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Following the March Tier 2 visa allocation meeting, the number of restricted Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) that went unused from the 2017/2018 annual limit, was only 67 - according to UK Visas and Immigration data. Restricted CoSs are needed to employ non EU/EEA nationals on tier 2 visas who are resident outside the UK or who need to apply for a tier 2 visa from outside the UK (for example tier 5 visa holders). The department published its March report citing that its figures were correct as of 27 March, 2018.
Sanwar Ali workpermit.com comment:
Since December 2017 it has become a lot more difficult obtaining restricted CoSs to employ non-EU nationals resident outside the UK. For about two and half years the salary rate was less of an issue. From December 2017 to March 2017 the salary requirement to gain enough points in most cases has been about £50,000 per annum. There is some uncertainty about what will happen in April 2018. There were hopes that at the start of the new quota period in April 2018 the salary requirements would be lower. Those who can switch from within the UK such as tier 4 student visa holders and tier 2 visa holders working for another UK employer, fortunately, do not come under the quota.
The Tier 2 visa programme continues to hit the headlines as employers struggle to recruit non-EU workers due to a lack of availability of CoS. March represented a record fourth month in a row that the visa cap was reached. There have been widespread reports of an increase in visa refusal rates by the Home Office.
It’s estimated that the number of rejected Tier 2 CoS applications exceeded 1,000 in March. Immigration experts claim that a sharp decrease in the number of EU nationals coming to Britain since Brexit is fuelling the problem.
Many believe that the availability of Tier 2 CoS is now a crisis, after initially being viewed as a ‘blip’. The Home Office reportedly sent out thousands of emails to UK businesses and employers in March, informing them that their applications for Tier 2 CoS had been declined.
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 used.
Following the March allocation meeting, the number of certificates reclaimed as not used within three months, totalled 303.
The March Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship allocation meeting took place on 12 March, 2018. All valid applications lodged by 5 March were successful, provided they scored 56 points or more – up from the 46 needed in February
The breakdown of Tier 2 CoS for the month of March looks like this:
Number of Tier 2 Certificates of Sponsorship from annual limit set aside for allocation meeting in March. | 925 |
Balance of Certificates of Sponsorship carried over from previous month (February). | 201 |
Number of certificates returned during previous month (February). | 15 |
Number of certificates reclaimed as not used within three months. | 303 |
Number of certificates granted by exceptional consideration outside of monthly allocation during previous month (February). | 25 |
Total number of certificates assigned to Croatians in previous month (February). | 5 |
Total number of Certificates of Sponsorship available for allocation in March. | 1,414 |
Minimum point score for successful applications in March. | 56 |
Total number of certificates of sponsorship granted in March 2018. | 1,347 |
Tier 2 (General – New hires under £159,600). | 1,340 |
Tier 2 (General – Tier 4 dependant switching to Tier 2). | 7 |
Number of certificates of sponsorships unused from the 2017 / 2018 annual limit. | 67 |
The next UK Visas and Immigration allocation meeting will take place on 11 April, 2018 and will indicate the number of Tier 2 CoS that will be available for the month of May, 2018.
Workpermit.com can help with Tier 2 Visa Sponsorship Licences and Tier 2 Visas
If you need help with a Tier 2 visa, or a Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence, including help with complying with your Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence obligations, workpermit.com can help.
More and more employers are facing sudden unannounced onsite inspections. Contact us for a copy of our free Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence Compliance guide.
For more information and advice on UK immigration law and UK visa applications please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com
