employer may not be able to apply again for up to five years, depending on the circumstances and there is no right of appeal.

Administrative Review

As stated above if the sponsor licence application is refused then the only remedy available is to apply for Administrative review, high lighting the error in the decision based on law.

Renewal

The licence is only valid for 4 years; however, the employer can apply for the renewal of the Minister of Religion T2 sponsor licence 1 month before it expires.

Audits

Part of the sponsor licence, the Home Office will regularly visit the business premises in order to ensure that the employer is in compliance with the sponsor licence’s terms. The compliance officer will check that.

whether the Information that has been given to the Home Office is accurate and complete.

The employer is capable to offer employment at the Tier 2 skill level.

The Employer is trading are genuine and operating lawfully in the UK.

The sponsor licence arrangement is not a sham and there are no reasons to believe that the employer presents a threat to immigration control; finally,

The employer is committed to and is complying with all the duties of the sponsorship.

Documents Required for Sponsorship Licence

To successfully apply for a T2 Sponsorship licence the following documents are required.

Evidence of registration as a charity and for a charitable purpose.

Evidence of faith or religion the organisation belongs to.

If the organisation is a part of a larger organisation, details of the parent organisation and how both are connected to each other.

A hierarchy chart that shows where the applicant organisation is in that hierarchy.

The size of the adult congregation.

The number of clergies, Imam, Rabbi etc currently employed.

Addresses of the regular meeting places.

Scheduled days and hours of worship.

A copy of your ‘Form 76’ from the General Register Office giving authorisation for the use of a building as a place of worship.

A copy of ‘Form 78’ from the General Register Office giving authorisation for marriages to be performed at a place of worship.

Employer’s liability insurance cover for at least £5m from an authorised insurer.

Proof of ownership or lease of your business premises. If you send a copy of your lease agreement, it must be signed by all parties concerned.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive. There are further documents required depending upon each organisation and faith it represents.

T2 Minister of Religion Sponsor Licence Application: How our experienced Immigration lawyers can help

Our immigration lawyers regularly assist the business of all sizes including faith-based organisations in securing the right sponsorship licence, maintenance and compliance with the sponsor licence.

We have successfully assisted businesses of all size and faith-based organisation including Churches, Mosques etc in securing a sponsor licence by providing the right advice on law, procedure, documents process, audits and compliance in support of sponsor licence applications, revocations, suspensions and renewals.

Our English lawyers can assist you with the preparation of a persuasive business case of your needs of a sponsor licence, that can satisfy the Home Office that you are a reliable and trustworthy organisation and genuinely require a T2 Minister of Religion skilled worker from outside of the UK and at a required skill level. Our Solicitors can also assist you in preparing the Home Office compliant HR and recruitment procedures and processes.

We have been trusted immigration advisors to successful business and people around the world. We understand our clients and their business needs. We strive to provide reliable legal advice to our clients. Our experienced solicitors offer quality legal advice. We are proud to help and guide our clients through complex legal situations with innovative solutions.

[uk-visa-updates]

Sponsor Licence Suspended! Visit Here for Next Options

What is a Sponsor Licence and who is it for?

A Sponsor Licence for UK employers is necessary for businesses looking to bring-in or hire foreign employees in a UK-based company

As a sponsor licence holder, you are obligated to meet all the duties and responsibilities associated with sponsoring a migrant worker – compliance of duties, immigration rules and prevention of abuse of the system, to be precise

A sponsor loses their licence in case of breach of the rules associated with a Sponsor Licence holder

When a sponsor loses their licence, it can be problematic, not only for the sponsor but also for the migrant employees working in the organisation.

What are some common reasons for a Sponsor Licence Suspension?

A sponsor loses their licence for reasons like breach of rules and/or responsibilities like:

Submitting false information on the sponsor licence application

Breaching sponsor duties

Posing threat to immigration control

Non-compliance with the UK immigration rules

Poor record keeping (of migrant employee’s contact details)

Insufficient recruitment practices, poor HR policies

A Certificate of Sponsorship being used incorrectly or completed incorrectly

What happens after Sponsor Licence Suspension?

The Home Office issues a suspension notice, it comes with the reason/s for suspension. The content of the notice will help you with the steps further.

During the suspension period, the organisation will not be allowed to assign any certificates of sponsorship and will be prohibited from sponsoring new migraine employees.

Any CoS issued before the suspension, still under processing – will be put on hold until the investigation is over and a decision is made by the Home Office.

However, you must continue to comply with the sponsor duties, throughout your suspension as well.

The next few steps are critical. As a Sponsor Licence holder, a Sponsorship Licence revocation might raise questions in your mind like – how does this impact sponsored worker’s visas, how do you respond to this hurdle, or how long would it take to resolve this issue?! It is an understandable cause of concern. But definitely not the end of the road.

What to do when a sponsor loses their licence?

After you’ve received a notice of suspension, you have 2 choices:

Respond to the allegations by challenging the evidence and seeking to reinstate the licence

Respond by accepting the allegations and acknowledging how you will address these breaches.

Important facts to know about Sponsor Licence Suspension

In case of a Sponsorship Licence Revocation or suspension, you are to respond to the Home Office in the required timeframe – which is typically 20 days. If you fail to do so, your licence may be revoked.

Based on the status of your response the Home Office will carry-on further investigations before making a decision.

If the Home Office accepts your argument, then your licence is likely to be reinstated, either as an A-rating or B-rating.

If reinstated with B-rating, the organization will have a lot of work to do – they will be given the action plan that must be followed to re-attain the A-rated sponsor status.

The detail of the action plan will depend on the breaches

You will have to prove sufficient progress within a specific timeframe – 20 days.

Sponsors will also have to pay a fee for the action plan.

The Sponsorship Licence suspension notice will advise the deadline for your response. However, you have 20 days to send a written response to the Home Office. These 20 days are your chance to seek a review of the decision and set out any mitigating arguments you believe exist. The response must be in writing and attached with relevant supporting documents, which serve as grounds to help your case.

If you have any other Sponsor Licence queries or want to overturn Tier 2 Sponsor Licence Suspension, our lawyers will guide you comprehensively for the same

[smartmovetouk]

Sponsor Licence Suspended! Visit here for next options

Sponsors may lose their UK visa sponsorship license due to non-compliance. Common reasons include failing to meet sponsor duties, not keeping proper records, or employing unauthorised migrants. If a sponsor's license is revoked, they should assess the reasons, rectify issues, and reapply when ready. If you have any Sponsor Licence queries or want to overturn Tier 2 Sponsor Licence Suspension, contact our experts at The SmartMove2UK on +91 9819127002 or email at info@smartmove2uk.com

[calacuspr]

Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – Lewes FC & Gordon Elliott

Every Monday we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.

HIT – LEWES FC

Every year on International Women’s Day (IWD) we see organisations looking to align themselves with topics such as gender equality, female empowerment, and fighting bias. 

The theme for IWD 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge, encouraging individuals and businesses to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements to help create an inclusive world.

While it’s easy to produce words on the importance of such issues, it’s the organisations that have proved they are committed to enforcing change that have the most credibility in this space.

East Sussex football club Lewes FC offer a perfect example after the fan-owned club promised equal investment, support and pay for their women’s and men’s teams in 2017. Four years on, Lewes are still the only club in Europe to have taken the stance.

This unique selling point has made Lewes an attractive employer to work for, with former England star Claire Rafferty joining the club as a non-executive director and Equal Playing Field co-founder Maggie Murphy taking on the role of general manager.

“For me, there wasn’t any other football club that I was interested in joining. It wasn’t really about football, it was about changing football,” Murphy explained in an interview with The Guardian.

“Joining the club, a little bit was about putting my money where my mouth was and to try and see if it’s possible to create a better type of club. Lewes had already done all the hard work, they’d already established the equality principle in 2017. So for me, this was like, well, let’s see where I can help to take it next.

“Football has so much potential to influence and impact culture. If we don’t engage with football as a vehicle for social change, we’ll get there, we’ll get wherever we’re trying to go, but we might just get there 10 years later than if we had used football as that vehicle first, because in this country it is so powerful.”

In December, Lewes benefited from a six-figure investment from fashion company Lyle & Scott, with the ground-breaking collaboration helping provide the club with funds for new players and enabling grassroots community outreach and the development of club facilities.

“The fact that they were willing to back us with such an investment in the middle of a pandemic was a huge validation for us of everything we’ve been putting into place for so many years.

“In the US, in the summer, fans were buying [National Women’s Soccer League sponsor] Budweiser to give to the Houston Dash players. Women’s football fans are very loyal to brands that back the product.”

Lewes FC offer a perfect example of an organisation benefiting from success that has stemmed from putting purpose at the heart of everything they do.

Results on the pitch have also improved with the team accruing more points in the 2020-21 season than in any previous campaign, however, it is the way that the club has communicated its core values and key messages in recent years that has really resonated with their audience.

A BBC Sport study recently revealed that the overwhelming majority of sports now offer equal winning prize money to men and women at the top level, but the biggest gap remains in football, and by some distance.

The hope is that other clubs will begin to follow the lead of Lewes and take action to provide female athletes with the same opportunities as their male counterparts, or as Rafferty commented: “I hope one day we don’t have to have special days and every single day is International Women’s Day.”

MISS – GORDON ELLIOTT

There is regular debate about the well-being of horses through their participation in horseracing and high-profile deaths at marquee racing events.

The British Horseracing Authority understandably goes to great lengths to underline its commitment to horse welfare and says: “Responsibility for the care of our animals rests with everyone in the sport. British horseracing is run by people with a deep love of horses.”

So the reputation of the entire sport has been rocked over the past week with photos emerging of three-time Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott which showed him sitting on a dead horse.

Elliott did the right thing, making a statement on Twitter in which he explained the context for the image and promising to co-operate with The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) investigation.

He said: “I apologise profoundly for any offence that this photo has caused. I can categorically state that the welfare of each and every horse under my care is paramount and has been central to the success that we have enjoyed.

While the way you react to a crisis often has a bearing on its longer-term consequences, it does not guarantee that those involved can come out unscathed.

The story has had devastating consequences with Elliott's yard sponsor eCOMM Merchant Solutions terminating their contract with the trainer.

Betfair also ended their sponsorship of Elliott last week, with a spokesperson for the firm saying: “While we recognise that Gordon deeply regrets and apologised unreservedly for his poor judgement his actions are completely at odds with the values of the Betfair brand and that of our employees. With that in mind, we have decided to discontinue our association with Gordon with immediate effect.”

Gigginstown House Stud, one of Ireland’s leading owners groups, said it will continue to support Elliott with joint-owner Michael O'Leary, backing the trainer despite his error

In a statement, O'Leary said: “The care and welfare of all our horses comes first with all our trainers. Sadly, from time to time our horses suffer injuries and/or fatalities and we expect all such cases to be treated with the care and attention they deserve.

“We accept that the photograph was a grievous but momentary lapse of judgement from Gordon, and not in keeping with our 15-year experience of his concern for and attention to the welfare of our horses. We all make mistakes, and what is important is that we learn from them and ensure we do not repeat them. We accept Gordon's profound, sincere and unreserved apology, and we will continue to support him and his team at Cullentra as they work to recover from this deeply regrettable incident.”

The story has taken on national importance, with Irish Sports Minister Jack Chambers admitting that Elliott should at least be barred from taking part at the Cheltenham racing festival in late March. 

Mr Chambers said: “I think he needs to be held fully accountable. I think anyone who saw it was shocked by it and we need to uphold the highest animal welfare standards in Ireland. 

“Any and every sanction should be on the table. It is important. We have a significant amount of equestrian activity in Ireland and we need to set a really high bar when it comes to welfare standards.” 

The British Horseracing Authority said it was "appalled" by the image and banned Elliott from saddling runners in Britain while the investigation was undertaken.

Elliott was subsequently banned from racing by an IHRB hearing for 12 months with six suspended and was also ordered to pay costs of €15,000.

The IHRB stated: “We consider that a suspension of Mr Elliott’s training licence is merited. In all of the circumstances of this case, to reflect the seriousness of the offence and the damage to the Irish racing industry, to deter other offences of this nature and having taken into account the mitigating factors we have heard we consider the period should be 12 months however the last six months of this will be suspended.”

Elliott made another statement after the verdict and said that he “will carry the burden of my transgressions for the rest of my career,” adding: “I will never again disrespect a horse living or dead and I will not tolerate it in others.”

However that ban looked toothless at the weekend when it emerged that Elliott’s horses could run under another trainer, Denise Foster, with a tweet from the stables, later deleted, saying that “Gordon will be available to assist her as she requires.”

Animal Aid Horse Racing Consultant, Dene Stansall, admitted that the sport’s reputation had been hugely undermined by the verdict.

“Animal Aid’s dismay at this pathetically small level of punishment, follows the initial shock when the disgraceful images first appeared. The Board’s decision lacks integrity and backbone and has failed the horses who are the real victims of this industry. This shows that the industry cannot self-regulate horse welfare – there needs to be a separate and independent welfare regulator that can impose its own sanction on the industry and upon individuals within that.

“A key question which needed answering before the image emerged, and still does, is why are young horses dying in training. Morgan, whose lifeless body was treated with such contempt by Elliott, was just seven years old. He was a victim of racing, without a doubt.”

The sport suffered a further blow when a video of a jockey sitting on another dead horse was circulated on social media.

Rob James, who rode the Elliott-trained Milan Native to victory at the Cheltenham Festival last year, said he was “heartbroken by the damage” he had caused.

“To try defending my stupidity at the time would add further insult and hurt to the many loyal people that have supported me during my career. I have caused embarrassment to my employers, my family and most importantly the sport I love. I am heartbroken by the damage I have caused and will do my best to try and make amends to those hurt by my conduct.”

With horse welfare such a key issue, the actions of individuals can have a devastating effect on the wider reputation of the sport and it will take more than social media apologies to recover.

[ayjsolicitor-blog]

Is your company’s sponsor licence gets revoked? Want to apply for a judicial review for revocation? The leading immigration firm, AY & J Solicitors, have a team of professionals who will find out the reason for your Tier 2 sponsor licence suspension and try to settle it with the Home Office. For more details, visit our site.

[agetawayfromhere-blog]

Day 10

Day 10 Taveta Ecclesia Sim, Andrea, Deb, Diane, Sammy

Today we ventured downstairs at 6am, we had as we had an early start to the day, breakfast was from 8.30-10.30, thought we were going to miss the food, but they started it for us & brought everything out for us to graze on, fresh fruit, drink, cereal, crows weren’t there so early to steal all our food off our plates like the day we arrived here.

From here we travelled by road about 3 hours to a small village on the outskirts of Tanzania, the team then negotiated 3 motorbikes to travel on the back off, the brothers from the ecc came to greet us in the town, but 1st we needed to buy gifts: 10 of each wash tub, toothbrushes, soap & a washcloths, these would be put into packs to hand to the families of this tiny ecclesia, once the load was secured to the back of one of the bikes, Deb, Diane on one bike, Sammy on the back of another, Andrea & myself on the back of another bike. We then needed to travel another 35 minutes by bike track only to these locals. The bikes had no suspension, every bump felt, going thru puddles, hopping on & off of the bike for the driver to get thru the fords & harder areas, the remount & onward to our stop, the way to the ecc, the driver was great, navigation, assuring us that we were ok to get thru the harder of the areas, the driver on the way home, wanted us to sponsor him, send him to college, be his designated driver for the remaining time here in Kenya, also wanted for us to sponsor him to get his licence for a car as he couldn’t afford it & because we were white, we could do that & pay for this as well

We were greeted by the children that ran behind the bike, yelling & yipping as they ran, the smiles beaming from their faces, this was the first time they had had visitors in 4 years, once inside their hall (took 3 months to make, made from sturdy tree branches, clad in a mixture of mud, cow poo & straw, this then secured to the sides of the hall, with a tin roof, they had a donkey out the back to carry loads of water from 3-4 kms away, a goat to get the milk to add to food, drink etc,

We then sat down to start the MM, I exhorted this ecc on ‘God Breathed inspiration’, the children had a short SS lesson on the sower, then outside to play duck, duck goose which they quickly got the hang of & everyone got a shot at running around trying to beat the other back to their spot

As the sun rose, it got warmer, there was 3 kids that have sponsors, the photos were taken for them, then the families all came out & wanted to have their photo taken of themselves, with their kids, with their parents, with each other

While the sisters made us lunch, the brothers sat back and had a conversation, dividing our time between these brothers, spending some time with the kids as well, sweet kids that just needed a smile, a high 5 and a pat on the back as a friend to them, such sweet, adorable kids, there was no youngish kids, maybe 3-4, first pregnant lady we have seen in any ecc we have visited, they were mainly 6-12 year old, then a couple of teenagers, last year they experienced 7 baptisms which was great.

To end the day, we waited for a brother to come back with a delicacy: grilled goat liver, this was crispy on the outside & tasted like pate for the meat, being polite, we ate the bit that was offered, trying to get the smallest piece on the plate that was filled with flies was the hardest bit of it all, as they were cut into small lollipop size pieces

We then were farewelled & we rode back into the township, the cloud had lifted enough for us to see the sight of Mt Kilimanjaro, as the only way down to this ecc, had to travel the same road out again, this drive was about 2 hours, time is irrelevant here, we ventured thru the largest game park in Kenya, sighting: zebra, giraffe, herd of elephants (in the distance) gazelle, camels, all on the side of the road or just 100 metres away from where we were travelling thru.  As the dark came over the land, the sun was setting, you really lose light quite quickly, travelled another 3 hours to a hotel on the side of the road, also a café, nightclubesque room, truck stop, hotel, motel. Was given a room key, 3J, the door was a prison door, open the padlock with the key, slide the arm of the lock out of its concrete sleeve, inside was a bed, mozzie net, shower/toilet in one, and a fan. This was a nice nights rest, soft pillow, hard mattress & being nibbled on by an exclusive mozzie that made their way inside our net, the music pounding outside, I fell asleep straight away, Andrea said the music got louder as the morning grew nearer, by 3am the music was turned off, time to end the night, has been a very long day, a lot of mileage covered so far, a long ways to go tomorrow, time to turn in

byeee

[ayjsolicitors2]

Central London based, multi-award-winner immigration law firm - A Y & J Solicitors offers professional help and successful resolution related to UK immigration, Tier 2 Sponsor License challenges. In our 10+ years of experience, we have helped 2000+ clients, 650+ positive reviews online, and 1000+ positive feedback of clients in the form of gratitude emails and phone calls. Contact A Y & J Solicitors: +44 20 7404 7933 You can drop an email at contact@ayjsolicitors.com for any questions or guidance.

[legallexme]

Sponsor Licence Application - Complete Process

Introduction

From 1 January 2021, all UK employers who wish to employ skilled workers from outside the UK including the EU must first apply for a sponsorship licence to UK Visas and Immigration, commonly referred to as the Home Office, and successfully obtain one.

Likewise, the prospective skilled Workers who wish to work in the UK must have a job offer from an employer that has made a successful sponsor licence application before they can apply to come to, or remain in, the UK for work. In this article, we will explore the general requirements and application process.

Requirements for Employer

The success of sponsors application, by and large, depends on the prospective employer. The Home office’s guide shows that in assessing the Application they will look for the following.

Whether the employer as a company or partnership is a genuine organisation and operating lawfully in the UK.

Whether the employer is not a sham or bogus employer and is trustworthy, dependable and reliable.

The employers have internal systems in place including HR at the time of the application which can confirm that the employer can carry out the sponsor’s duties and comply with the terms of the sponsor license in an appropriate timeframe and manner.

Lastly, the employer offers genuine employment that meets the appropriate skill level and appropriate rates of pay.

There is a list of approved documents that the prospective employer has to send to the Home Office along with their application in order to prove the above-stated points.

“Please note that the employer has only 5 days after the submission of an online application to submit the supporting documents. Failure to submit the appropriate documents will result in refusal and there is no right of appeal”.

General

As part of the tier 2 sponsor licence application, the prospective employer needs to note the following.

A sponsor licence is granted for 4 years only, after which the employer will need to apply for the Renewal of Sponsor Licence.

Most sponsor licence applications are processed within 8 weeks as per the guidelines from the Home Office but in practice, we have witnessed a longer period of up to 6 months and more in certain circumstances.

As part of the sponsor licence application process, the Home Office is likely to visit the business premises to check if the business and/or employer satisfies the sponsorship criteria. These inspections are conducted in routine even after the grant of the licence.

There is no right of appeal if the licence application is refused.

The employer will also need to present certain information concerning the business activities in the UK, HR and recruitment practices and details of how the organisation intends to comply with the requirements of the sponsor licence.

Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence Fee

The sponsor application fee varies from £536 to £1,476 depending on the size of the employer. For the small and medium-size organisations, the application fee will be £536. To issue a certificate of sponsor the employer has to pay another fee of £199. Lastly, the employer also has to pay an Immigration skill charge of either £1,820 or £5,000 depending on the size of the organisation.

Application fee – £1,476/£536 (depending on the size of sponsor)

Priority fee (not mandatory) – £500 Immigration application for a five-year Skilled Worker visa:

Certificate of Sponsorship fee – £199

Immigration Skills Charge – £5,000/£1,820 (depending on the size of sponsor)

For Skilled Worker

Application fee – £1,220 from abroad or £1,408 from within the UK

Biometric enrolment fee – £19.20

Immigration Health Surcharge – £1560 -£3120 (depending upon whether the Certificate of Sponsor is issued for 30 months or full 5 years)

Priority fees (not mandatory) – £300/£500

Successful Application

Upon a successful application, the employer will be granted an A-rated sponsor licence, following which the organisation can start assigning certificates of sponsorship to migrants who wish to work in the UK. The employer will also be listed under the register of sponsors.

The employer will be given access to the Sponsor Management System (SMS). This is an online portal where the employer can manage sponsor licence and report certain events to the Home Office for example failure to report to work etc.

Refusal

If the sponsor application is refused there is no right of appeal and the employer may not be able to apply again for up to five years, depending on the circumstances. The only option available in these circumstances is to apply for an administrative review.

Renewal

The licence expires after 4 years; however, the employer can apply for the renewal at least 1 month before expiry.

Audits

Part of the sponsor licence, the Home Office will regularly visit the business premises in order to ensure that the employer is in compliance with the sponsor licence’s terms. The compliance officer will check that

whether the Information that has been given to the Home Office is accurate and complete.

The employer is capable to offer employment at the Tier 2 skill level.

The Employer is trading are genuine and operating lawfully in the UK.

The sponsor licence arrangement is not a sham and there are no reasons to believe that the employer presents a threat to immigration control; finally,

The employer is committed to and is complying with all the duties of the sponsorship.

Sponsor Licence Application: How Legal Lex’s experienced Immigration lawyers can help

Our immigration lawyers regularly assist the business of all sizes in securing the right sponsorship licence, maintenance and compliance with the sponsor licence.

We have successfully assisted businesses of all sizes in securing a sponsor licence by providing the right advice on law, process, audits and compliance in support of sponsor licence applications, revocations, suspensions and renewals.

Our English lawyers can assist you with the preparation of a persuasive business case of your needs of a sponsor licence, that can satisfy the Home Office that you are a reliable and trustworthy organisation and genuinely require a skilled worker from outside of the UK and at a required skill level. Our Solicitors can also assist you in preparing the Home Office compliant HR and recruitment procedures and processes.

We have been trusted immigration advisors to successful business and people around the world. We understand our clients and their business needs. We strive to provide reliable legal advice to our clients. Our experienced solicitors offer quality legal advice. We are proud to help and guide our clients through complex legal situations with innovative solutions.