Certificate of Sponsorship

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UK: Allocation Of Certificates Of Sponsorship Open

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UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) have advised that sponsors are now able to apply to renew their allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) in Tier 2 (General) .

The present allocations will expire on 5th April 2017.   

Some sponsors’ allocations will be "automatically renewed”, in which case nothing is required from the sponsor.  

However, UKVI will contact other sponsors via email three months before 5th April 2017, and monthly thereafter, by way of reminder

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UK: Skills Charge details announced

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The Home Office has announced details regarding the Immigration Skills Charge that will likely apply as a tax to skilled non-EU foreign workers.  The skills charge will likely not become effective until October 2016 at the earliest.

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UK: Proposed law would increase visa application fees

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Parliament is considering a law that would increase immigration fees for applications submitted on or after March 18, 2016 (April 6, 2016 for Isle of Man).  The increase is meant to ensure that by 2020, the UK immigration system is self funded. A full list of the new fees can be found here.

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UK: Tier 2 Certificates of Sponsorship to be staggered; Tier 2 minimum salary to be maintained

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The Home Office has published new Immigration Rules that will impose the following changes:

  • The availability of Tier 2 Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) will be staggered throughout the year, instead of split equally in twelve monthly allocations. Starting April 6, 2016, 2,200 CoS will be available in the first month, gradually falling to 1,000 after a year.  
  • Unlike in other years, the minimum salary for Tier 2 workers will not increase in line with wage inflation. The Home Office has nevertheless indicated that a policy change may be made at a later date based on advice from Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) proposal.  It is likely that an announcement on the MAC’s advice will be made in the coming weeks.

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UK: Tier 2 restrictions proposed

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The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has proposed Tier 2 restrictions including a higher minimum salary level, an Immigration Skills Charge and a greater work experience requirement, among other recommendations aimed at limiting foreign workers in the United Kingdom.