Overview
NHS England acts as the proxy visa sponsor for International Medical Graduates (IMG) during the GP Training Programme, as they require a visa to live and train in the UK. After completing their training, these GPs must either need to return overseas or secure employment with a GP Practice that holds a skilled worker visa.
As a GP Practice, if you want to take advantage of a valuable resource and retain your GP Trainee (who is from outside the UK) or recruit a GP who is not a settled worker, you will need to sponsor them via a Skilled Worker Visa. To become an official sponsor, you must apply for a licence from the Home Office and pay the relevant sponsorship fees.
Offer
Recruiting and retaining GPs is one of the biggest challenges currently facing Primary Care. The Staffordshire Training Hub (STH) Skilled Worker Visa Sponsoring Practice Support Programme will support GP Practices, PCNs and Federation in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent with the initial Home Office sponsorship costs and the individual GP Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) fees of up to a maximum of £3,500 per Practice.
We aim to reduce the financial burden associated with employing IMGs and support GP Practices, PCNs and the GP Federation to recruit and retain locally trained GPs within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
For further information, help, or advice, please contact the Staffordshire Training Hub Project Clinical Lead, Dr Deepa Muthumanickam at traininghub@gpfirst.net
Application Process
To reclaim funds from the STH, Practices must follow a two-step application process. Once you have registered with the Home Office, Practices can submit a claim for the sponsorship registration costs and/or the COS costs by completing the STH Funding Application Form as outlined below.
Home Office Application Process
- If you are not already registered with the Home Office, you will need to apply online for a sponsorship licence at UK visa sponsorship for employers: Apply for your licence – GOV.UK
- Most applications are dealt with in less than 8 weeks, and note that the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) team may need to visit your business.
- You may be able to pay an extra £500 to get a decision within 10 working days. This service is limited to a small number of applications each working day, and faster decisions are allocated in the order that requests arrive (on a first-come, first-served basis).
- For further advice, please contact the Sponsorship, Employer and Education helpline at 0300 123 4699 (Monday to Friday at 0900-1600Hrs).
Funding Application Form
- Funding will be reimbursed retrospectively via the Staffordshire Training Hub.
- Please complete the Skilled Worker Visa GP Practice Funding Support Application Form to claim the Home Office sponsorship fee and any individual GP Certificate of Sponsorship fees for GPs you have sponsored.
- Practices can claim funding from the STH in stages. Practices may initially claim for the sponsorship fees and submit additional claims for multiple Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) fees, up to a maximum amount of £3,500 per Practice.
Supporting Documents and Guidance
- Supporting guidance available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-documents-for-sponsor-applications-appendix-a
- Step By Step Guide – Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship Guidance including what documents you will need before you start the on-line application process, who should be the Authorising Officer and useful tips!
Further Queries
For further information, help, or advice, please contact the Staffordshire Training Hub Project Clinical Lead, Dr Deepa Muthumanickam at traininghub@gpfirst.net