New helpdesk services for education providers and businesses were launched by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) over the summer.
Education
UKVI says that its educators helpdesk, launched on 2 September 2013, has been set up in response to customer feedback and follows the success of the business helpdesk. Acting as UKVI’s single point of contact for education providers, the new service can be used to obtain information ranging from policy and guidance issues to the status of sponsor licence applications and renewals.
The educators helpdesk can provide information on:
- any query a sponsor may have with immigration policy or guidance
- status updates on applications for new and existing sponsors
- technical help for the sponsor management system
- information about processing times and documentation requirements.
The helpdesk will not answer questions regarding individual student applications.
UKVI has said that emails will be answered within 2 days for status updates and up to 10 days or more for complex queries.
The email address for the helpdesk is: EducatorsHelpdesk@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Business
UKVI launched its helpdesk for business customers on 1 July 2013.
For employers the business helpdesk can provide:
- information on immigration policy or guidance
- status updates on applications for new and existing sponsors
- status updates on applications made by employees to work or stay in the UK
- checks on whether or not prospective or current employees have outstanding applications with UKVI
- information to enable employers to check on the right of an individual to work for them, and
- technical help for the Sponsor Management System.
UKVI has said that emails will be answered within 2 days for status updates and up to 5 days or more for complex queries.
The helpdesk deals with questions on Tiers 2 and 5 and on the investor route and the email address for the helpdesk is: BusinessHelpdesk@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
We have been invited by UKVI to attend its Operational Forum on 7 October 2013 and will be providing feedback from our education and business clients on the helpdesks and other operational matters. If you would like us to pass your feedback to UKVI, please do get in touch and our contact information is here.
