The first month of the Immigration Cap was expected to see a flood of applications from sponsors who had been unable to issue any Certificates of Sponsorship during the Interim Cap; however this failed to materialise with only 1,018 Certificates of Sponsorship allocated. In month two many expected far more applications from sponsors who had adjusted to changes however once again this has failed to materialise with a mere 781 Certificates of Sponsorship awarded.
If figures continue as they are Tier 2 General will see around 11,000 ‘Restricted’ Certificate of Sponsorship allocations in the year April 2011 to May 2012. In total 20,700 Certificates of Sponsorship are available for allocation in this financial year however based on current allocation numbers this total may be reduced significantly next year.
May 2011 ‘Restricted’ CoS Allocation:
- Balance of Certificates of Sponsorship carried over from April 2011 = 3,181
- Certificates of Sponsorship set aside from annual limit for allocation in May 2011 = 1,500
- Certificates of Sponsorship returned or reclaimed between 7th April 2011 & 5th May 2011 = 18
- Certificates of Sponsorship available for allocation in May 2011 = 4,666
- Certificates of Sponsorship granted in May allocation = 781
- Balance of Certificates of Sponsorship carried over to June 2011 = 3,885
- Certificates of Sponsorship available for allocation in June 2011 = 5,365
April 2011 ‘Restricted’ CoS Allocation:
- Certificates of Sponsorship set aside from annual limit for allocation in April = 4,200
- Certificates of Sponsorship granted in April 2011 allocation = 1,018
- Balance of Certificates of Sponsorship carried over to May 2011 = 3,181
Speaking at the introduction of the scheme the Immigration Minister, Damian Green, said that \’The annual limit will not only help reduce immigration down to sustainable levels but will protect those businesses and institutions that are vital to our economy. The new system was designed in consultation with business. We have made clear that as the recovery continues, we need employers to look first to people who are out of work and who are already in this country. We are overhauling all routes of entry to tackle abuses, make the system more effective and bring net migration back down to the tens of thousands.\’
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). Commonwealth Contractors also provides updates on UK Immigration News.
To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit your Details and we will get back to you. Please be prepared to send a copy of a recent CV so that we can pass to interested partners.