361 “Restricted” CoS Applications Rejected in April

According to new figures provided by the UK Border Agency 361 applications for Restricted Certificates of Sponsorship were rejected in April 2011 due to the fact that they did not meet eligibility criteria based on skills and salary. In order for a Certificate of Sponsorship to be approved by the UK Border Agency the job must meet the minimum requirements for the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code. If the job does not meet the minimum requirements for skills and salary the UK Border Agency cannot approve the Certificate of Sponsorship.

In month one of the permanent Immigration Cap 4,200 ‘Restricted’ Certificates of Sponsorship were available for allocation to Tier 2 General visa sponsors. In total only 1,028 of these CoS’s were allocated to sponsors meaning that 3,172 were rolled over to month two of the Immigration Cap. The standard monthly allocation of 1,500 visas plus the 3,172 roll over means that there are a total of 4,672 ‘restricted’ Certificates of Sponsorship available for allocation in May 2011.

Damian Green, the UK Immigration Minister, said on the statistics that “These figures show the annual limit getting off to a good start. The limit was specifically designed to ensure that only the brightest and the best can come from outside the EU to work in skilled professions. The limit will allow 25% fewer people than equivalent routes in 2009 and an even bigger reduction of 80,000 will come from the foreign student route… That’s before we look to break the link between temporary and permanent migration and review the family route, which we will do later this year.”

Allocation of Restricted Certificate of Sponsorship

  • Month 1 (April): 1,028 Certificates of Sponsorship Allocated, 3,172 rolled over to month two
  • Month 2 (May): 1,500 standard CoS allocation + 3,172 roll over = 4,672 CoS available for allocation
  • Month 3 (June): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • Month 4 (July): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • Month 5 (August): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • Month 6 (September): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • Month 7 (October): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • Month 8 (November): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • Month 9 (December): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • Month 10 (January): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • Month 11 (February): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • Month 12 (March): 1,500 standard CoS allocation
  • April 2012 – New CoS allocation agreed by UK Border Agency for 2012 / 2013

Commonwealth Contractors

Commonwealth Contractors is a collection of highly skilled professionals from the Commonwealth and beyond. We partner with OISC Registered Immigration Partners capable of professionally representing a Tier 1 Visa Application / Extension and Tier 2 Licensed Consultancy & Associated Trust Partners who may be prepared, where required, to sponsor a doctor on a Tier 2 Visa (formerly UK Work Permit).

To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit your details now and we will get right back to you. Please be prepared to send a copy of a recent CV so that we can pass to interested partners.

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