The UK Border Agency (UKBA) is implementing some important changes that will affect some employers of skilled workers.
One of the most imminent updates is the news that employers that are granting a restricted certificate of sponsorship (RcoS) before April 6th this year must assign it by April 5th. Those that fail to meet the deadline will see the 'job type' details of their certificate lost when the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) system is updated and applicants will be required to file a new request.
In addition to these changes, the UKBA is to bring in changes to the timings of the monthly allocation of RCoS for April and May of this year. This is due to the effects of the SOC update. Applications for the period from April 6th to April 17th will be accepted but the monthly allocation date has been moved from April 11th to April 19th. Meanwhile, the May period (April 18th to May 5th) will see its monthly allocation date stay the same at May 13th.
Any companies that find themselves adversely affected by these changes and “urgently need a restricted certificate of sponsorship” between March 6th and April 18th can get in touch with a request to be listed as an “exceptional consideration”. This request must be made on the same day as the application is submitted.
The UKBA offers examples of valid reasons for using this exceptional consideration route:
- 'Where we have caused delays resulting in a newly licensed sponsor needing a CoS for a migrant who is due to start work before the next monthly allocation.'
- 'A consultant surgeon has been recruited and needs to be appointed immediately because they have patients listed for life-saving surgery before the next monthly allocation.'
Employers can contact an immigration lawyer for more advice on recruiting skilled workers from overseas.