Current unused unrestricted Tier 2 Certificates of Sponsorship (‘CoS’) will expire on 5 April 2015.
Tier 2 sponsors should therefore check to ascertain if they are likely to need to issue unrestricted COS for the year 6 April 2015 to 5 April 2016. If so they should apply using the Sponsor Management System for a new allocation.
Sponsors only need to apply for new unrestricted COS if they believe that they may need to issue COS during next year’s cycle to:
- any current Tier 2 sponsored employees to enable them to extend their permission to remain in the UK;
- new hires who will earn more than the higher rate salary threshold (currently £153,500);
- new hires who are already in the UK in a category that will allow them to switch in to Tier 2 (for instance, students who hold Tier 4 leave or employees who are sponsored by other companies);
- employees who will transfer under the ICT category (if the sponsor licence also includes Tier 2 (ICT)).
Requests should include justification for the number of CoS required.
Sponsors can also request additional certificates throughout the year should the need arise.
