Will Sponsor compliance visit delay my new Tier 2 visa application?

[mikeyourfriend]

Key points:
1) I found a new job 2) I am going to a UKVI appointment for a new Tier 2 visa application 3) I have a Tier 2 work visa sponsored by my current employer 4) UKVI Sponsor Management Unit compliance visited my current employer.

Background:
A few months ago, I found a new job and booked an appointment to apply for a new Tier 2 visa, which is sponsored by my new employer. The appointment was booked on April 19 for May 09 (face to face) with UKVCAS.

Unfortunately, my current employer was picked on April 30 by UKVI Sponsor Management Unit for a compliance visit. The visit took place on 03.05.2019. I was interviewed 1 on 1 for over an hour. I was asked to submit my work evidence (reports I wrote etc.) after the interview, which has been submitted today (07.05.2019) as requested.

Further, my employer were requested to submit some documents as well by Thursday (I will attend my Tier 2 application appointment on the same day).

Lastly, my employer and I used a legal representative when sorted out our Sponsorship Licence and CoS in late 2016. However, I paid for the Sponsorship Licence and CoS fees as we were never informed that I couldn’t pay the fees…

Questions:
1. I paid for Super Priority Service for my new Tier 2 visa application, would this compliance visit delay the decision?

2. Would the fact that I paid the fees for Sponsorship Licence be a problem? If yes, what should my employer and I do now? I wouldn’t pay the fees if the we were advised that it’s not the right thing to do. It wasn’t a huge burden to my employer back then (c. £500 for Sponsorship Licence & c. £199 for CoS). TBH, we didn’t have bad intentions, and we believe, touch wood, this is the only thing that we messed up.

[Casa]

Your application is likely to be held until the outcome of the compliance visit is concluded.

[mikeyourfriend]

Hi Casa,

Thanks for your reply. Do you know how long does it normally take? If it is a long process, is there anything I could do to have a quicker decision for my new visa application as I need to start my new job ASAP.

Also, with regards to the Sponsorship Licence fee that I paid, is it a serious problem?

Thanks.

[Casa]

Frontier Mole is better placed to advise on this.