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A-rated Tier 2 sponsorship licence companies and Tier 5 sponsors in the UK are set to benefit from a new Priority Change of Circumstance Service introduced by UK Immigration. The service, which commenced on 7 November, 2016, enables Tier 2 and Tier 5 sponsor companies to submit an application for four types of change of circumstance requests for faster consideration.
The UK government’s official website lists the four types of change of circumstance requests as:
- In year, Unrestricted Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation.
- Follow on Unrestricted CoS allocation.
- Add new Level 1 user.
- Replace an authorising officer (AO).
You need to have unrestricted Certificates of Sponsorship to employ people who are currently in the UK on Tier 2 visas. Level 1 users and authorising officers work in the companies and are responsible for managing the Tier 2 and Tier 5 sponsorship licence system.
The government has stated that the faster consideration service is not applicable to Tier 2 ‘restricted’ certificates of sponsorship. Restricted certificates are issued to Tier 2 sponsors looking to bring Tier 2 visa holders, currently working overseas, into the UK to work on a salary less than £155,300 per year.
Restricted certificates are also issued to family members or dependents of Tier 4 migrants and a limited number are made available each month.
Sponsorship Licence Requests are considered within five working days
Successful change of circumstance requests will be considered after five working days under the new service. However, the Home Office states that ‘if a company is required to send a submission sheet, the five working days commences from the date that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) receives the submission sheet.’
The government website says that ‘there will be no outcome within five days if a request is complex or requires additional checks. However, if a delay occurs for any other reason – including a UKVI technical fault – you could be entitled to a refund.’
The fee for the new service is set at £200 per request, but there’s a daily limit of 20 requests accepted between the hours of 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Guidance for Applying for the Priority Change of Circumstance Service
Applicants are advised to refer to the SMS Manual – ‘Manage Your Sponsorship Licence’ – available on the government website before applying
When applying, call the telephone number provided
Provide your sponsorship licence number and pay the £200 fee where the priority service is available
A decision will be emailed to your authorising officer within 5 working days
Key information to remember
Only A-rated Tier 5 and Tier 2 sponsorship licence holders are eligible
Tier 2 Restricted certificates of sponsorship are excluded from the service. This is required in most cases to bring in non-EEA nationals based outside the UK
Applications to replace an Authorising Officer AO must have an accompanying submission sheet, which should be sent to the following address:
Tier 2 and 5 Priority Service – Authorisation Code XXX
Sponsor Licensing Unit,
PO Box 3468,
Sheffield,
S3 8WA.
Your authorisation code will be issued upon payment of the fee
Complex requests or those requiring additional checks are subject to delays beyond the initial five day consideration period
You may be entitled to a refund where consideration is delayed for ‘other reasons’ such as technical difficulties at UKVI
The service is not a guarantee that your request will be approved
Workpermit.com can help with Tier 2 Visa Sponsorship Licences
If you need help with a Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence or would like help with complying with your Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence obligations workpermit.com can help. Call 0344 991 9222 or email london@workpermit.com for further details.
