Points Based System – Sponsorship Certificates
The Points Based System or PBS as it is more commonly known, Must be completed by all non-EEA nationals entering the UK for work purposes or for study purposes and all must have a sponsor. Once sponsors have been approved a license (issued by the Border and Immigration Agency -BIA), they can apply for sponsorship certificates.
» A sponsorship certificate does not guarantee UK entry clearance , it just means that once applicants have a sponsorship certificate, he or she can apply for UK visas.
» The sponsor, (which can be in the form of a business, college) will hold the responsibility for assessing the suitability of each applicant .
» Sponsors will be held to account for non-compliance on the part of any applicants it sponsors, (this could lead to withdrawal of their license or a civil or criminal prosecution).
» When a sponsor issues a certificate to an applicant, they must complete the Certificate of Sponsorship application form.
» When a certificate is issued it is the responsibility of the sponsor to inform the candidate.
Reviews and withdrawals
The BIA may review the performance of a sponsor at any time and after any number of certificates have been issued.
» A sponsor will still be able to issue certificates while the BIA investigates its activities. Under the latter, further certificates may not be issued until the BIA gives its approval.
» In circumstance where the BIA finds that certificates have been issued by a sponsor who was not entitled to do so, the certificates will be revoked.
» In such cases, any application for entry clearance or leave to remain based on that certificate will also be refused.
Electronic papers only
It is important for both sponsor and applicant to be aware that a Certificate of Sponsorship is not a physical document. The certificate is an electronic document and comes in the form of a Unique Reference Number, This Reference number can be accessed by the applicant and permits them to move forward to make a visa application.
Please Note: For students, a certificate is referred to as a "Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies" This is also in electronic form.