We are becoming aware of increasing delays to Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) allocations. Whereas these are supposed to be turned around in a matter of days, many providers are having to wait months, causing massive disruption to their recruitment activity.
It has now been brought to our attention that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) are sending letters requesting further information from COS applicants. These letters request the following information:
- Explanation for Recruitment Needs
- Full Job Description
- Copies of Official Contracts or Agreements*
- Hierarchy Chart (including which roles are currently filled by migrant workers)
- Staff Rota
- Employment Contracts
* These could be in the form of agreements with the NHS, contracts with local councils, or private clients. You must highlight the relevant clauses, which confirm you have genuine agreements for services leading to current roles to fill. Evidence of bidding for contracts will not be accepted.
Applicants are given 5-days to respond and applications will not be assessed without all the requested information.
UKVI state that they aim to consider the additional information and reach a decision within 20 working days of receipt. Consequently, this is extending the processing time by at least a month.
Our understanding is that UKVI has introduced these additional checks in response to increasing cases of abuse of migrant workers in the health and care sector, with many sponsors failing to provide the necessary requirements of the health and care worker visa. We are also aware of extra information requests in other high-risk sectors, such as fishing and construction.
COS Application Workshop
SESCA will be holding an “International Recruitment COS Application Workshop” in mid-January 2024 (date to be announced ASAP). This workshop will be hosted by immigration experts from JMW Solicitors and will be open to all registered care providers in the South East. It will offer providers the opportunity to obtain expert advice, gain insights on submitting error-free applications and minimize delays, as well as sharing their experiences with fellow care providers.
The definitive guidance on submitting COS applications is included in the Home Office’s “Sponsor a Skilled Worker Guidance 07-23 v1.0”