Costs
For helping a new sponsor obtain a UKVI licence we usually don't charge - this is if the sponsor is going to have us administer their Certificates. Instead we charge for each act's Certificates we handle. We agree fees for jobs with clients on the basis of factors such as the size and complexity of the act's travel party. For individual musicians or DJs doing one-off shows we may charge approximately £150 plus VAT and the CoS fee (which is currently £25), where we are administering CoS on a client's sponsor licence at their request. Where we are acting as the sponsor the cost will be higher.
Where we have issued CoS to a band and they later add someone we charge a small fee for the additional CoS, and the government fee of £25 is payable again.
Alternatively if a sponsor wants to handle their own Certificates and is confident in being able to do so correctly, we can offer a retainer service where we just help out with technical issues by phone and email. Retainers work out between £10 and £50 per month. For this we also represent their interests by attending meetings with the UKVI's technical and policy teams.
If an overseas act or film star has no UK-based sponsor, we may consider sponsoring them. If we agree to sponsor them we need a signed agreement to be returned and then we issue the Certificates according to the needs of the trip, after doing checks on the group and establishing that all the personnel are necessary to the trip. Before we issue the CoS we always check the passport scans, we ascertain that the act is indeed of international status, and get assurances about their travel dates, accommodation etc. Sponsoring an act will cost more than our fees for administering Certificates for a client sponsor, because there are more duties and obligations involved. Ordinarily to sponsor an act we will charge a minimum of £200, rising dependant on complexity. Added to our fee will be VAT (where applicable) and the CoS cost (£25). For actors and film workers our base rate is £225/240 for very short CoS, rising to £300 or more for longer durations.
Where we have issued CoS to a band and they later add someone we charge a small fee for the additional CoS, and the government fee of £25 is payable again.
Alternatively if a sponsor wants to handle their own Certificates and is confident in being able to do so correctly, we can offer a retainer service where we just help out with technical issues by phone and email. Retainers work out between £10 and £50 per month. For this we also represent their interests by attending meetings with the UKVI's technical and policy teams.
If an overseas act or film star has no UK-based sponsor, we may consider sponsoring them. If we agree to sponsor them we need a signed agreement to be returned and then we issue the Certificates according to the needs of the trip, after doing checks on the group and establishing that all the personnel are necessary to the trip. Before we issue the CoS we always check the passport scans, we ascertain that the act is indeed of international status, and get assurances about their travel dates, accommodation etc. Sponsoring an act will cost more than our fees for administering Certificates for a client sponsor, because there are more duties and obligations involved. Ordinarily to sponsor an act we will charge a minimum of £200, rising dependant on complexity. Added to our fee will be VAT (where applicable) and the CoS cost (£25). For actors and film workers our base rate is £225/240 for very short CoS, rising to £300 or more for longer durations.
