How do I sponsor a migrant?
Authorising officer
This page explains the role of the authorising officer of a licensed sponsor under the point-based system.
On this page
Who the authorising officer should be
All sponsors applying for a licence must appoint an authorising officer. You can only have one authorising officer.You are held fully responsible for the actions of your authorising officer, so you should make sure that you give this position to a senior and competent person within your organisation.
If your organisation has overseas branches, you can only appoint an authorising officer who is based in a United Kingdom branch of the organisation.
Who cannot be an authorising officer
- Your authorising officer cannot be:
- a representative;
- a contractor or consultant who is contracted for a specific project;
- an employee of third party organisation used to deliver all or part of your human resource function;
- a temporary member of staff supplied by an agency;
- an undischarged bankrupt.
The role of the authorising officer
The authorising officer will be responsible for the activities of all users of the sponsorship management system, including representatives. All users must comply with our requirements for using the system. If they do not, we will carry out appropriate compliance activity, which may result in you losing your licence or being downgraded to a B rating.
The authorising officer does not have automatic access to the sponsorship management system. If the authorising officer needs access to the system, they must be set up as a user.
Terms explained
-
B rating
This term is applied to a sponsor under the points-based system for coming to the United Kingdom to work, train or study. It is the rating awarded by us when a sponsor joins the register of sponsors. A B rating is a transitional rating for a sponsor who is under a sponsorship action plan.
-
Branches
Branches are different offices, locations, or campuses of an organisation that has two or more of these.
-
Compliance activity
Actions our staff will take to ensure that organisations are complying with their sponsorship duties under the points-based system for coming to the United Kingdom to work, train or study.
-
Representative
When applied to the points-based system for coming to the United Kingdom to work, train or study, this term refers to one of the roles that can be allocated within an organisation that sponsors migrants under the points-based system.
-
Sponsorship duties
The responsibilities organisations have when they sponsor migrants under the points-based system. The duties are record keeping, reporting, compliance, co-operating with us and tier specific duties.
-
Undischarged bankrupt
You are an undischarged bankrupt if you have filed for bankruptcy and the official receiver is still managing your affairs.