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Amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis in the UK, government updates on Tier 2 visa Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) availability have been intermittent throughout 2020. However, allocation numbers were updated on 11 November 2020 having not been published since July.
The information, which is posted on the government’s official website, has been updated to include Tier 2 visa CoS availability from August to October 2020. The most recent meeting, which took place on 12 October, determined the number of Tier 2 visa CoS available in November.
Since July, the number of available CoS has risen sharply, attributed to a lack of allocations because of the coronavirus. However, the number of applications is expected to surge in the coming months with UK employers needing a Tier 2 Sponsor Licence to recruit non-EU and EU staff once the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December, 2020.
Available CoS for November
Following the most recent meeting, the number of CoS available for November 2020 stood at 7,805. For August and September, the balance of certificates available was 5,693. Meanwhile, the months of October and November saw a sharp spike in the number of CoS available.
For October, 7,555 CoS were available and for November, this figure rose again to 7,805.
An employer with a Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence needs to apply for Certificates of Sponsorship for immigrants they wish to employ. Under the current UK immigration system, unused Tier 2 restricted CoS to employ people who are currently based outside the UK, can be reclaimed after three months. This increases the availability of restricted CoS.
The number of certificates reclaimed as not used within three months for the month of October, totalled 0.
The breakdown of Tier 2 CoS availability for the month of October and availability for November looks like this:
Number of Tier 2 Certificates of Sponsorship from annual limit set aside for allocation meeting in October 2020. | 1,500 |
Balance of Certificates of Sponsorship carried over from previous month (September). | 6,055 |
Number of certificates returned during previous month (September). | 0 |
Number of certificates reclaimed as not used within three months. | 0 |
Number of certificates granted by exceptional consideration outside of monthly allocation during previous month (September). | 21 |
Total number of Certificates of Sponsorship available for allocation in October. | 7,534 |
Minimum point score for successful applications in January. | 40 |
Total number of Certificates of Sponsorship granted in October. | 1,229 |
Tier 2 (General – New hires under £159,600). | 1,204 |
Tier 2 (General – Tier 4 dependant switching to Tier 2). | 25 |
Balance of certificates of sponsorship carried over to November 2020. | 6,305 |
Number of certificates of sponsorship available for allocation in November 2020. | 7,805 |
All valid applications lodged by 5 October were successful, provided they scored a minimum of 40 points.
The next UK Visas and Immigration allocation meeting was scheduled for 11 November 2020. Once details of the meeting are published, they will indicate the number of Tier 2 CoS that will be available for the month of December 2020.
Workpermit.com can help with Tier 2 Visa Sponsor Licences and Tier 2 Visas
If you need help with a Tier 2 visa, or a Tier 2 Sponsor Licence, including help with complying with your Tier 2 Sponsor Licence obligations, workpermit.com can help.
For more information and advice on Tier 2 Sponsor Licences, UK immigration law and UK visa applications please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com
