Adult Social Care Glossary, v 0.6

A person who wishes to come to the UK may need a sponsor for the application: this might be an employer (for a work-related application), a university (for study) or a family member for a visit or an application to come to live permanently in the UK. Sponsors of family members are expected to provide accommodation and support for the relatives they bring in, usually providing proof that they meet the minimum income levels set in the immigration rules. Sponsors or dependant adult relatives (not spouses or children, but people who have care needs the sponsor wants to meet in the UK) are usually asked to sign an undertaking, which is a legally binding agreement to provide this support.