You have meticulously formed your UK limited company and are preparing the documentation to apply for a sponsor licence. You have a business plan, a corporate bank account, and a clear vision for your enterprise. However, the success of your application will not be judged on this paperwork alone. Every application for what is commonly known as Skilled Worker Self Sponsorship is subjected to a subjective but intensely rigorous standard: the "genuineness test."

This is the ultimate hurdle. A Home Office caseworker must be personally satisfied that both your business and the job role you have created for yourself are genuine, and not a sham constructed for the primary purpose of securing a visa. Understanding what the Home Office is looking for is the key to passing this test. At Immigration Solicitors4me, we consider the genuineness test to be the central battlefield of these applications. Our entire approach is geared towards building a fortress of evidence and a compelling narrative that leaves the caseworker in no doubt as to the credibility of your business and your role within it.

Element 1: Proving the Genuineness of the Business

The Home Office needs to see a credible, viable business that is either already trading or has a realistic and well-evidenced plan to begin trading imminently. They are highly skilled at spotting a mere "paper company" that exists only for immigration purposes.

How to Build Credibility:

• The Business Plan is Paramount:This is the single most important document for proving your business's legitimacy. It cannot be a generic, two-page template. It must be a detailed, well-researched, and professional document that includes your business objectives, market analysis, marketing and sales strategy, and, crucially, realistic financial forecasts for at least the first few years.


• Demonstrate Financial Standing:A UK business bank account is essential. It should be funded with sufficient capital investment to cover start-up costs and execute the initial stages of your business plan.


• Establish a Physical Presence:While many start-ups are lean, relying solely on a virtual mailbox address can be a red flag. Evidence of a genuine trading address, such as a lease for a small office or a co-working space membership, adds significant credibility.


• Create a Market Presence:A professional company website, a registered domain name, and evidence of early-stage market engagement—such as letters of intent from potential clients or detailed market research—all help to build a picture of a real, functioning enterprise.

A powerful business plan is the cornerstone of your company's credibility. The business immigration specialists at Immigration Solicitors4me work with you to ensure your plan is not just commercially sound, but also directly addresses all the key questions a caseworker will have about your proposed Skilled Worker Self Sponsorship.

Element 2: Proving the Genuineness of the Job Role

The Home Office must also be convinced that the job you have created for yourself is a genuine position that the business truly needs.

How to Prove the Role is Real:

• A Detailed Job Description:You must provide a comprehensive job description that outlines your key duties and responsibilities. This role must align with an eligible Skilled Worker occupation code and demonstrate a genuine need for your specific, high-level skills to lead the company.


• Your Suitability for the Role:Your personal CV, qualifications, and past professional experience must clearly show that you are the ideal and necessary candidate to perform this specific role. The evidence must demonstrate that you are not just an employee, but the driving force of the business.


• A Commercially Realistic Salary:The salary you assign to yourself must not only meet the minimum thresholds for the Skilled Worker route but must also be commercially sensible for a business at its specific stage of development. An early-stage start-up proposing an enormous salary for its director can raise suspicions about the genuineness of the business's finances.

Crafting a credible job description that meets the Home Office's requirements is a key task for our solicitors. We ensure the role is framed correctly to demonstrate its genuine necessity to the business, a crucial part of a successful Skilled Worker Self Sponsorship application.

Element 3: Proving the Genuine Need for a Sponsored Worker

Finally, the application must implicitly answer the question: Why does this new UK company need to hire you from overseas?

How to Justify the Hire: Although the formal Resident Labour Market Test has been abolished, the principle behind it still informs the genuineness assessment. The case must clearly show why the role cannot be filled by someone already settled in the UK. For a Skilled Worker Self Sponsorship case, the answer is usually straightforward but must be expertly argued: you are the founder, the innovator, the director, and the primary driving force behind the business's creation and proposed success. Your unique vision, skills, and investment are integral to the company's existence. The legal representations drafted by Immigration Solicitors4me clearly articulate why you are the only person who can perform this pivotal role.

Don't let your genuine business plan fail on a subjective test. To build a powerful and consistent case that satisfies the intense scrutiny of the Home Office, contact the Skilled Worker Self Sponsorship specialists at Immigration Solicitors4me today.