will changes of director/shareholder affect Sponsor licerse

[jinzhao]

I've spotted this website and received lots of useful information from it. Recently I have some enquiry in regard to how change of directors/shareholders will affect our Sponsor License. Wondering if anyone here could help me.

My tier 2 work visa is sponsored by my company (a limited company, quite small size). Currently the company is owned by 2 shareholders: A & B for 50:50. shareholder A is also the sole director. Now A wants to sell all his shares to B and step down from director as well. A new director will be appointed, maybe B or maybe someone else. In this case do we need to apply a new license or just notify Home Office will be enough? I guess change of director and change of owner should be considered as seperate issues, so:

1. change of director: notify HO is enough or need to apply new sponsor license ?
2. change of shareholder: notify HO is enough or need to apply new sponsor license ?

Really don't want any risks as applying a new sponsor license is more difficult now.

I really appreciate if you could advise on it.

[jinzhao]

Hi

Hope anyone can help me with this concern. Many Thanks

[tida2004]

No, it wouldn't affect.

[jinzhao]

Thanks for your reply Tida.

I also called HO helpline the other day. They said they can only let us know if new Sponsor licence is needed or not after we notify them. No clearly guideline can be found anywhere.

[Frontier Mole]

The simple answer is it will affect the licence as there has or will be a substtial change in ownership. So your sponsor must inform UKVI of this change HOWEVER because the current structure is 50/50 in real terms UKVI are unlikely to insist on a new licence application.
If they were to insist it will not affect you as as individual because any current Tier 2's would transfer over to the new licence without the need for a further visa.
Given the circumstances you outline all I would in visage is a change in the AO/KC/level 1 details as appropriate and everything carries on as before.